The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-10-25

Lie Ioi'iS Ill tlllS county SEEM always 10
have been fertile source of annoyance and
veXation. We have referred to the method
| of their location in previous chapter, and
| will only remark at this time that it seems
to have been very defective, inasmuch as
the roads at the time of the Inauguration of
the present State government We're exceed
ingly crooked, as shown by oertains plot of
| them to be seen among the records in the
Commissioners office. This crookedneSs was
caused by the desire of the land owners to
have the roads, if possible, located on the
division lines of their farms, which, as here
tofore stated, were often very ill-shaped.
The subject of strengthening the public high
ways was of so much importance that it
entered into the politics of the county soon
after the organization of the State govern
ment; and the people, if we are to believe
the traditions that have been handed down
to the present time, We're divided into two
parties-;s we have soen in the case of the
foad near Charlestown,-one of which ad-
vocated, while the other opposed, the meas
ure. BY the act of 1870 the Commissioners
therein named were directed to strairhten
the road leading from the Heal Of Elk to
Back creek. thence 20 the Head of Bohemia,
-us----:--I--Lr -----"
the Head of SaSSafras. 1t was not till 1894
that the justices of the levy court were
authorized to appoint three free-hoders
upon the petition of two-thirds Of the TAXA
hles of the hundred, praying Tor the widen
ing and strengthening of Il crooked road, to
view the same, and make the improvement
prayed for. The undulating character of
that part of the county north of the Elk
river rendered the construction and mainte-
nance of the roads there inpra expensive
than ii the pther part OF 1t, and the citizens
OF the southern part of the county thought
themselves aggrieved when compelled to
pay an equal share of the road tax, n large
part of which was spent upon roads they
seldom or never Hsad
The Legislature sought to remedy this
cause of complaint by the act of 1874, which
required the levy court to assess n tax of
not more than three shillings in the hum
bred pounds to be applied 10 the ponstruc-
ton and repair of the roads in the county,
and providing that "one-third of the tax
levied on the inhabitants On tho east and
south sides of Elk river should he expended
on the roads on the east and south sides of
said river" This tax was probably found
insufficient, and in 1895 the levy court was
authorized to increase the sum levied for
the roads, SC rs not 10 exceed five shillings
in the hundred pounds Inasmuch as moth
ing is said in this act about where the money
was to be expended, the provision in regard
to that matter in the former act is believed
to have been repealed. though ii is not so
stated in the law,
Previous to the revolution there had been
no provision made by law for the mainte-
nance and support of the poor, except such
relief as was given to them by the levy
court in the matter of outpensionS. This
method of relieving the wants Of those per-
sons who, from the effects of old age or from
any other cause, were in necesSitous circum-
stances, seems to have been practiced al
most from the earliest settlement of the
county, and the records OF this branch of
the government contain many curious petit
tions for relief and bills rendered for ser
vices done in behalf of paupers. Some of
these bills so well illustrate the customs
that prevailed, and the ignorance of the peo-
pie who made them. that we insert the fol-
lowing specimen: