The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-02-22
MASS MEETINGS RECOMMENDED.

MASS MEETINGS. REOOMMENDED.
A meeting of the Deer Creek Farmers Club
was held at the residence of Mr. James Lee, OF
Saturday February 10th. About SO persons, in
GLIDING members of the club and visitors, were
present. In the absence of the President, MIR
George L. Silver was called to the chair
committee to inspect the farm and buildings
was appointed, consisting OF Messrs. Hays
Lochary and Moores, who reported that they
found the farm and buildings in good order; the
latter well arranged, commodious and comfort
able; that there were AZ head OF stock cattle IN
the stable, also COWS, oxen and calves-ali OF
which looked well. In short that they had
nothing to condemn, but praise for all they saw.
The subjects announced for discussion were: =
The praclicability of building railroad from
the mouth of Deer Creek to Bel Air, and the
County Roads.
Mr. James Lee expressed himself as decidedly
in favor of the proposed railroad but did not
think it advisable to get stock subscribed until
it can be seen whether the Delta railroad will be
built or not. If that is not made the only plan
would be to make road from the Susquehanna
river, by way of Bel Air. to connect with tue
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore rail
road at Magnolia or Edgewood. The latter road,
has offered to extend liberal assistance to such
road. As for the coun roads, We need change
in the system. The Fulton township plan would
require some legislation, ana il is probably too
late for that but the County Commissioners
should give the contract system II Trial He waH
salis fled he roads could be made much better
Tor the same amount VI money! IL Nolhcu W
contract than they are now. The supervisors
at present are not under bond but under the
other system they must give bond 10 Keep The
roads in good order.
w. Munnikhuysen would prefer broad-gauge
railroad, but would be satisfied with narrow
gauge, if the Delta road is built. If that is not
made, broad gauge from the mouth of Deer
Creek would be built. Concerning the dirt roade
he did not think their condition was the fault Of
the system. In his judgment the public roads
Ina with tbIr ip m IN We
ments in the county, and were greatly better
than they were 25 years ago. The system was
good enough, but you must make radical
change in the people before you can have better
roads.
w. Finney Galbreath stated that with his col
league, Mr.. Wniteford, he had been appointed
on committee by the Broad Creek Grange 10
visit the Club, and to assure the latter of active
cooperation on the part OF the Grange they
represented in any movement looking to an i'm
provement of the county roads. The present
system, he said, had been tried for a long time
and was good for nothing. There must be a
change before We can have good roads He
strongly advocated the Fulton plan Of road
mending and said the Grange was unanimously
in favor of it. Mr.. Galbreath thought if the
members of the farmers clubs and oranges in
the county would go to Bel Air and appeal to
the Commissioners they would grant what was
desired.
The valley of Deer Creek requires an outlet Of
some kind, and u narrow-gauge railroad he re-
@arded as the only kind practicable. He did not
see any use, however, of building the road to
Edgcwood. The Delta road will be put through,
and the proper plan would be to connect with it
ut Bel Air. Trhc chairman here stated that if the
Delta road was made it was proposed to connect
with it at Bel Air; if not to build road from
the Susquehanna river to Magnolia or Edge
wood.
w. Scott Whiteford stated that he represented
Broad Creek Grange, and had been sent to ask
the club to do what they could to secure change
in the road system. He alluded to the miserable
condition Of the roads in his district, and stated
that he had seen the Fulton system in use in
Peach Bottom township, Pa, and could see a
great improvement in the roads there. Our
roads, on the contrary, are growing worse He
thought the Delta railroad would be built, and
was in favor Of building the proposed narrow
gauge road, to connect with the Delta road at
Bel Air.
S. NJ. Bayess thought the present road sys-
TEN defective. The roads are not mendcd soon
enough in the year. He believed the Fulton
plan practicable.
s. Nj Lee did not think our need of n railroad
was always as great as we imagined. A railroad
brings capital to country and increases the gen.
cral prosperity; but as regards immediate ad-
vantage to farmers here, it would make hut little
difference. Our principal money crop walks off
to market He still thought if we worked up
our present road system TO its fullest capacity
it would give us good roads. The Commission
ers have not used their powers and have in some
cases given us inefficient supervisors. Good
supervisors are necessary, and there should be
specified plans and q stated time for mending
roads. The roads, he thought, should not be
worked later than early in June.
VIM. Hall thought The roads had improved
under the present system. In his district Uhe
trst,) they had good supervisor, who looked
after the roads himself. He thought more work
could be done on the roads for the money now
levied if the county would provide scoops for
removing dirt, instead of having so much work
done by shovels. He did not think money enough
was levied for the roads.
Henry S. Gorrell was in favor of the Fulton
township plan of road-mending, but thought
any system better than the present one If the
roads were mended by contract money would BE-
saved.
George r. Glasgow said he was in favor of
both railroads and good dirt roads. He prefer
red bruad-guuge railroad but was not prepar
ed to say which is most economical. The pr, =
sent system Of mending roads is wrong some
where. Til" general supervisors fail 10 do theii
duty, aud the money paid 10 them would be bel
ter spent in work on the roads. Each Commit
sioner should supervise The roads IN his district
K. John Rogers thought a great amount {
money is wasted under the present system and
il would be well for the Commissioners to MAKE
the experiment of a change. Let them sell "ui
some of the principal roads, and if the contract
system proved, upon trial, TO lie of advantage,
it might then be adopted for the whole county
The chieffault of the present SYSTEM MIR. Rogers
tlOuSnt was Ine WalI Oh TespOUeIDHlly On me
part of supervisors, but if a man takes road by
contract he is responsible.
f. NJ. Allen, from committee appointed at a
previous meeting, reported that from the best
information the committee could obtain the
County Commissioners were fully empowered
by the law to have the roads repaired by the
contract system, and offered the following reso.
luton, which was adopted and ordered TO be
published in the county papers
" Resolved That we request the County Com
to lntNt nnt ton
mending the Public Roads-said system to be
regulated as each election district may deem
best, and that mass meeting be held in every
Election District at their respective places of
voting prior to 1877, on Saturday, the 9th day of
March, 1875 at o'clock, p. NJ, to take measures
to have such system as they may decide to be
best put in operation by the County Commits
sioners."
Mr.. Allen advocated the contract system and
thought the aggregate of the bids for roads in
any district would in no case exceed the amount
now spent IN such district; and that in putting
such system in operation, provision could easi-
ly be made that the amount expended would not
exceed the present levy.
Il. b. Mccoy conceded with Mr., Aliens views
and thoughtmoney enough was expended to give
us better roads.
Mr. Allen argued that it would be to the adj
vantage of the friends of the Delta Railroad to
unite at Bel Air with railroad from the mouth
of Deer Creek, and build road to some point
on the p, w. and b. road. The advantages
would be cheaper route and facilities for send
ing produce or travelling either 10 Baltimore OF
Philadelphia AS to the exactions Of the p, w
& b. Railroad he said he would like any one tc
show him railroad upon which you can trave
or have freight carried cheaper than on the rail
road named. That road is well managed and il
connecting with it farmers would not be subjec
to imposition.
Johns II. Janney expressed himself as decid
edy in favor of railroad, and thought the mos
practicable plan was to connect with the lowe
road. If we build the Deer Creek road to Be
Air, the probabilities are that the F., W.
Railroad would make the connection at Bel All
themselves. He had found landholders willing