The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-18
FOR BETTER ROADS.
Letters from the People and Clip
pings frorl the Press.


pings from the Press.
| To the EdItur OF HE KEPuBLICAN:
Sometimes we expect too much
from the Commissioners. We want
more money levied for roads, longer
terms of school, new school houses,
and especially low taxes and good
times generally.
If there is more money levied for
roads there must necessarily be
higher taxes, aud | presume the
majority Of the Taxpayers are will
ling to have higher taxes if the
money would be judiciously expen-
ded. If road supervisors would ex-
pend the money on the roads the
same as if they were doing it at
their expense, | think would be less
cause for complaint.
~ I think S1.25 for ten hours work
is fair wages, and can get plenty Of
good hands for that price,
\ supervisor should have move
on him and have more work and
less talk and there would be more
evidence on the road that the money
was judiciously expended. If there
should be more money levied for
roads supervisors could reserve a
small amount to eXpend in opening
culverts, etc, in the fall. Some
times 81 expended in this way is
equivalent to $40 in the spring.
Good roads are Il good advertise
mcnt posted in conspicuous place
K.
One of the most important sub
jects for the Legislature to consider
is good road law. Agitation and
discussion have made it plain that
the people want better roads and
that they are soon going to demand
them in every part of the State.
The way of wisdom, therefore, is
for our lawmakers to discover
which way the current Of public
sentiment is running. and to draft
a road law which shall make it pos
sible for highway improvement to
begin now in such a manner that
it will not have to be undone and
gone over again few years hence.
The needs Of the situation are to
devise laws consistent with econom-
zeal and scientific road-making.
There is money enough raised every
year from the road tax to keep the
roads in decent repair and to build
several miles of Macadam or Tel
ford pike, which would form the
beginning of new system of high
ways. But proper supervision on
the part of the State, smashing
of the "political machine in road
appointments at the county-seats,
and spending money on roads in
stead Of politics would connect
every corner of Maryland with
markets, stations and boat landings
by first-class roads within the next
fifteen years, without mourning
debt, issuing a bond or increasing
taxation.
For instance, in Baltimore coun-
ty the annual road tax amounts to
about SIG, 900 per annum, and, at
the maximum rate, would be s25,-
600. AS it is, the fund provides
$167 a mile for all the roads in the
county. In ten years this would
be 100000, or $4,000 a mile. A
good style of Macadam road can be
built for 81, 800 mile, so that with
a system and brains back of it road
improvement is within reach of the
State of Maryland.
As to the means, the present ar
rangement of entrustlng the care
of roads to the County Commits
sioners and their appointees in the
road districts is failure. In sug-
gesting a new method there are two
ways to pursue. First, the State
can take possession of the roads,
levy taxes, build and keep them IN
repair by means of a State superin-
tendent, county sub-superintendent
and supervisor in each district.
This system requires several salaried
officers, and, for that reason, is OPP
posed by some. A second plan is a
non-partisan county board empow-
cred to receive the funds, to employ
competent engineer, and to en-
gage in bodybuilding under his di-
re ton. This would take the coun-
ty roads out of politics, and would
lead to the administration of the
r05t ftftt 5tfr4lt lis The school fftHfti
is managed.
Each of the methods suggested
has its advantages, and each OF
them provides for the one thing
nccdful-the employment Of road
engineers whose knowledge Of road