The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-12

diture of money to place the old road
in good condition. Now we ask il
the above reasons were not sufficient
grounds to warrant and justify the
Commissioners to appoint three men
as examiners. to proceed under oath
to view and examine the two loca-
tions, and report to them, whether
or not the public convenience, safety,
&C.. required the proposed change of
location.
Now, as touching the power and
legal right of the Commissioners, we
call your attention to the Code of
Public General laws of Maryland.
Art. %, Sec. 1. which says the County
Commissioners 'shail have charge
over the county roads and bridges"
Same Art. Sec. SO. says "all appli-
cants for opening, altering or closing
of roads shall be by petition" Same
Art. Sec. "a provides the method and
time of giving notice. Sec, SO, gives
the manner of proceeding where it
Is to alter a road. We might cite
other sections. hut think the afore-
going prove conclusively that the
County Commissioners have the legal
right to change the location of a road.
Having shown that the Commits
sIoners had the legal power and au-
thority to act in the premises, let US
see if they acted in compliance with
the law in their proceedings.
lat. The required notice was pub
Iished as per Sec. 81, Art. %. Revised
Code.
End. A petition was filed in COM
pliance with Sec. S3, also printers
certificate.
81. Order passed appointing Ex-
aminers.
4th. Examiners took oath, as re-
quired by Sec. 81.
9Th. Notice given, as provided for
in Sec. SO.
9th. That the Examiners did, in
compliance with Sec. SO, meet on the
premises, view, &c.
18th. The Examiners made their re-
port to the County Commissioners,
giving a plat of both the old and new
locations. as required by Sec. 80.
Stating In said report that the new
location they deem for the public
good, and that the public will there
by be benefited, giving as their rea.
sons that the close proximity of the
proposed location of the railroad
made it dangerous to the public for
travel, and that the old road had be-
come 80 much impaired by land
slides, wasn.outs and high water. that
it would require from time to time
more or less expense to keep it in
good repair. which would not he the
case in the new location, more than
for the repairing of other roads: and
further the new location is much
nearer and fully as good grade, and
finally, assessed the damages due to
those through whose lands the road
runs. Said report was filed and laid
over one meeting before being acted
upon, giving any one an opportunity
to file objections to the ratification
thereof, and lastly the Commission
ers, on the It'll day of May last, pass
ed an order ratifying and confirming
the Examiners report, adopting the
new location and abandoning the
Old, As to any objections being fled
we answer there was petition or
remonstrance filed against granting
the proposed change, and the Com
missioners after an examination of
the facts in the case, and the report of
three honorable. upright citizens of
the county, acting under oath, con
sidered that the public convenience,
safety. &C., required change of lOca-
ton of said road. and passed the
order as above referred to. not for the
benefit of the rail road company, flor
their intention was not to lake the
county road bed, but to Tun parallel
with and in close proximity thereto,
but for the benefit of the public at
large.
BY the above statement we feel
confident that we have clearly and
without doubt to any candid and un-
prejudiced mind disposed of this
part of the Democrats charges, and
showing they had no foundation
therefor. but that it was merely po.
litical campaign gossip. gotten up
for the purpose Of misleading and
prejudicing the people against the
present County Commissioners and
the Republican party. While some
may hold contrary opinion to that
of the Commissioners as to the wis.,
dom in taking the action they did,
two facts are and will remain uncon-
II Mist fbof fho ;c