The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-04-06
The Egis & Intelligencer
Eel Air. Md, April @, 1855
Ons RUCTyOSS TO TRAVEL IN TEE
PURIIC ROADS.


Some Of the taxpayers in this vicinity, Mr.
Editor. have recently had their minds very mucn
"exeTcsed' In regard to the powers and the
duties OF the County Commissioners in Keeping
The public roads in u passable condition Tor the
lIse Of those who pay the taxes las also othersD
aud whose business requires them 10 travel from
point to point professionally, or in pnTsui OF the
ordinary transaction. incident to civilized life
We refer particularly TO the obstruction TO travel
caused by drifted snow and will elucidate our
views upon the subject bya plain statement OF
the facts that have Just TRANSFERRED and are fresh
in the minds of every one living within i've miles
on Monday, March 18th, instant, violent snow
storm, with high wind. and low temperature pre-
vailed, being so exceedingly Indictment as to COM
pei all except physicians, who had serious cases
depending upon their attention, to remain IN
doors. The storm continued mat night ana
throughout the next day, causing the accumuia-
tons of such immense drifts, that even the
above-named class were compelled TO remain at
home. On the next day, Wednesday, the 18th,
the cold wind continuing, scarcely any one ven
tured out The mail from here had failed to 20
out on the previous day, for the first time Within
our recollection; And after ,nat' ana aotuah as
been compelled, on account of snow-drifts to go
around by Berkeley, Glen Cove. and the Paper
Mill to reach Shures Landing and stafford
There was no travel possible. for vehicles, about
Darlington, until after Thursday. March 10
During those three days OF enforced ldleness, as
regards the use of the public roads, there was
very little complaint made about the obstruction
to travel for the wind and cold were so dreadful
that nothing short OF the greatest emergency
those three days-a long time, especially in
March. to be housed by snow storm-we
thought wo were entitled TO the use of the roads,
especially rs the weather had moderated, and
nothing remained to interfere with travel except
the drifted snow, which only required little
labor here and there for its removal But in this
hope. and reasonable expectation, we were DIS
POINTED. ,.,.
making the most important public roads passa-
Bile devolved upon Those thrifty and industrious
taxpayers who were S1 for provInE food for
their families and for their stock. And Gonse-
quently, as the work fell upon private indiyi-
duals all the roads that could be circumvented,
were allowed to remain INSTRUCTED to travel
from the l2th day of March to this day the 2lst.
The facts are so extraordinary that any public
road in such a community as that which exists
in and about Darlington, should remain absolute
ly closed to travel for space OF mint days. in the
osa T ssf o drfed snow hae we
present the subject to the attention of the Coun
~ Commissioners and 70 that OF tne s IaT1payers
us and may be verified by cloud OF witnesses.
The road from here to Shure's Landing, a dis
ant roads that still remains closed, as we observ
oil in passing It's mouth, near Mrs. Jackson's, to-
day. Mr.. Thompson, whose residence is ap-
proached by this road. came out on horseback,
to-day, while heavy rain fell, and while the Their
inometer stood above 60 f; but no wheel track
Mr.. THOMPSON Mr. worthington. Mr.. Heating
aud Others living within that road, in sending
their grain for stock-feed to Wilson's Mil, were
compelled to send their teams in tho opposite
direction to Shure's Landing. thence up the tow
ing. path by the sutferance OF the Canal Co., TO
he Paper MIL where they crossed f.or oyer iS tne
10 Glen Cove, out by Berkeley village, and down
through Darlington to the Mill,-making a detour
of fully FIVE miles extra, each way.
The Shure's Landing road TO Darlington is tho
legal route for the U. s. mail from Havre de
Grace but, as before stated. the carrier has been
unable, since the 18th inst to pass that road, he
having travelled around by the Paper Mil, and
Berkeley, on this very day-2lst.
haps one Of his sons,) is the supervisor of the
Shure's Landing and Darlington road am In
formed that he was asked by friend few days
ago. why he did not proceed at once as the
Supervisor. TO open the roads.
His answer was that under somewhat similar
circumstances. three or four years ago. he had
employed force and, at considerable expense,
had opened the snow-drifts sufficiently public
travel. Afterward, upon presenting his bill TO
payment for this service, he was coolly informed
10y previous Board TO the gentlemen now in
ohice) that they did not pay for the removal OF
snuw-however obstructng-from the public
roads. He was told, 1t Is reported, though we
do not believe it TO be possible, TO wait upon
providence" for its removal! Whatever the re-
marks that may have been made on this occasion,
concerns us not but us the actual result OF the
application for the payment OF this Just claim,
we are sAfo in stating that not one cent was al
lowed him for his expenditures, and that he was
compelled TO sustain the entire cost of this pub
lie work, himself! He therefore now, most eX-
cusaby. declines assuming any work of this
character.
Now, Mr.. Editor, VIC wish TO be informed, in
the interest OF the public generally, II the pres
ent Board of Commissioners entertain the same
views rs those expressed by some of their prede-
cessOrs in regard to the interruption or travel
upon the public roads from snow or from other
causes. as trees blown across tho roads, wash
out. sc. Can they not trust the Supervisors to
remove such distractions, and have done such
extra work without the fear of an enormous and
dishonest charge for the said work? The Com
missioners appoint tho road supervisors: and are
they thus willing to acknowledge that they do
not appoint men Of ordinary honestly And are
the public, the taxpayers, who use tho roads,
privcd of their use, for full nine days, at great
loss and inconvenience, because the Commits
sioners have appointed Supervisors in whose
honesty they do not reDose sufficient confidence
to trust with q few dollars for removing obsa-
Giles from the public roads?
We hope for the good name of our people, and
that of our road supervisors, that such is not the
fact but we are free to say that a great many
good citizens hereabouts are fully impressed with
tho belief that the unfavorable view, which we
have suggested, Is tho correct one.
Werequest, Mr.. Editor, that you will give this
letter place in your paper and II we are in
error, we hope to be corrected by official allthor-
~ for tho satisfaction OF our increduous neigh.
bors, to be practically exemplified hereafter II
we are not in error, that is IL our information as
here indicated, be correct, we will have some
thing more to say on the subject hereafter.
Respect ully.
IJ1yIju1fOU Ulyrh 9Ist 1893