Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-04-06
Our Public Road system.

There has been much discussion among
Our citizens of late with regard to our
present system of keeping the pub ic roads
of the county in order, and the necessity
and expediency of making a change in
the system. All seem to concur that the
present system, as now operated. does not
accomplish results by any means common
surate with the large expenditure of the
peoples money annually appropriated 70
that purpose; but there seems to be some
difference of opinion as to whether the
fault lies in the system, or is to be charg-
ed to the inetliclency and negligence with
which the work is carried on.
1t is an undeniable fac. that very little
permanent or substa4t ial Improvement
has been made in the condition of our
thoroughfares in the last three years, not
withstanding the fact that near V or quite
$4,000 has been in that time expended
for that purpose Indeed it is very ques-
tienable, we think, if the roads through
ou' wv SpuutN ldAS llCiil us Il W EolC, e
in as good condition now as they were
three years ago. The very thorough and
substantial improvements which were eff
fected in many of the county highways
un der the vigorous, though unfortunately
brief, administration of Capt Page, some
10 years ago, have under the unskillful
and negligent management of those who
have succeeded him, in great measure
disappeared. 1t was argued, when the
original road system WAS modified by the
substitution of that now existing that the
work accomplished by Capt. Page would
serve as a basis and example which would
guide the less ski lful persons who were
entrusted with this service, and that, not
only would the excellent road beds and
eauseways then existing be preserved, but
that they would be ex ended IN The same
principle, until all the roads of the county
would se permanently improved.
1t is superfuous to say that no such re-
suits have been effected, but on the other
hand, there is a general concurrence in the
opinion that there has been a backward
tendency under the operation of the ex-
isting system, until almost all the old
landmarks of Mr. Pages regime have dis
appeared. The arguments of the advo-
Gates of the present system were certainly
plausible enough, and it was to have been
expected that, with the large annual ex
psnditure the county has been making for
this service. and with a re- 4sonable degree
of ordinary skill and economical manage
ment, the whole roads Of the county might
have. in this time been converted into
turnpikes. But there has not been, with
rare exceptions, any exercise at al OF
skill and judgment IN this service. The
public road service has been used a
source Of political patronage,and as result
an aptitude and efficiency at drumming the
colored voters up to he polls AMI having
them vote de ticket" has been looked TO
as the best qualifications oil road super
visors, rather than any degree of knowl,
edge and skill in carrying on The road
work. In this way most absolutely in
competent persons have been entrusted
with this service which involves so large
an expenditure of the peoples money
Tho sssa.; ri sss yeais az his management
is before us; and the universal verdict Is
that il is time to order a halt
Give US a change say the tax payers,
with almost universal accord but the ma
ture of the change 10 be made docs not
seem to be so well agreed upon. Some
favor reinsta ement of the original sys-
tenn as it existed in the time of Captain
Page; others adyocae an increase in the
number of supervisors and road corps. so
as to have one to each of the nine election
districts; others prefer system of farm
ing the roads out by con rac', in small
sections, to farmers in each neighborhood'
with a general superintendent, as prac-
ticed successfully in some other States :;
while Others still, urge the retention of the
main features of the existing system, but
to vest the power of appointment of the
supervisors somewhere else than in the
county commissioners. We may discuss
this subject further in future, and to any
of our readers, whose interest in this mat
ter OF so much local importance may
prompt them to give public expression to
their views, our columns will be at ali
times open.