The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-01-16
For Tie -Hgis d, MteHigtncer.
OUR ROADS.
No. ..

-.
Mr. EDITOR: In my letter, published in the
.IgiS Of the I'd inst, drawing the attention o
the County Commissioners and the citizens d
the county generally, to the condition Of the
Trappe and Darlington road, unntentionally
did Injustice to the district superintendent OF
roads, whose name | have since learned, is
Stearns--residing in the upper part of tho
district.
In referring to the Trappe end of the road,
stated that there has not been any work done
whatever, by any representative of the county,
for more than year.
There was q fearful mud hole, existing all
through the summer and fall, and extending
one or two hundred yards along the line of Mr..
L. NJ. Chew's property, which, when once en-
tered, always excited horrd fears rs to the pos
sbility of getting out again. In this mud hole,
deeply cut up by heavy wagons, two ladies,
with their coachman, were actually overturned
in their carriage about two months ago, and
were compelled to lCdde knee deep to terra TRINA.
was informed of this fact by the family physi-
clan who was called to prescribe for the ladies
on their return home.
This desperate condition of the road, at this
place, was occasioned solely by stone fence on
the lower side, through which there were no
outlets whatever for the water to pass off, the
original openings having long been closed.
Quite recently, within month, l think, some
stone have been put in this mud hole; but as
they were placed SO unevcnly and roughly, very
similar to the Devils turnpike in the Nam.
moth Cave, that i inferred, at the time my pre-
yious letter was written, that some of the tray
eers of the road, rendered desperate by long
suffering, had united in their might, and reck-
lessly, heller SHELTER, threw stone enough into
this "bottomless pitt to prevent their wagons
and carriages from sinking out of sight. Within
q few days have learned that this work, this
paving, was authorized by Mr.. Stearns; and
hence the injustice done him in not mentioning
the fact in our first letter.
In going from the direction of the Trappe TO
Darlington, the road should turn to the right Mt
this mud hole, or rather should pursue straight
line to the point where the road DIVORCES to
Covers Mill; this would not only avoid one Of
The ugliest hills on the road, but would actually
shorten the distance.
1t is remarkable that, in this instance, as well
as in many others that could be named, our
forefathers shodld have gone out of their way
to climb steep hill! Ofcoursc, at the time this
road was located, there was not onc-tenth of
the travel that there is now, and the roads were
placed where they would accommodate the
farmers lines more particularly than travellers.
Things have changed now; and farmers lines
should rive way to the thousands who use and
pay for The roads. Just think how prcposterous
1t is for generation after generation, for ccntu-
~ perhaps to be toiling over rugged hills, to
the destruction of their animals and vehicles,
simply because the landowner objects to having
his lines interfered with, even when the same is
amply compensated for by the county
A stranger passing through this part of the
county would lnlcr lHIl VIC NcIc lotullS lInO-
rant of the spirit of the age, that we were the
Rip Van Wrinkles of civilization, and had never
heard of turnpikcs, railroads or teiegraphs; or
even of common wagon roads
A gentleman from Cecil county came over the
Darlington and Tmppe road last summer on a
visit to his friends. lie was SO unfortunate as 10
have the springs Of his carriage broken on the
way. Upon his arrival at the house of his
friends, they, not knowing how cXasperated he
had been by the injury sustained, enquircd if he
1n t,i1
yociteratcd every one who attempts TO travel
over such roads as you havcherc should have his
life insured ~
1t is truly astonishing that, through such
fertile region as the far-iamed valley of Deer
Creek, there should exist, in the year of Grace,
1874, us one of its chief outlets, such a road as
that leading from the Trappe to Darlington! 1t
is an outrage on civilization! 1t is a scandal to
the county; and no taxpayer, at least in Dublin
district, should contribute one cent for road
purposes until this 0dlouS ana lgnomlnlous out
rage shall be abated.
Col. Walsh's letter in the EyiS of the I'd inst,
is very satisfactory, in showing that the entire
management Of roads is, as it ought to be, in
the hands of the County Commissioners. The
new board who have just entered upon their
duties, have now an opportunity above all their
predecessors, of distinguishing themselves as
public bencfactors by inaugurating system of
road making which will insure comfort and sat
isfaction to the traveller and save the tax-pay-
and tear OF th0ir teams. The taxpayers will
not object to road tax provided it is properly
expended. In conversation with a number Of
persons recently, upon this subject, they unite
in affirming that they would rather pay double
the tax they now do for good roads than one
cent for such roads rs they have.
Appoint such reliable men as supervisors, who
are fully acquainted with the business, and are
willing to give it their entire attention, giving
them us many roads as they can properly attend
hn MI
be appointed fora least five years, so that they
could make ample preparations and become
fully identified with the interests Of the roads.
Their salary, and allowances for road eXpendi-
lures should be ample, and they should give
bond for the strict compliance with the duties
assumed. When the roads are once made good
then one-half the money will keep them in that
condition.
SO long as district superintendent, who per-
haps is not acquainted with onc-half of the roads
or one half of the people in his district and pos
sibly, himself ignorant of the first principles
of road making, goes about, at random, as it
were, offering parties road warrants without al.
lowing them anything like adequate compcnsa-
tion for their work, and they privileged to re-
ject the meagrc propositions, and hence, the
roads permitted to 20 TO utter destruction year
after year for want of work, while the supcrin-
tendent keeps the pittance in his pocket; | say
that, while this rule continues, under which
competent men will not risk their reputation by
10 iluhc u louu iol pllcc Win
all the taxation that may be put upon the peo-
pie, we will never have good roads. Let the
roads out by contract, as is done in the case of
bridges, public buildings and postal routes, with
security for the proper performance of the work
If the Commissioners donot feel willing to as
sumo the responsibility of so important change
in road making, it would be well for them to
consider the matter and adopt a plan that in
their estimation is the best fitted to secure good
roads (the people will stand the tax, and then
call a county meeting to approve of the same,
or to suggest a plan that they may consider bet
ter adapted to the accomplishment of the same
end
Something must be done, or the County Com.
missioners VIII soon find that suits will be
brought before the county against them for
damages sustained by the impossible condition
of some Of the roads in this the fifth district
Truly, yours,
Ia Trappc, Jan. 6, 1874 VS.. +.