The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-03-15
The Road Contract System.
HOW 1T WORKS IN CECIL COUNTY.
To the Editor Of The Agis:

To the Editor Of The Agis::
SIR: Enjoying the pleasure of being a
sort of quasi citizen of both Cecil and Har-
| ford counties, but much more familiar with
the affairs of the first, repeatedly have to
answer the question as to how the contract
system is working in Cecil, especially since
| the present discussion has been going on.
With the leave of The ABgis, would like
to answer this question publicly, not with
any wish to influence the decision of the
Commissioners, but as possible means of
throwing a little light on much talked of
subject. .u. fHo|Iu' ....
During the last two months have been
in all the election districts of Cecil and
have tried to see some improvement as
consequence of the new system, but have
failed to do so. This too in spite of the
fact that when the new system was first
tried thought it was a wise one; that it
has been failure is q conviction that has
been forced upon me in spite of my early
sympathies. | have tried to inform myself
of the voice of the public on the question,
and find TINT the nearly unanimous opin-
ion confirms my conclusion, that the CON
tract system is failure. Ask the very men
who most earnestly urged it four years ago,
and the answer will be that it is humbug
or something worse. During the present
winter have heard but one opinion of the
Cecil roads-"they have never been worse.n
In Hartford the complaint has been about
the same.
The plan has been to sell the roads to
the lowest bidders, requiring security, and
appoint an inspector in each district, whose
business it is to see that the contracts are
complied with, and without whose en-.
dorsement the contractors cannot be paid.
and in case the contractor fails to mend
the road it is his business to see that it ia
done.
This constitutes very fair system, were
it carried out. 1t is in the difference
between the theory and the practice that
the whole trouble is found. Responsible
men, who really mean to mend the roads,
are at the outset underbidden by the seal,
awags whose only intention is to hoodwipk
the inspector in togiving them certificates.
The inspector is either some "played outn
politician who is merely the tool of the con-
tractors, or prospective candidate at the
next election, whose chief aim is to make
political capital. On to make the story
plain, Mr.. B. is inspector and wishes next
year to go to the Legislature, and Mr.. A.,
who has contract and some influence, can
help him. So his road is passed and no
questions asked. Result of it all is that
the roads of the county were never worse
than during the present winter, and the
verdict Of the public is that the system is q
good one in theory-an utter failure in
practice.
l am familiar with but the 1st and Cd
districts of Hartford, but in them there are
one or two good roads, while have fair
acquaintance with the whole of Cecil, with
out knowing OF single good one. Passing
at any point from Cecil into New Cactle.
one can tell to foot usually where the line
is. There are Cecil roads that have not
had shovel on them for two years. One
condition of contracts is that the contrac-
tors shall keep up all bridges less than four
feet in width. This is evaded almost ev-
erywhere by simply filling them up. Last
fall, after the October floods too, instead of
compelling the contractors to mend the
roads they had sighted until the damage
was twice what it should have been, the
Commissioners were compelled to take
them in their own hands. The new system
has cost as much as the old, the roads were
never worse, and complaints were never
more universal than under it.
l write this as rather partial observer,
partial at the outset to the new system, but
with the aim to be candid. The Elkton
press, think, will endorse what am say
ing. also hope that this may serve as
final answer to almost daily questions upon
the subject. 1t is not likely that can in
huence the decision of the question, and
would not if could; but would commend
to all who are looking for paradise of
good roads in Hartford under the contract
system, the new beatitude, "Blessed is he
who expects nothing, for he shall not be
disappointed" ..
j. A. CALHOUN.
Carsin's Ran, Hartford Co., Md. ,..