The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-03-10
Correspondence baltimore County Uaion.
LETTER FROM UPPER FALLS.
A Practical Man on the Subject OF Public
Roads-A New Road Law Needed
for tho County, sc.
IlrrEn FALIs, March Z. lsss.

UrrER FATS, March 4, 1858.
Messys. Editors. met Mr.. Peter sauerwin a
short time since, and had very interesting con
versation with him upon the incongruities aud
absurdities Of our present road Law. This gentle
man Il a resident Of Mount Washington, In the
Sd district, large taxpayer aud Is considered
Of the kcenest observers and intcllects Of the
day. Ills conversation and remarks we're quito
pointed and full Of suggestion. For instance,
any set Of men now can combine aud get road
anywhere. because the Road Supervisors are tho
majority Of the Board OF Examiners and the
citizen taxpayer, the other member, IL always an
interested party also. Now the Supervisors 20
In for n favorable report because II gives them
job Of work, and the citizen tax payer member
favOFabiy imagincs that the new road will develop
and open up his property, and so he goes for u,
and there Is thus continued multiplication all
through the lower end Of our county Of new
roads at the expense to ahthe taxpayers, whilst
IL Is at the same time . waste Of money. lie says
that that end Of the county Is fairly honeyeombed
with useless roads, and instanced, particularly,
Bclvidcre avenue, which, he says, 10 so cut and
graded that every frost aud rain washes down
cart loads OF dirt and In q short time the cuts
will need 10 be recut aud the road remade. Yet
this road, absolutely useless, was put through and
thu expense saddlcd upon the county by two prop
erty owners whose estates Il opened and the
Road Supervisors who got the work. IL crosses
Jones Pals near Mount Washington, and there
IL bridge there 10 cross and thus literally hav-
Ing two ends but no middle. just like Rogers
avenue about 1900 yards away from II, which
was built and opened at enormous ex; snse years
ago. has never been used because no bridge has
vet been built across the falls, 80 that part Of
Rogers avenue IL a. cless. Now, Of course. Il IL
really the negligence Of the taxpayer In not
keeping himself posted that makes 1t 30 easy to
slip these jobs through, but IL 10 also y radical
defect Of our road Law that makes II practicable
10 do these things
The remedy. flake Il, is % change the roadlaw,
improve Il Ia such q way = 10 mako those wastes
Of money Impossible. For instance, the money
needed In eaeh district should DO dytinct aIa'
separate levy or tax for that district add be spst
In that district instead Of the whole county put
under tribute for the interest Of the Belt, and
thus each district would have just such roads as
thoy would be willing tn pay for. l. 10 possible
90 DO this
Then We need u change In the way of some
supervision over these Jobs No road road
mcEding ought 60 be paid for until a report has
been made and an investigation had 10 see u II
has been properly done Then again, when .
road Is pctitioncd for the Board of Examiners
should be totally disinterested and selected way
from tina, section they should publish notice of
the Petition and every property holder In the
ncighbprhoOi should. by some positive means. be
made acquainted with the facts the Board of
ExamlncFs should not only publish notice Of their
Intention % he on the ground. bu; aiss require
the attendance Il these property holders asd
somewhat similar proceedings be had as In tle
case Of condemnation for - railroad company, tle
expense of jury and all To- be born by those th-
string such road. These are somewhat crude
thoughts. but IL IL certain that some change IS
needed and that public attention 10 very generally
aroused TO the necessity of an improvement %
the present law. In this matter the Board %
County Communist ners arc utterly helpless the
fault anl defect is In the law and there the remedy
must be applied. Good roads are the great civil.
liners u every section. Good roads make easy
access and travel. Easy access enhances the value
of property, saves wear and tear of man, beast
Ani vehicle. Every dollar saved IL one made.
anl every spring or tire saved improves mans
temper a. also h.. pocket. II gives him the means
Of improving his worldly prospects and in every
rel ice in aud partake of his prosperity, land
smiling plenty crowns his days." Hence 90 be
truly happy. harS good roads.
supervisors. Who seem 10 faithfully 10
thei- duty. and the ruais are much Improved over
their condition Of years ago. stone and gravel
are fast taking the place of clay AMI mud, but
the money allowance j. 50 scarce that. spread
such district this. I; docs not 20 very far.
We are much in hopes that we may have allowed
10 at least $4,000 instead of the usual s. 800,
which increase. small A. IL l.. would enable our
Road Supervisors - benefit Us proportiOnaliy
much more than the small increase in our allow
anee. Whilst this amount. taken for once from
the lower distFict..would be just that much saved
by iuiicious use instead II wasted in useless new
road. and jobs. Bully BARLOW.