The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-03-07
A Step in the Right Direction.


The necessity for an intelligent and COM
petent supervision over the construction and
repair of country roads has been recognized
in every State, and in those which have the
best roads such supervision is made. In
harmony with this view Hon. John P. Poe,
of Baltimore city, has offered in the Senate 8
bill providing for the appointment of an ex-
perienced person to serve as State Road and
Bridge Engineer, at salary of $4,000 year,
to be paid by the State.
1t is provided that he shall visit every
county in the State, inspect the roads and
bridges thereof, and advise and confer with
the county commissioners with regard to the
same.
It Is also provided that when petitions are
filed with the county commissioners for open
ing, closing or altering road, the engineer,
after examination, shall report to the county
commissioners upon the advisability of open
ing, closing or altering said road. This pro-
vision, it seems. to US, is too broad. The
county commissioners could better determine
whether or not the public convenience re-
quired the road to be opened, closed or alter
ed, while the engineer or his assistants, which
are provided for, might lay out new roads
when required.
The fourth section provides that all repairs
to roads costing more than 500 shall be let
out by contract, and the work inspected by
the Road Engineer before being paid for.
The construction and repair of bridges,
under this bill, is to be under the control of
the Road Engineer also, who is to furnish
plans and specifications for the work.
The bill may not be all that is desired and
in Its details may require amendment, but,
as we have said, 1t is step in the right d.
rection. It should be carefully examined
and if it gives promise OF good results it
should be passed.
The Maryland Agricultural College,
under its new management, promises to be Of
more value to the farmers of Maryland than
1t has ever been before. The College is ham
pered with debt and needs a liberal appropri.
alton 10 enable 1t to carry on its work to ad-
vantage. A select committee of the House
of Delegates lately visited the institution and
inquired into the management of affairs and
witnessed the methods and progress of in
s.ruction. They were fsvorably impressed
by what they saw and recommended an ap-
preparation of $4,000 to be paid in July next
and $1,000 one year later. From 1888 to
1888 the College received no aid from the
fafo bat 81 l. H.,
able hands 1t deserves to be supported as
generously as the depressed condition of az
fairs will allow. Major Alvord, the Presi-
dent, il an energetic and capable man, and if
continued and properly aided will no doubt
make the institution one of the foremost of
Its kind in the country.
"A bill is before the Legislature to author
ize the Governor to appoint special ducking
police to patrol the waters of Bush and Gun
powder rivers, the said police to be nominal
ed by any four ducking clubs, and to be paid
by them. The law does not grant shore
owners the same privilege. Last Friday Mr..
Preston, of Hartford, offered an amendment
striking out Bush river, leaving the bill ap-
plicable only to the waters of Baltimore
county. 1t seems to as that this bill confers
q control over the public waters of the State
by individuals which is not warranted by the
Constitution. 1t would be manifestly right
and proper that individuals or corporations
should be allowed to appoint private watch
men over their property, armed with the
power of the State to make arrests for viola
tion of the law, but to allow them to do the
same with regard to the public highways,
whether on water or on land, Is dangerous
innovation which ought not be allowed.
The Forum.
The Forum, which has begun Its ninth vol
ume, is an established success. Its well print.
ed pages contain every month valuable articles
on the current topics Of the day, by the best
writers-the tone Of discussion being temper
perste and fair. We know of no other publ
cation which contains so much food for thought
and which will so we'll aid the unprejudiced
reader to form sound conclusions on the va
rious living topics discussed. The March num-
Der contains the following articles:
France in 1889 and 1889, Frederic Harrison
War Under New Conditions, Gen. Henry l..
Abbot A Year of Republican Control. Senator
q. L, Dawes /; The Relation Of Art to Truth, |
w. II. Mallock Do the People Wish Reform,
Prof. Albert B. Hart; The Spectre of the |
Monk, Archdeacon r. w. Farrsr; Protest |
against Dogma, Amos K. Fiske; The Right to |
Vote, Judge Albion w. Tourgee Western
Mortgages, Prof. James Willis Gleed; The
Practice of vivisection, Caroline e. White.
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