Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-06-27

10 messrs. l.. A. wilmer, Chair.
mani u. n. EdeIen, 3. n. mitchell
~ A. Turner aud T. v RObeyI Gem.
mittee, tc.-GentIemen.- We hav,
the honor 70 acknowledge the receipt n Won,
hands, on the goth uliimo, q the petition on
behalf and In obedience to the request Of a
convention Of taxpayers recently held IN
/ Port Tobacco, to consider the question Of a
change in our public road system. We leg
/ leave respectfully to submit herewith our an.
sWer thereto, begging at the same time The
favor Of your indulgence for the brevity Of
its consideration Your petition after allud.
ing 10 the had condition Of our roads during
the past winter, and the iheiiicincy Of our
present road system, asks 81 our hands the
appointment Of civil engineer as superintep.
dent in Chief Of, or adjunct to. the existing
system the salary Of said officer being set At
$1,000 Per anuum. We readily admit that
the condition Of our public roads during the
period named. was highly uufavorahle; brit re.
spectfully submit whether this state Of Affairs
was not largely and inevitably due to the al
most unprecedentedly wet and Indictment
season. Il may also perhaps be admitted
our system 10, in some particulars, imperfect
and that j, needs revision ana improvement.
But it should be borne in mind that the most
widespread and vehement objection urged
against it, has been the burden Of expenses
attending its operation. THIS being so, we
can but regard the proposition and request as
contained in your petition as saving some
what Of inconsistency. That proposition
fnrely stated, is this: to retain the present i'll
advised and inefficient system with all its AL
legged obnoxious features and unnecessary
cast and to append thereto, yet another fea-
ture requiring an additional outlay Of $1,000
without an assured, or even commemorate
advantage Being anxious to DO the will, a.
well as to ssossrve the interests Of the people
we have been at some pains to ascertain that
will in regard 10 this proposed measure, and
have no hesitation in saying that y majority
Of the taxpayers do not approve it. But a
small proportion Of them it must be c. Messed,
you your commission TO our board And
even Of those who sigaed said petition, SOME
have since stated to members Of our body that
they regretted their ineonsiderate action, and
upon maturer reflection, hoped the request
would not be granted In addition, we have
had divers interviews with many and VA
in the convention, most Of whom unhesitat-
ing and earnestly oppose the action recon-
mended in your petition. Many are of the
opinion that we 30 not need the services Of n
civil engineer at all on our county roads.
while searly all agreed that the increased ex.
penditures which the salary of such an office
would impose, would neeesstate an OUTLAY
which the county would not be able, nor the
people he willing to hear
Such we confidently believe, being tiie de.
librrate views Of ia 4jouty Of the taI-pAying
citizens Of Charles county, Ito which We hey
leave to add our own concurrence
we feel constrained 20 withhold our compl |
Ance from the request contained in your pet-
ton and this we beg 20 assure you, we do |
not in a spirit Of factious or partzan oppo.i !
sson, but with an eye single to III, |
welfare and interest Of the whole people All .
Of which is respectfully submitted.
CHARLES h. HARMON, President