The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-12-27
COUNTY ROADS WANTING,
new jerseys Example to be Fol-
lowed in Others States.


New Jerseys Example to be Fol
lowed in Others States.
The New Jersey law which was pass
co Two years ago permitting the variou
counties of that State to issue bond
ior the improvement of country road
mas led to movements in that directier
IN other States. There is no county il
New Jersey II which the law has been
gwen falrer trial than in Union county
Bonds have been issued in that count,
10 amount Of 100000, and ths
money obtained by this issue will b.
sufficient TO put in fine Condition some
thirty miles of country roads, extending
In one direction from Elizabeth to
Pialnfeld and in another direction from
Railway to Summit.
| The original estimate of expense for
these improvements was $4,000 per
mile, and to the credit OF those who
have had the Improvements in charge
this sum has proved sufficient for them.
The roads are now nearly finished.
and tjr the first time in n: history OF
Union comfy they sra are in CONDITION
Tor all sorts of travel every s-ason Of the
year. 1t is alleged that in bad weather
one horse can draw load which requlr-
ed line strength of four horses before
the Improvements were made.
Chauncey B. Ripley, who was one
OF the projectors of the road law, said
that it is the opinion OF property owners
In Union county that the issue ofbonds
Tor this improvement will never be felt
by the taxpayers. The taxes lcvled to pay
the interest on these bonds are now light
er than were the expenses to keep the
roads in repair under the old system.
Since the law went into operation,
moreover, real estate in Union county
have advanced n-arIey sI,5oo,o 900, ex-
elusive ofproperty advances in Elizabeth
Of nearly S7oo, 900 more. While this
increase IS no. claimed as all due to the
improved roads, it i, felt that this i'm
provement may reasonably be credited
with having already appreciated county
values to the full extent of the cost of
the roads. while general taxes are no
higher than before the roads were laid.
Mr. Ripley quotes Warren Ackerman
who is probably the largest real estate
owner in Union county, 10 the effect
that the improvements cannot cost the
present taxpayers dollar, because by
the time the bonds shall mature the in
crease of population and the apprecia-
ton Of values will have been Sufficient
to pay for their redemption. As Mr..
Ackerman expresses it, the bonds, will
be redeemed by taxes on valuations that
do not now exist and on persons who
are not now residents of the county.
Sheriff Glasby, who is also very much |
interested in the work, has expressed 10
Mr.. Ripley opinions identical with those
of Mr. Ackcrman. He says two years
people were leaving E!lz abeth because
OF bad roads, but that the population
is now increasing and that the city is
becoming attractive to people who like
to drive and who are now enabled by |
the condition of the roads to enjoy |
that pastime.
The prominence given to Mr.. Ripley |
in connection with this law and its ex-
ccution has brought letters to him from
various parts of the country which show
an increased interest 10 this subject and
which promise to popuIarize the move
ment. Within few weeks Mr.. Ripley |
has received letter from a gentleman |
for many years a member of the Penn
sylvania Legislature. He wants copy !
Of the New Jersey la~s and all printed
matter relating th-reto. He says that
if is his purpose to devote his chief en-
ergics during the coming session to pro-
mote the passage of the similar act IN
his own State. The gentle man IS also
the owner of a newspaper, whose
columns he intends 10 devo:e to the
championship of this movement.
Tn Massachusetts chair has been
recently endowed at the Boston Schoo
ofTechnology to be known as the Char
ot Public Roads. Mr. Ripley says that he
ba, reason to believe that not only IN
PENNSYLVANIA, Massachusetts,, and New
york-a society having recently been
formed in this state to promote the I'M
nrovements of public roads-aas in
forest been awakened in this subject,
but that there is hardly an Eastern or
Middle State that has not taken on
new zeal in the matter of the improve
msnt Of roads.
In Tennessee the Vanderbilt Uni
versitv ins,ructs free of charge one
nerson from each county to Supervise
ro.ds. During tn: coming session OF
,bs Legislature bills for this purpose
will be introduced in Onio, Virginia
MARYLAND, and Rhode island in addition
- the States mentioned. New Hamp-
hire has recognized the importance OF
aood roads in the White Mountain dist
. >, bv making STATE appropriations tor
.ss M construction and repair OF the prln'
cioal , county and tom roads Mr.
pr piol.v was glad to notice, during
- Maine last summer, that in