The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-01-19
Qhtptoplts (olnn,n

Editor Cecil Wig:
SIR:-In perusing the last edition Of
your paper | was forcibly impressed, or
account of its Importance to the people
of Cecil county, by the Proposed New
Road and Bridge Law"
The necessity for some such law must
| be apparent to every one who travels Our
roads and is acquainted with their pres.
ent miserable condition. Under the
present road law thousands of dollars are
annually expended with no adequate
benefit to the public resulting therefrom.
This in measure flows from the way in
which the roads are sold, the supervisors
each being allowed to purchase any length
of road they desire, but the greatest error
Is in the lack Of frequent and rigid super
vision and inspection.
Many of the roads are bid so lop that
it is palpable to every one acquainted
with the circumstances they can not be
properly mended for the money bid. ard
many of them are not mendcd, in the
proper acceptation of the term, at all.
With the new law as proposed the re-
suit can not be other than different and
better, making as it does provision for
the division of the county into three dis
tricts and placing each district under the
immediate charge of county commits
sloner-a responsible head surely.
In addition each election district being
divided into three road districts with a
<n1 ma
monthly the roads in his district and re-
port their condition to the Board of
County Commissioners under the sane
tity of an oath, and the inspection quar-
terly by the three conformity previous to
the granting OF certificates to the super
vlsors, without which no supervisor can
draw his pay, under the same sanction,
furnishes such system of supervision
and inspection as can not we'll fail to
secure the object desired by all-good
roads.
The continuing of supervisors to the road
district in which they reside for the pur-
chase of roads is another feature calcu
lated to promote the same good end; by
limiting them to shorter distances and
restricting them to their own moro i'm
mediate vicinity in which every one is
supposed, at least, to have a more direct
| interest.
But this will no doubt beset hostility
on the part of those present supervisors
who practice purchasing many roads at
figures too low, and make money thereby
by not mending them at all. This hos.
:ility would, of course, crop out against
any system which cuts off their present
occupation unless it at the same time
| furnishes them better.
The most important feature, however,
of the whole system is in Sec. II, which
limits the annual expenditure to
500, 900. There is no good reason. judg.
ing from the past, that this amount will
not be sufficient. In fact about $4,000
is the amount now expended in n,endia1
the roads proper which under the pro
posed law must yield a greater benefit
and leave about IS, 600 for bridges.
Provided this amount is sufficient, anG
of this there can be no doubt. there is nc
valid objection to be urged against the
limitation except the fact that it limits al
all. And surely this is not to weigt
against the manifold advantages arising
from it. One county in this State at leas
has placed limit on it's expenditures il
this direction and it works we'll. VIVA,
is wise there cannot be unwise here
Other laws contain the same Limitation
and work we'll. Why not this? 1t would
help the county commissioners to resist
the frequent and extravagant demand.
that are almost daily made upon them.
Such levy for the purpose is about
equal to IS cents on each inhabitant O
the county and is only about 81, 900 short
of the levy for public school purposes
Let all insist on it's enactment.
TRAVELLER.