The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-02-06
TIE :EGZS.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, 1874.
For tie AgiS g. Int lgenc0.
OUR ROADS.
no. Ill,


manner, in two letters, through the columns o.
- The -EgiSt I"teG9eHcer in relation to the Roads
in the fifth district, and more particularly in ref
crence to the road leading from Priest Ford
Bridge to Darlington, l now, in response TO tho
earnest solicitations of dozens of my neighbors
call upon you in II more direct and personal
manner to beg that you will give some special
attention to our county roads. 1t can easily be
ascertained that the strongest feelings of mdig.
nation exist in this neighborhood in relation IL
the condition of the public roads.
When my first letter was penncd, l was under
the impression that there II general apa-
thy among the people with regard to the gross
neglect of our roads but now | am stopped ON
the highway by nearly every neighbor and friend
that meet to be complimcntcd and commended
for the efforts | have made for the public good,
viz: good roads. The interest that has been
awakened on this subject far surpasses all eX-
pectations that | had previously entertained.
Many of those who have heretofore toilcd ON,
patiently abiding their time" and perhaps sad
ly anticipating the day, as the day of their only
deliycrancc and relief, when they should "shutlle
of this mortal COLL and pass hence to "that
bourncfrom whence no traveller returns, " where
unlike ours, "the ways are ways of pleasant
ness, )" and "the paths are paths of peace" many
OF these have now aroused from their lethargy
and insist upon having some ways of pleasant
ness and some paths off peace in this world {;
especially as they are compelled to pay for these
long anticipated, but never realized dreams.
Your Honorable body, the guardians Of the
interests of the county, have but recently been
installed into office; and are in no way respon-
sible for the present condition of the county
roads and ii might be added, that you are in no
way bound to follow in the steps of your prede
cessors; therefore whatever condemnatory re
marks have already made, or may now make,
have no personal application to your Honorable
body.
You have seen the letter of Col. John Carroll
Walsh, our present representative in the State
Senate who was also our Senator III 1868, pub
lie had I'm in l,tf1, h,. TAFT,
that the powers of The County Commissioners
with reference to road making was discussed in
our Legislature and referred TO special COM
mittec six years ago. The report Of the COM
mittee is printed in full, signed by the we'll
known names of f. j. Henkle Daniel Fields,
Washington A. Smith and w. Kimmcl. TO the
report, Col. Walsh adds:
From the above it is clearly evident that no
further legislation is needed and what alone is
necessary for the people TO do, is to urge upon
the boards of County Commissioners i'll their
respective counties, 10 use the plenary powers
that they possess, in devising such n system Of
road mending as will accomplish the desired re-
suit, one important feature Of which system
should be, lGvying money sufficient to keep the
roads in good conditions and then TO have ii pro-
perly and scasonably expended, either under
contract, as recommended by the Cecil Wing, or
any other mode that may be deemed advisable
This shows very clearly that the County Com
mssioners are invested with full power, with
the co operation of the people, to adopt any
''road system" that they deem will best subserve
the interests Of the county. This authority is
necessarily coincidcnt with that oflcvymg taxes
for road purposes.
Having the plcnary powers with regard to road
making that the State Legislature has decided
that the County Commissioners possess, your
responsibility to the people you represent is CO.
extensive with the authority entrusted to you;
and now, at the beginning of your term, it is TO
be hoped that you will take II new departure"
from the paths of your predecessors, and inau-
guratc Il new era in road making.
Many persons with whom | have cOnvcrsed
have an idea that previous boards of County
Commissioners have avoided attempting any i'm
proved modes of road. making, which, at the be-
ginning, might require some additional taxation
tor the fear of losing political popularity"
This suppostion appears to me to be preposcr-
Gus. The office OF County Commissioner is not
one Of profit; it is decidedly an Office more of
honor than of profit.
The pecuniary consideration in comparison
with the services rendered the county, or, |
MD say, in comparison with the services
might be rendered the county, especially
pcct to the public roads, is very trining
the residents, mean the tar payerS arc
IN gncrs Of Hartford county. For every acre
XA d. and for every taxable article that we
~ Iosscss, we are compelled to pay certain
protte,ftS.5'l for road purposes; yet, heretofore
we have not, II ANY sense q The lerni had any
thing like an adequate return for the amount
that we have SO contributed. Amid the general
financial crisis from which we are all suffering
at the present time, it is well to consider wheth-
er or not we cannot make better use OF our road
tax money than we have done in the past.
So far as we have had experience with district
road superintendent, i believe they are gener-
ally regarded failure. Whether this is owing
to the incompetcucy of those usually appointed,
or the inadequacy OF the appropriations allowed
them, Gm not prepared 10 say The superin-
tendent of this district resides very near the
Pennsylvania line, and is doubtless much more
familiar with the roads in the lower part of Y orl
county than he is with those in this part of Dub.
lin district. 1t is very evident that he is COM
PEELED to devote the greater part of his attention
10 other business than road making for liveli-
hood. This is the peoples misfortune. We
expect an officer to perform duty, which if
properly done, would occupy his entire time,
with salary totally insufficient for his support;
and hence he is forced TO look elsewhere for IL
living, and give the time that should be directed
to the roads TO other departments of business.
The sooner that this System so called, is abol-
ished the better. Under the present working of
the law, the office of district superintendent is
one that might be safely abolished even if no
other changes were made, without in the least
impairing the efficiency of our road system
1t is u well known fact that the amou unit oftaXes
paid for road purposes in our county, far exceeds
that of some counties in other States that have
roads much superior to our own. Our rule is
TO appoint supervisor fora certain part OF a
aud with an allowance Of money barely su1li-
Cent 10 'mend' the road once i'll twelve months.
INhere happens to come heavy rain the next
day. or Mt any time during the year, that washes
all the 'work' away, the SUPERVISOR when APP
pealed TO, to make the road passable, replies,
with an air of the utmost independence and in
difference that "thc money allowed by the coun-
ty has all been expended and we Will have to
wait until next year" This argument is unan-
sweable. The supervisor has no responsibility
beyond the expenditure Of the money which the
County Commissioners allow him. His super
visorsiiip only extends to the one or two days
in the year that he is actually working" the
road. Should lie pass over the road an hundred
times aftcrward, during the year, and find that
deep gullics had been made, because OF obstruc
lions 10 the turnouts, and that hundreds OF loose
stone were lying in the way, he feels no more
responsibility rs 10 the correction of the one, or
the removal of the Other than any other citizen
or traveller, who may use the roads. lie coolly
informs you that he "has expended all the mo-
neY" We will never have passable roads under
this kind of apprenticeship. We must have SUI
pe1visors who will always be prepared TO give
lh(:ir attention to the roads; not for one or two
Jfl1ys in the year only, but as often as necessity
hires; and The pay should be sufficient for
the services rendered.
feel satisfied that the best way TO have our
roads made good, and kept good, would be to
let them out by contract, for at least five years.
with proper security for the performance Of the
duty. Competent men might be appointed in
different parts of the county as inspectors, with
n nominal salary. These general suggestions
may be reduced to detail at II future time
In conclusion, for the present, would advise
that your Honorable body wonld appoint COM
mittce, preferably outside of this district, so
that they would not be liable 10 the charge of
local prejudice, to inspect the road leading from
the Trappc TO Darlington; both as to the condi-
ton of the body of the road, and i'll reference to
the improvements that might be made by some
changes in its location. That the committee
may be impressed, expressed and depressed the
more fully, as 10 the break-neck condition OF
the road, we would suggest that they use strong
vehicle without SPRINGS, rs the latter are almost