The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-03
For he Democratic Adroeute.

Not long since we observed in the columns
of the ADVOCATE notice warning all persons
from hauling dirt or sand from any public
road in this county, also requiring supervisors
TO report to the County Commissioners any
violation of this order. The object of this re-
porting not being given, the conclusion was
that the offender would be held responsible for
any damage done to the road. The good
road-loving and tax-paying citizens of district
No. 2, represented by this communication.
were gratiied to learn that our county fathers
we're interested in protecting their rights. So
fully do they appreciate the efforts made TO
keep their public thoroughfares in good con-
dition, that they would resort to clay and
straw, as their ancestors did, for the purpose
OF putting up the crown Of a bakeoven, or to
daub the chinks Of their rural log dwellings
rather than violate the above order But Is
doing right in one instance does not instifv
wrongs TO be permitted more grievous to be
borne. There is room for grievuus complaints
which we win present by suggestions or in
quiries, which we hope the County Commits
sioners of Carroll will duly consider and dis
pose of according to that which they merit.
First, When a county road is of full legal
width, and IN no wise encumbered by fencing
of the landholders on either side, has super
visor the right to get into the fence corners
1dA 0tk Nuh nOkEc l1T the purpose OF
getting mucky dirt to ill up a mud hole in
the centre of the road, when, at the same
time, little grading from the side of the road
bed would drain the water from the road and
afford dirt to fill the holes? Second, When
supervisor goes upon the road with his team
for the purpose OF blowing, and when fall day
rates are intended or expected for horse la
Dor, would 1t not be economy to keen the
team going, say half day at time. or at
least some distance, when the cost of the team
could be dispensed with until the dirt is re-
moved; or il a scoop is used, it can be more
advantageously done than TO be stopping at
short intervals, changing from pillow to scoop.
and at the same time allowing the supervisor
to be in the presence of the hands EMPLOYED
at shoveling, &c? Third, Is it justice, is it
good Judgment, for supervisor to 90 out upon
the road to pillow at improper times, when the
ground Is too dry and hard, just because it
suits his own convenience, and when attempt
ing to pillow from the sides of the road bed
where it should be done, his team soon gets
up see-saw motion, whilst the pillow remains
stationary in the hard ground, failing to nc.
complish what was intended Should he then
order the pillow to be moved as near the fence
as ne can get 1t, where the ground has not
been travelled over, and there pillow furrow
or two by tearing out fence stakes and other
wise damaging the fences, for the purpose of
putting in time and getting 8 little dirt to be
shoveled into the centre of hollow road-bed
from whence it is washed away by the first
brisk shower of rain? Fourth, Has super
visor the right to turn the water from the
road by cutting large bitches into lots and
fields, when his own Judgment decides that it
will overflow growing crops of the owner and
greatly damage the land by washing?
These are some of the wrongs complained
of here. If they are not wrongs we have
naught to say and must submit. If, in the es-
timation of our Honorable Board of Commits
sioners of Carroll these are wrongs that
should not be permitted, could they not be
remedied either by giving special instructions
or by public notice, and allow violation of
these instructions, or the notice to be report
ed with the same propriety that a citizen
should be reported for taking little sand or
dirt from the road where it is always accumu-
lating by being washed together by heavy
rains?
The wrongs here complained Of are the
result of the observations under the immedi-
ate notice of the tax payers of this portion of
district No. 2, whether other localities have
the same cause for complaint we have nothing
to say. JUSTICE.