Montgomery County sentinel., 1879-09-26
Streets and Public Roads

By Editor The announcement in the last
issue OF the SEETIEEL THAT the manner 10
which the Commissioners of our town (Rock-
ville) have lately improved the streets, is eli
citing universal admiration" is q communi-
cation 30 important and worthy of notice
for extension and imitation, Rs to make the
mode and manner Of its eons0mmation sub
/ ject OF enquiry and pahIicztion.
! 10 the absense OF an opportunity for per-
sonal enquiry upon the subject, | turn TO the
law prescribing the mode of election, qualif-
cation aud duties Of YOUR town commission
ers, and the secret of your success will be ap-
parent. After fixing the time OF previous
residence and term OF service the law goes on
20 say, THAT the Commissioners must be SUBJ
stantial citizens, resident within the limits of
the corporation for five years next preceding
| their election aud TO contin0e 70 do so during
their term Of Office. They shall receive no
pay Tor their servIcss, except the President"
| who, in subsequent section, is allowed
with other executive officers, sgrh eompensa-
ton BY the Commissioners aS is reasonable.
Whatever Interpretation may he put upon
the words ''subsiAulial citizens" the condi-
tions OF residence aud service without pay are
wise and salutary provisions II makes the
compensation Of the Commissioners 10 depend
upon the indirect benefits which they, in COM
mon with the citizens of the whole town, re-
ceive from the improvements made. This
| gives you a community of interests and makes
you mutually dependent upon each other for
comfort and prosperity. This is the end of
government, and according to your report the
Commissioners of Rockville must be accorded
| the credit OF success Of showing how q town
OF city can be well and economically govern
ed. Another provision Of said law requires
the County Commissioners annually 10 appro-
PIRATE one-third OF the tax-levy upon all pro-
| perty within the corporate limits of Rockville
TO the improvement Of the streets of the town
This takes that amount from the general levy
Of the county and adds il to the fund raised
! by tie Town Commissioners upon the iuhabi-
tants for the Improvement of streets and re-
lieves the county from the care and RESPONSE
bility OF keeping those streets in order; or,
more properly speaking, ia most admirable
disorder, neglect and confusion.
This result OF the admirable order OF your
streets, so as 10 make them the subject of pub
lie comment and admiration, is precisely what
would happen If the same authority and priv
ilege we're extended TO each district and neigh
borhood of the county. You have found by
experience that the people Of Rockville under
stand their own wants and know better how
| TO repair their own streets, and to manage
| their own police, than the rest of the county
can possibly do. Give TO the rest OF rhe conn
! ty credit for an equal amount OF wisdom aud
| Judgment for the management of their own
4 local interests and, my word for it, they will
| prove themselves equally worthy of the high
| praise and commendation which you have
| justly given TO the Commissioners of the town
Of Rockville.
1 This brings me back 10 the important subjec.
OF county roads, and will add recent expe-
rience and observation in the adjoining county
o! Howard. On Saturday last, the 20Ih
| | ventured from Baltimore via hoods Mill and
the Westminster road This road cuts direct
y across the Patuxent and Patapsco and the
numerous tributaries 10 those important riv-
ers; and s hilly, rocky and stoney. found
the first seven miles, between the Patapsco
and Roxbury, though very billy almost as
smooth as plank floor. The road is about
| ls or 20 feet between side bitches all the
stone picked off and carefully laid SIS little
dams across the side bitches 10 catch the sand
as il washes down from the bills at every rain,
TO be returned upon the centre Of the road,
which is kep. full and weil-rounded in the
middle, the ruis smooihed aud water turned
of TO the side bitches al all necessary points
| This work and repair is all done by our old
4 negro man, Jim Warheld, who, under various
supervisors, has been kept upon this piece OF
road for several years. He, with his bent
| FORM his pick, shovel and sometimes a wheel
barrow, may generally during the Summer
season be found upon some part Of this road
without supervisor or boss TO over look him
| He knows how TO work and where to work,
and his road is entitled to as high commenda-
ties IS --sp have geven TO the Commissioners
of Rockville.
| If Montgomery supervisors could be in
duced to follow this example of Howard,
what comfort and economy would follow the
working of our public roads. A. B. d.