The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-30
PUBLIC ROADS.

The State Society Road Committee
held meeting at the close of the regu-
lar monthly meeting of the State Agrl-
cultural Association at the Rooms cor
ner Fayette and Eutaw streets, Baltl-
more, December 3rd, 1874, Mr.. Dawson
Lawrence in the chair. General Geo.
H. Stewart reported that he was en-
gagged in securing reports from the dit
ferent County Commissioners of their
respective road expenses for the past
five wears. but had not completed his
labors for the action of the Committee.
VIM Webster, the Secretary, was IN
favor of having the repairs done by the
farmers themselves as much as posi-
BILE, and expects to submit to the Com
mittee the details of the Baltimore
county system, which was in success
full operation few years ago, but re-
pealed in consequence Of political agi-
tation upon the subject.
DR.. NJ Merryman thought the more
thoroughly we placed the repairs in the
hands of competent engineers, who made
it their business, the better the roads
would be attended to, in the way of
grade and durability, and gave Incl
dents of disregard of the true princi-
pies of road building in the construc-
ton of certain roads in Baltimore co.
Mr. Lawrence read paper in which
the following features were submitted to
the Committee as suggestions for the
formation of the new law:
|. That We have too many roads ;
not too many for use, but too many for
repair for where the use will not JUS
tify the outlay necessary for good
road any outlay to keep a poor road is
an injudicious expenditure, and such
outlay by reason of its smalness must
be often repeated, its effect on the road
will be only temporary, at best of times
positively injurious, and the result after
all only passage way, hubby in win
ter, muddy in spring and soft weather,
dusty in summer, rutty in autumn,
fast friend of ignorance and isolation,
and sterilitv, and decentralization, and
everything inimical to the farmers wei
fare, a successful foe to science, to the
arts of progress, to rural culture and
refinement, to the social enjoyment
which break forth in the laugh of the
Young and the smile of the old, and a
stringent blockade of rural energy, com
bining the evils of a siege and pesti
lence.
2. That it is better to have few
smooth, hard roads, good at all seasons
of the year, than many poor ones BAD
at all seasons.
3. That it is better for farmers to keep
up private roads as private outlets to
smooth, hard highways, being principal
routes of travel, than to compel the
public to travel over the numerous high
ways now laid out, which reflect great
discredit upon the people who tolerate
them.
BEEF CLUBs.-The AGRICULTURIsT
in reply to an inquiring correspondent,
publishes the following The sugges-
ton might be applied to many other
things among farmers:
The difficulty in the way of farmers
procuring a regular supply of fresh
beef or mutton might easily be removed
10y forming beef clubs, as is done in
Tennessee. One of these clubs has
been in operation 20 years. There are
l6 members. Each member provides
three-year-old steer, or q COW, and
feeds the animal so that it shall be
ready for the butcher at stated time
Each members time is fixed at a meet
ing for that purpose. Each animal is
to be of such quality that there shall
be - l-2 per cent. of talow to the meat
or fine of So is levied The best beef
draws premium of $40. A butcher is
selected in some central locality, who
slaughters an animal every Saturday
and divides it into sixteen portions of
equal value. He keeps correct ac-
count of each animal, credits the owner
with the proceeds, and charges each
member with his share. At the end of
the term a settlement is made, and
those who are in debt pay the amounts,
which are then paid over to those who
have credit. OF course the debts en-
actly balance the credits on the whole
Each member gets about 25 pounds of
beef every week. If it is desirable, the
club might consist of 26 members, and
each one might provide beef twice
year This would give a constant sup
ply Then, if the dogs were looked af-
ter and dozen sheep kept on every
farm, there would be plenty of lamb
and mutton.