The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-07-26
Proposed Plan for Establishing
Free Roads.

Free Roads.
At the June meeting Of the Balti-
more County Grange, Mr.. Edward Van
Rcuth read a paper on this subject.
Abiding to the recognized and unive-
sally.felt evils Of the present system,
the costiiness Of toll roads which he
estimated exactcd twenty dollars an
nually from each land owner who runs
only one.horse team aud made three
trips a week, more than his county tax
bill, and that for many taxpayers, ex-
cept those Of Eastern Shore and Syu,h
err Maryland, the yearly toll charges
run up to hundreds OF dollars. He
proposed the following as a remedy {:
1t takes about 500 miles Of road
length to spin network Of free high
ways over the state of Maryland.
Through such a network, as shown by
a map made and approximately meas
ured for that purpose, all the country
centres in the state are crossed and
connected. This l,500.mile total allots
1000 miles to Northern and Western
Maryland, $50 miles to Southern Mary.
land and 300 miles, or one fifth of total
to the Eastern Shore. Now estimating
the average cost of a mile of first class
turnpike to be So, 900, it follows that
1900 miles, at $4,000 per mile, is
equal to 1900, 900. by which sum all
the roads needed for the system, say
$500 miles, if existing as toll roads,
can be improved, and if not existing
can be bull. within the price named.
Allowing further bridge fund Of
$500,000, the sum needed to establish
the system is 100000. 1t does not
follow, however, that all this sum has
to be spent. This depends on what
has to be expended on each mile
bought, built or improved from the
general allowance of 50. 900 per mile
for standard road. To meet the ex-
pense it is proposed to raise a road fund
by public loan, issued ia sums as to
cover the current expense. 1t ought to
be easily placed in the form of Mary
land State road bonds at per cent
maybe at p per cent. No doubt they
would be realty taken at a premium.
lie recommends a careful survey by
the State Engineer and the accurate
mapping out of needed roads and the
adoption of a well digested system by
lesa! authority vested in the Legislature
in order to redeem the toll roads, OF
which there are by approximate meas
urement about 57l. say 600 miles; and
to have built or improved by award Of
contract to the lowest bidder. ETC., all
the other or new roads as devised aud
intended by the scheme.
lie insists that il politics have to
enter into anything of so general inter.
est and usefulness 1t is far better that
it lie never undertaken. To avoid this
he recommends one head or chief, a
superintendent Of roads, nominated BY
tho Governor and approved by the
Legislature, with steady tenure for
the good Of the service. Also that ad.
ministrative and financial matters be
kept apart and that strict accountable
ity as regards expenses and honest per.
Torrance Of duties or hned and con-
tract labor be provided for Granting
this, road chief dependent on the law
and independent of political influence
or power, and removable only for just
cause at law, the personnel Of a state
road administration as proposed and the
expenses attendant thereon for free
road system Of 800 miles would be
Chief superintendent of roads. - 5000
Asst. superintendent or Inspector. 5000
Civil engineer or state surveyor. 5000
Assts. to surveyor and draughismen 1000
1000
Three or four assistant clerks. .... 1000
Messenger. Observation-Disclosures. 500
Fifty supervisors Of roads, one to
each 80 miles (salary $500 and
allowance for horse and buggy,
$500; total salary, 81. OOO). go. $4,000