The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-02-28
The Egis & Inteligencer
Bel Air. Md, February %. 1890
THE FARMERS CONVENTION.
A Proposed New Fertilizer Law Discussed
Suggestions About the Roads-Three Coun-
tY Commissioners Advocated.

ty Commissioners Advocated.
The Farmers Convention met again last Satur
day. Mr.. Geo. K. Silver, President, was III the
chair. Messrs. VIM. l.. Amoss and Joseph L.
A proposed new fertilizer law, now before a
committee of the Legislature, was read 1t provides
yzed at the Maryland Agricultural College and the
results published, giving the relative commercial
value of each fertilizer Farmers have the privilege
of having fertilizers analysed free of cost provld-
ed the samples are drawn as the bill directs. ,
The bill does not state when these analyses snail
be returned to the farmers. Mr., A. 7. Silver sug-
geSted that three months ought to be liked as the
limit.
Mr. W. Beatty Harlan thought the College ought
to have at least six months in which 10 report the
results of any analysis made for farmer, and MS
suggestion being adopted, the bill was approved
A petition endorsing the favorable report OF the
Legislature on the Maryland Agricultural College
and asking for continued appropriations to that
institution, was read and offered for signatures
MIR. j. p Silver said the College is now in better
condition, and needs the appropriations. If pro-
perly supported it will be useful to farmers.
A recess then took place until O'Clock.
THE ROAD QUESTION.
Mr.. W. Beatty Harlan, of the committee ap-
pointed at the last meeting to make recommends
tons with regard to the public roads, read the re-
port OF the committee.
The first resolution suggests that it is nexpedient
to endeavOr to secure from the Legislature any
fundamental change in our road laws.
The second recites that it is not the object OF the
meeting to arraign or antagoniZe the County
Commissioners but to foster and encourage greater
local interest in road Improvement.
The third recommends the use of improved
modern road machinery. such road machines
and stone crushers, and asks them to provide one
or more road machines in each district, put them
in the hands of experienced road members and
give them as much road to mend as they can attend
to. Also that the Commissioners require all dirt
roads to be mended by the 18th of June. subsuper-
visor to reserve 10 per cent of their warrants for
subsequent repairs, and that they encourage road
leagues and give them the money to expend upon
such roads as they may take in charge.
The fourth resolution calls the attention of the
County Commissioners to the law which allows
them To appoint civil engineer or Road lnSpec-
tor to have charge OF the roads and bridges, In
place OF the General District Supervisors
j. p. Silver did not think that would better the
road system.
John Moores said that the county would be
obliged to make a good deal OF stone road and he
to sDperintend this kind Of work. Farmers
generally don't understand mechanical principles
and the qualities of timber and man trained to
the business is needed to inspect and Superin' nd
the building of bridges. Such a man could SUI er-
intend the roads and see that the money is spent
right.
JOS T. Hopes regarded it as very important to
have an educated engineer who knows his business
and will give his entire attention to it. General
Supervisors have their own affairs to attend to and
don't have time to look after the roads.
j. p Silver was in favor of the general supervi-
sors. If you appoint one man you will never see
Mr. Harlan said the bill provided for such assist
ants TO the Road Inspector as may be necessary.
who will give their entire time to the public roads.
There must be place to put responsibility for the
condition of roads, and in the proposed plan there
would be plenty of people to report when road
VIM b. Baker said the present road system is a
humbug. People are willing to pay road taxes and
only want value received. He argued that the
system would work in manner similar to the
school system, but at any rate some experiment
must be tried. 1t is not necessary to go to the
Legislature-the County Commissioners have dis
cretiOnary power.
Mr. Moores said the need of competent supervi-
sion was shown in one particular instance Per
sons pdfitiOned for change in a road, to shorten
1t. The new road was made over steep HILL at a
Of Mani tndf hat naprr n.lh
too steep to haul over and the old road around
the hill had to be repaired at cost of $50, and is
j. r Silver thought that instead of getting the
roads out of politics the new system would get
them deeper in politics.
VIM. Munnikhuysen thought if there had been
more politics in County Engineer than without
him. one would have been appointed long ago.
The sixth resolution asks the County Commits
soners to take immediate steps to secure the bene
fits of the WOolsey bequest to Hartford county for
the use of the public roads.
whole, and committee, consisting OF Garrett
Amoss, j. P. Silver and John Moores was appoint
ed to present the views of the meeting to the COun
ty Commissioners and urge their adoption.
The sixth resolution asks the present Legislature
to reduce the number of County Commissioners
Mr.. Harlan said that the committee were dis
posed to recommend that the term of Commission
ners be extended to six years, one to be elected
every two years. The Constitution, however. pre-
vents this, but law is now before the Legislature
providing for change in the Constitution, so that
the object being alwaysto have some experienced
members in the board.
John Moores not in favor of their holding over
Let County Commissioner serve two years and
then let him go: In ten counties of the State. and
among them those that are best managed, they |
have only three Commissioners.
John s. Dallam, an eX-County Commissioner,
thought the public business would be expedited by
having only three commissioners and it would
break up the system that each Commissioner must
get what he can for his district. He thought
a Commissioner would be much more efficient after
fOur than after two wears,
Mr.. Harlan thought the system of each Commits
siOner only representing his own district ought to
be broken up.
mssioners, but A. 7. Silver thought they had bet
ter 20 out after two years.
The resolution was adopted and VIM. B. Baker,
VIM. i. AmosS and A. Z. Silver were appointed a
committee to present it to the Legislature.
On motion of j. p. Silver reduction of the pay
OF jurors from $3.50 to 81 per day was recommend
ed.
A resolution was adopted requesting our repre-
sentatives in the Legislature to vote for Mr. Cofns
amendment to the Constitution with regard to
eecting County Commissioners at various times;
also a resolution asking that the compulsory fea-
ture of the Hay Scales be abolished that farmers
may sell hay within three miles of Baltimore with
out being compelled to haul 1t to the Hay Scales
and back again.
Among those at the meeting, were J. P. Silver
A. p. Silver, John Moores, Jas. G. Robinson,
Alphonso Robinson, w. Il. Harlan, Jas. Lee. b. III.
Warner. Joseph LiveZey, E. b. Amber, Morris
Dean, John j. Alexander, VIM. 3. Baker, VIM.
man, VIM. $. Long, Garrett Amoss, g. l.. Vail,
e. NJ Bayless, }. w. Moore, Henry c. johnson, II.
John Rogers, Jas. NJ Cain, III. M. Wilkinson, John
b. Price. Geo. II. CairneS. Michael Whiteford,
JAS w. Hanna, Mr.. Bishop. of the Maryland
Agricultural College: Frank HallOwell, of Mont
g0mery county, Nd: Edwin Thomas, of Chester
county, Pa.