The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-14
A ROAD CONVENTION,

10 uleet Ill Iiklou W CollpaFe VIEWS anu
take some action looking toward having a
change made in the road laws by the pres
ent Legislature. The Senator from this
county, Mr.. Knight, in reply to inquiries
we made of him, on the subject, said that
the members from this county were wait
ing some suggestion from the people, as to
what they wanted in the way of change
and amendment of the road law. We have
received letter from one of our most
practical and intelligent farmers, suggest
ing that delegates be appointed in each
district on election day to meet at Elhton
on Friday next, the return day, and en-
deavor to agree upon some plan by which
the County Commissioners will be invested
with power to make such contracts as will
enforce the performance of duty on the
Supervisors, or those appointed to make
and mend the roads.
There appears to be nothing in the Con-
stitution of the State prohibiting such a
modification of the present road laws as
will place such power in the hands of
County Commissioners as will enable them
to have the money properly expended, in
place of wasted, as it now is on the roads,
Acting upon those suggestions and the
universal desire to have change in the
road system, we give this notice and call
upon the citizens of the districts to appoint
as many delegates on Wednesday next, 18th
inst, as they deem proper, to meet at Elk
ton on Friday, to consider this subject, and
we have assurance that our county MEM
bers will urge their recommendations on
the Legislature.
The following recommendation on this
subject has been embodied in memorial
to the Legislature by committee appoint
ed by the Maryland State Agricultural and
Mechanical Association:
COUNTY ROADS.
To devise really good system of county
roads, would confer inestimable benefit,
not only upon agriculture, but every inter-
est and industry of the State: but it in
so far productive chiefly of contrariety of
may be to point out defects in past or ex-
listing road laws, practical remedies are
hard to find. Perhaps one of the chief
difficulties, is to secure sufficient agreement
as to any one plan to give it fair trial.
If the suggestions here offered are unsatis-
factory, it can be safely said that the sys-
TENS heretofore adopted are not less SO.
Whatever may be its value, however, the
opinion of your memoralists is that road
making is exclusively a question Of civil
engineering. and as such clearly beyond
the capacity and province of unscientific
farmers TO whom it is now entrusted.
The present system of making and
mending roads directly violates every prin-
ciple of science, and the money expended
is therefore almost Il total loss. True
economy, in this connection, is found in
good, substantial roads only, and these can
be constructed by engineers only. Your
memorialits respectfully recommend that
county roads be put in charge of compe-
tent engineers, and that to secure such,
liberal salaries be paid, and satisfactory
evidence of capacity required, that fidelity
to duty be secured by bond and careful
regulations, and that the present inefficient
and wasteful system of Road Supervisors
be abolished. One important engineering
duty might be found in revision, under
direction of the Commissioners of the
several counties, or of a State Board, of
the location of public roads, so that they
shall be in conformity with public needs.
Many roads now paid for out of the public
purse, are justly private roads. Many
other roads are inconveniently located, and
by slight and inexpensive changes which
would at once suggest themselves to a
competent engineer, can be vastly improv-
ed. Your memorialists, further suggest
that the present system of repairs of roads
is radically defective. Under this system,
while the aggregate expenditure is enorm-
Gus, the roads are often impossible, and
never really improved, as annual repairs
never go beyond restoration to former con-
dtion, and often fall short of it. These
annual expenditures for repairs would
doubtless pay the interest and provide a
sinking fund for payment of principal, of
such sum as would suffice to make and
maintain good roads.
1t would be far better then for the sever
al counties to borrow on their bonds, sufli-
Gent money to make good roads and raise,
by taxation, the means required for inter
est, and a sinking fund for the retention
of the bonds. In case of roads of large,
general Importance, State aid might be
properly extended.
Such bonds, if not forced on the mark ct
but sold gradually as their proceeds might
be needed to make roads, (care being taken
not to undertake much in any one year.
wonld at once command good local market
and in time be sought as a general invest
ment.
The appreciation of property resulting
from good roads, would much more than
pay within Il reasonable period, the bonds
issued and thus the tax for retention
would never be felt as a burden, even il an
increase of taxation over that required by
the present system, should be found ncccs-
sary at first.
But it would be true economy to secure
good roads even at the expense of a very
large increase OF taxation.
The true test of judicious taxation is the
| advantage returned to the tax payer, and
measured by this rule taxation for our
common road repairs are extremely iniu-
dicious and wasteful each year. only re-
storing-if it does restore-what the pre-
ceding year expended without real i'm
provement. Good roads, well made, might
cost more in the beginning, but would pay
for the outlay; bad roads repaired in per
petuity, without permanent betterment,
must always remain loss.
Your mamoralists think these sugces-
tons, however crude, may be made useful
by careful and detailed consideration of
this subject of county roads, which, in view
of its exceeding Importance to the State at
large, they do not hesitate TO press most
earnestly upon the consideration of every
member Of your Honorable Body.
A LUCKY SEAT.-The seat occupied in
the House of Delegates, by James B.
Groom, four years ago was chosen by Hon.
w. M. Merricll, who was elected to Con-
gress the next Fall. Two years ago A. p.
German, ESD, occupied the same seat, and
was elected Speaker of House on the first
day of the session, and at the close of the
session was elected President of the Chesa.
peake & Ohio Canal Co., with salary of
$500 per annum, which position he has
filled satisfactorily, with fair prospect of
retaining it for an indefinite period.