The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-29
GOOD COUNTRY ROADS WANTED.
New Jerseys Example to be Followed in
Other States.

The New Jersey law which was passed two
years ago permitting the various counties OF
that State to issue bonds for the improvement
of country roads has led to movements in that
direction in other States. There is no county
in New Jersey in which the law has been given
a fairer trial than in Union county. Bonds
have been issued in that county to the amount
of $3O0,0O0 and the money obtained by this
issue will be sufficient to put in fine condition
some thirty miles of country roads, extending
in one direction from Elizabeth to Plainfeld
and in another direction from Railway to
Summit.
The original estimate of expense for these
improvements was $40, 900 per mile, and to the
credit of those who have-had theimprovement
in charge this sum has proved sufficient for
them. The roads are now nearly finished, and
for the first time in the history of Union coun-
ty they are in condition for all sorts of travel
every season of the year. 1t is alleged that in
bad weather one horse can draw load which
required the strength of four horses before i'm
provements were made.
C1sauncey d. Ripley, who OF TIC
projectors of the road law. said that it is
the opinion of property owners in Union
county that the issue of bonds for this
improvement will never be felt by the
taxpayers. The taxes levied to pay the inter-
est on these bonds are now lighter than were
the expenses to keep the roads in repair under
the old system. Sincethe law went into opera
ton, moreover, real estate in Union county
property advances in Elizabeth of nearly $780,
900 more. While this increase is not claimed
as all due to the improved roads, it is felt that
this improvement 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, to the effect that the improve
ments cannot cost the present taxpayers dol
lar, because by the time the bonds shall mature
the increase of population and the appreciation
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 interest
ed in the work, has expressed to Mr. Ripley
opinions identical with those of Mr.. Ackerman.
He says two years ago people were leaving
Elizabeth 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 condi-
ton of the roads to enjoy that pastime.
The prominence given to Mr.. Ripley in con-
nection with this law and its execution has
brought letters to him from various parts of
the country which show an increased interest
in this subject, and which promise to popu-
lariZe the movement Within a few weeks
Mr.. Ripley has received letter from gentle
man for many years mem Der of the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature. He wants a copy of the
New Jersey laws and all printed matter Iela-
ting thereto. He says that it is his purpose to
devote his chief energies during the coming
session to promote the passage of similar act
in his own State. The gentleman is also the
owner of newspaper, whose columns he in
tends to devote to the championship of this
movement.
In Massachusetts chair has been recently
endowed at the Boston School of Technology
to be known as the Chair of Public Roads.
Mr.. Ripley says that he has reason to believe
that not only in Pennsylvania Massachusetts,
and New York-a society having recently been
formed in this State to promote the improve
ment of public roads-has interest been awak-
ened 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 improvement
of roads.
structs free of charge one person from each
session of the Legislatures bills for this pur-
ryland, and Rhode Island in addition to the
StsStes i7SsTSTioneaf: 4alnp psnlre fecss=
.nized the Importance of good roads in the
White Mountain district by making State ap-
preparations for the construction and repair of
the principal county and town roads. Mr..
Ripley was glad to notice. during a visit to
Maine last summer that increased attention is
given to the condition of the roads in Bangor,
and that at Bar Harbor the town authorities
have become convinced that if they are to
maintain that place as a favored Summer re-
sort they must provide good roads for the Sum-
mer visitors-N. Y. Times.