Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-05-14
Why Can We Not Have Good Roads ?

l have had the necessity of good roads
and the inconvenience, wear and tare on
my horse and vehicle most deeply impressed
upon me in my many and frequent drives
throughout the counties of Maryland.
or Montgomery, can speak most feel.
ingly, since it has been the one with which
| am most familiar, having lived in it for
the past twenty or twenty-one years.
Now, at present, can recall but three
roads, in fact they are streets compared with
some Of the nauseous alleys, commonly
called roads. These three roads are known
to the residents of the county as the Wash
ington and Brookevile Turnpike, some
times called the Seventh Street Road the
Ashton Pike, from Sligo to Ashton, via the
| Burnt Mills and the Norwood Pike. from
Sandy Spring TO the Seventh Street Pike at
the junction, near the residence of Mr.. Sam
Jones, about mile and ahalf from the
Cross Roads.
Or course we cannot have concrete, as
| phalt, cast iron or brick roads. We could.
possibly, afford block road, but that is too
expensive, taking into consideration the pres.
ent mode Of aoorhing the roads, We could
have plank roads, but these are all out of
the question. We can have and should have
roads which we can be proud OF, and about
which we can speak without being afraid
of feeling reproached We can have earth
and McAdamized or broken stone roads
The former is not our best friend, since we
have found by experience the frost works
more energetically than our County Com
mssioners or their supervisors are able to do.
The fact that we need good roads is self
evident We taxpayers do not get proper
facilities for the transportation of our farm.
ing products. We have had TO haul lime
and fertilizer from Washington, rather than
strain our teams and wagons hauling over
the road from Rockville TO Norbeck.
We have too many roads upon which to
spend either time or money. If the num-
Der of the roads was lessened and their con-
dition better We would have no need to
complain.
The width of the numerous thoroughfares
is insufficient. In the summer when our
wives and sisters are driving alone they are
in constant danger. This | can illustrate
by little incident which occurred last Fall.
AS | was driving on the road from Rock
vile to Norbeck picked up a young pedes
TRAN who CHANGED to be travelling in my
direction. 1t Is generally the custom to
walk our horses down hill, and as | had
just taken that precaution, thinking no one
would attempt to pass, looked back and
saw u h rise running with an empty buggy.
My first impulse was to turn to one side of
the road and let him pass. | soon found it
impossible. Before a second thought had
time To present itself the horse had cleared
me, but the buggy caught on" the hind
wheel OF my vehicle and caused some Slight
damage, which was scarcely worth suing
for And if the damage had been greater /
might have gotten II buggy from the county.
This only occurred because Of adrTOUIeess of
the road. This 50 called road, which in its
present and normal deplorabie, dsgraceful
and uncivized condition, is necessarily 50
much travecd that it ought to be kept in
the finest condition possible.
Perhaps our readers will think we want
roads equal to a skating rink floor. We do
not; that is unreasonable We do want.
and that most sadly, roads which afford
pleasure and transporting facilities RI.
pidlty, safety and economy of carriage are
the objects Of roads They should, there
fore, be 81 located and constructed as to en-.
able burdens of goods aud of passengers to
be transported from one place to another in
the least possible time, with the least posi-.
bic labor and, consequently, with the least
possible expense,
We would like to make n few hin Is TO
these gentlemen, but for fear we are en-.
croaching too much upon the liberality of
our kind and indulgent Mr.. Editor, will
now bid my muse attack more amusing
subject. A DAILY TRAVELLER