The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-12-28

Ills UutleS, ana nave the capacity 1Or tnelr
performance. He must be a skilled road
maker to be able to fulfill his obligations
to the county, in the same sense that the
builders of railroads, canals, &C., employ
skilled engineers for the direction and
superintendent of their respective con-
tracts. What sane man would go to a
blacksmith to get coat made or to a
tailor to have his horse shod Yet, &C.
cording to the practice of our road mana
gers farmer, a blacksmith, a tailor, or any
one else engaged in any other department
of trade, is considered equally as compe-
tent to make our roads, if they are only
willing to undertake the work for mere
tritle. The rule is to appoint as supervisor
the man who will engage to work given
piece OF road for the least amount OF money.
That appears to be the only qualification
required. And after the first shower OF
rain, which usually washes away what
little scratching the supervisor has done,
when he is appealed to by those who are
compelled to travel to make the way pass
able, lie will blandly tell you, with all
the complaisance in the world, that 1.-THE
money has all been expended !" Then the
prosecuted public has no redress, but must
of the year, until another appropriation
shall be made, and expended in the same
way ad antinitum. This is our daily expe-
rience. Men without any qualifications
are appointed to the Office, and they are
niggardly limited by the County Commits
sioners to half the amount of money neces-
sary to make passable roads. And unfor-
fortunately there are plenty of men who are
willing to take roads upon such terms.
Let us have the contract SYSTEM" or any
other system" than that which we now
have. The County Commissioners have
full authority in the premises, as we have
before stated. Let them encourage men
who are presumed to have the requisite
knowledge of their duties to take large
contracts at paying rates, contracts that
will be sufficient to occupy protitably their
entire time, to the exclusion of all other
business whatever. Let them educate, and
encourage 10y liberal compensation, class
of road makers, just as civil engineers are
educated and encouraged by those who
are interested in the construction of the
more expensive highways of the country.
As civilization advances the value of
carriage roads is every day enhanced
their entire time is occupied in travel upon
our carriage roads, can net afford the loss
of time in slackening speed to a snail's
pace every few yards to avoid the concus-
sion against the stones, or to save their
carriage springs from fracture in getting
over the gullies, ruts, and multitudes of
wretched mudholes. Besides the loss of
time, which is precious, by such Interrupt
tions the loss of patience and temper, I'M
avoidabe on the part of the best regulated
disposition, is more to be deplored.
The only suggestion that we propose
making at this time is that competent men
should be employed to make the roads;
that each contractor should have as much
road awarded him as he feels able to keep
in good condition, for limited part
of the year only, but for the entire year.
There should be no question or higging
about money, as at present, but the indi-
vidual should give bond to keep the roads
in good condition all the time, as far as
the elements permit. And, that the con-
tractor may feel an interest, and pride in
his road, as well as have an opportunity of
deriving some profit from his undertaking,
which he could not hope to do within the
first year or two, his contract should ex-
tend to a period of from three to five years;
with, of course, the privilege of renewing
it if all parties be agreed. When road
is once placed in good condition, after
that, if proper judgment be exercised, a
very small expenditure of labor, compare
lively speaking, will suffice to keep it so.
Let the roads of the county be divided by
the Commissioners into sections CORE
spending in distance to the average ability
of an ordinary contractor to keep in repair;
then advertise their sale for the length of
time that may be fixed upon, giving each
bidder the privilege of taking as many Sec
lions as he can give bond to keep in good
condition their condition at the end of
each year, before the yearly payment is
made, to be examined and reported upon
by competent disinterested commission
appointed for the purpose.
The citizens of our county have shown
remarkable confidence in the integrity and
in the administrative abilities of the pres
ent board of Commissioners, in electing the
entire board to the office the second time.
One reason, doubtless, for this manifesto
ton Of confidence is to be found in the
fact that they contributed so greatly to-
ward accommodating and gratifying the
voters in the matter OF sub-dividing the
over-grown election precincts; which act
has been hailed with unalloyed and I'M
qualified satisfaction. If they, the Com
missoners, will now inaugurate and estab-
lish upon a firm basis, such road-contract
system as will satisfy the demands of the
age-the wonderfully increased travel
which will no longer brook the delays &C.
casioned by abrupt and steep hills, un
bridged streams, gullies and movable
stones, then all men who now plod heavily
and YEARLY over these rugged ways, would,
with lightened hearts, rise up and give
thanks to those public benefactors who
had thus relieved them of their burdens
These distractions must be removed
from our highways. In the progress of
civilization time has become more precious
than formerly. Where the heavy and
cumbersome stage coach in former years
represented the travellers ideas ofspeed for
the conveyance of passengers and mail
matter, we are only satisfied by the use of
the steam-car and telegraph. Our car
riage-roads have not improved at all in
proportion to other concurrent advances of
civilized society. The question is, "When
shall we begin the improvement ?" Let the
answer be "Now!" In concluding, allow
me to say, my dear sir, that five had with
in the borders of our county a few more
individuals who felt as deep an interest,
and exerted as much wholesome influence
over the improvement of our Public Roads
as yourself, we would soon be able to vie
with the adjoining counties of Pennsyl-
vania, or with the roads of any other sec
ton Of the country.
Very truly, Yours,
w. STUMP FoRwooD.
"A Snowman travelling with panorama