The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-07
About Road Meudinr

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Mr.. Editor:-One of the most important
questions of = local character agitating tho
public mind at the present time is the road
question, and it is presumable that there is
no other wherein the people more radically
differ than keeping the roads in repair and
the proper - stein 10 adopt, and which will be
the most satisfactory to he public. Now it
Is first necessary as a preliminary step to re-
move from politics the roads, which have
been given as a matter of personal consid-
GRAFTON in many cases where more political
work has been done than otherwise. Then
adopt some form of contract on a business
basis that will insure good roads through
out the county. 1t is hard to get out Of old
ruts, and still more difficult to accept out
side influences, even if much good will &C
crue therefrom, and not many will accept
(Ephraim like to his idols) anything out
side whereby time-honored customs will be
endangered, and am compelled to admit
that it is with certain degree of caution
that l venture to offer what may be accepta-
BILE to those in Office and the taxpayers of
uh1 Souhpys Ahy roy l. Will SuSSCSt Iudb pull
itics be separated from the local matters of
the county, and the offices filled with men
OF both parties. Such is generally the case
under township organization when the
majority retains the larger number OF Off
GERS. This ia the key-no to the situation,
and was proven to be the best way TO insure
economical man agement of local matters,
after this much is accomplished and the
office Of the County Commissioners is made
= salsried office, which should be done by
the Legislature this winter, then the people
are prepared for an effective road system
and only then, and no other class will suffer
but the political manipuIators and they are
mostly in Baltimore. My earliest recollec-
ton relative to road work was had under
the township system which had been in OPP
peration for generations, it was simple and
seemed to suit the people as money was
scarce article at that time. The seleotmen
OF the town appointed q person called
surveyor to oversee the repairing of the
roads which was done after the planting
season about the last of May, then the sur.
veyor notified all taxpayers to be prepared
to work out their road and poll taxes, ad-
joining their lands or nearest their homes.
This system has been abandoned, and give
the system in practice there at the present
time, copied from = letter from an official
of that town, where the offices are divided.
''The town appoints three commissioners.
they to lot the roads to the lowest response
BILE bidders, and leave the working Of the
roads almost wholly in their hands. 1t cost
less than under the old system, and we have
better roads" This system has been tried
here and failed, owing to political reasons,
believe When our road management be-
comes Of = non-political nature they can be
safely sold to efficient and responsible par
ties under contract, the contract to specify
how the work shall be done, but in case of
deluge the contractor shall reserve the ris hit
to have such damage appraised or the priv
ilege to do it by the day to be paid full value
for same outside of his contract. l don't
think an intelligent responsible person can
be found to buy the roads in the billy por-
ton Of Cecil county unless he was protected
III case vi SIcAb udmSSo W Inc TOauS. LII
case the commissioners fail to sell the roads
they ahall employ those most directly in
terested to repair then, and exact detailed
statement of work done giving name Of per-
son, wages paid, teams employed, etc. I'm
der the contract system in case of disagree
ment the contractor shall have the privi-
lege to select one disinterested person, and
the commissioners shall appoint another.
In case they differ third to settle the diff
ference is selected to be paid by contractor
and there shall be no appeal from their de-
cision. 1 believe that the contract system
is the only true system, then the cost will
be known, and if out of politics, experienced
and responsible persons can be found to
keep our roads in good repair.
There is feature connected with the
character which has proven detrimental to
good roads and the interests of the taxpay-
ers of the county not found under township
organization, From observation in older
parts of this country Am more forcibly i'm
pressed with the extravagant and unneces-
SOL "uoioSSic VI uo" IOAuS
| in many instances Of An individual nature.
| Now when tho road money is spread out so
thinly to keep in repair what should be in
dividual work, the consequence is that the
main roads will be neglected and the public
will suffer. I trust eur County Commits.
sioners will endeavor to put the main roads
in good condition. l believe their better
Judgment will so order. Very Truly,
| 4. MOVES.