The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-02-19

RArvIILE, DArr.soas cousrr. Mo.

February II, 1881.
Editors UaioH "A few weeks ago you intina-
ted that the present would be good time TO dis.
euss the public road question and 81 the Same
time kindly offered your columns 20 any one who
might feel sufficient interest In Il 70 present his
views and thus get the people interested. "A this
is question In which every farmer aud tax
payer is interested, and which has been discussed
time amer time. expected 10 see your columns
crowded ere this with new ideas and suggestions.
but ~ yet none have taken advantage Of your
offer. Therefore. feeling that u will not do 10 let
the matter 70 By default, venture 20 "break tho
ice" with . few crude suggestions.
This ie one OF the questions which seems 20 be
almost inexhaustibls, for Il has not only engaged
the attention Of our public spirited citizens who
at every session Of the Legislature ask for some
alterations OF amendments 10 the road laws of this
county, but u has engaged the attention Of tho
s .s Of different countries f''"' time '""'"'
The Romans, who are said to have learned the
art Of road making from the Carthagsnians, 70.
gardsd roads ~ Of vital Importance for conquest
and the maintenance Of their Empire. The Ro-
man roads were almost Invariably In o straight
line because their chief means Of transport were
beasts of burden which made the preservation Of
the level Of loss consequence than where vehicles
are used. The Roman roads were Of very sub
staRtlai character, ~ some of them have born tho
,raie Of 1000 years without material injury. the
Oldest and moot noted of which 10 the famous Ap.
plan Way. which was constructed by Appins
Ciaudius Cecus about 313 h. G. Il IL said that
this road was constructed by krst removing all
the loose soil; then were laid various strata CO.
mented with lime, on which was laid the pave.
mcnt Of large hexagonai blocks Of stone 90 nicely
joined together ne 70 appear one smooth mass Of
stone. The cost Of this style Of road making vas,
no doubt, enormous. but when We consider that in
those days railroads we're unknown and that these
were they not cheaper In comparison than the
public roads In the State Of Maryland, as they are
now ccnstructedl
In our day railways and canals have 10 some
extent superseded the need Of roads Of such sub
stantiai character rs the ancient Roman roads,
but ne public roads still retain their importance
a. essential auxiliaries % the railways and ca.
nails In the development Of country, Il 10 neces-
sary that they be passable at all seasons Of the
year.
l think Governor Hamilton made good .ug-
gestion when he proposed system OF turnpikes
that would girdle the whole Of his county and
render it practicable for the rural population 10
strike . turnpike within . mile or two Of any
farm house. This system would cost consider
able ut the start, but IL would be far the cheapest
In the end. But fear that this plan would not
have many advocates In the upper end Of this
county, for there are between 40 and SO miles Of
public roads In the 9th district alone-no land
owner being satisfied unless he has n county road
running past his door-and u all could not have
n turnpike 10 their door they would be jealous of
be rather reluctant In contributing 90 construct
and keep the turnpikes In repair. We may not
have arrived ut the time when II Is feasible 10
have q network Of turnpikes in this county, but
We certainly have arrived nj the time when IL IL
possible 60 have roads that are passable nj all
seasons Of the year.
How is this object 20 be accomplished? First.
by making the levy for roads high enough TO put
them In good condition and by having the amount
expended for that purpose, and no other, at the
proper season Of the year. Il may fall pretty
heavily on the tax payers TO contribute enough
TO put the roads In good order. but In the end Il
will be far cheaper; for at least one third Of the
present annual levy will keep them In good
repair. What ! mean by having the money
levied expended for that purpose and no other Is
this: When the county pays for n full hand let
the work Of . full hand be performed and no; that
Of n boy 10 years Of age; aud when three horse
team Is paid for let the work Of three horses be
done instead Of starting out with three aud tying
one to the fence and working only two and when
days hauling IL paid for let days hauling be
done instead Of hauling three or four hours aud
letting the team stand idle the balance Of the day.
What mean by having the work done nj the
proper season Of the year Is that Il be done when
u will be most beneficial 20 the roads instead Of
when Il best suits the convenience Of the super
visors. Roads should be put In proper condition
In tho spring. rs soon the frost 10 out Of the
ground, by 6iling up the holes. cleaning out the
water-courses and picking oG the loose stones.
think u would DO wise economy 70 have . few
hands pass over the roads at frequent intervals,
ater the roads are properly repaired TO keep them
la soed condition. There IL n vast difference be-
tween excepting mp" . road aud repairing" n
| road. by the former q road IL aieays kept In
good condition; by the latter Il Is only Ia good
condition ut inierrafs, being q part Of the time
unfit for travel by reason Of an excess Of new ma
| terals used in repairing. and part Of tho time
worn into ruts aud hollows. We know very we'll
that roads kept in the best condition receive the
least injury from travel and therefore require the
least expenditure for their maintenance.
Suppose = road TO Be In good condition, Il re-
quires frequent attention TO keep Il 90, by keeping
the drains open, removing loose stones and filling
up ruts, which, u attended 10 at the proper time,
contend, will DO far less expensive 10 the tax
payers than the periodical "road mending" which
10 generally done AFTER corn planting and aher
harvest, and much more pleasant TO the travelling
public. Yours respectfully, OBSERVER.