The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-03-06
Reported for The Egis.

Reported for The Egis.
The farmers of Earford county held a
meeting in the Court House, ON Friday, Feb
Iuary 9th, to consider the all-important sub
ject of public roads. Mr.. George E. Silver
presided, with Mr. VIM. L.. Amoss as Secre-
tary.
An excellent address on tue Highways of
Hartford County" was read by Prof. l.. M.
Haupt Professor of Civil Engineering at the
University of Pennsylvania, and Secretary
of the Committee of Better Roads of Phila-
delphia 1t contained much valuable and
practca information on the subject of maca-
damizng roads. He dwelt with force upon
the necessity of supervision of road-making
and road repairs by skilled engineer and
their enforcement from political influ-
ences. Part OF his address is given below
The remainder will be published next week.
HARTFORD AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
At the afternoon session a Committee on
Hartford exhibits at the Worlds Fair, of which
Mr.. Chas. l.. Vail was chairman, appointed
al a former Farmers Convention, reported
the following resolutions, which were adopt
ed:
That committee be appointed to secure and
prepare an exhibit, at the Worlds Fair, re-
presenting the products and resources of Har-
ford county.
The said committee to consist Of ten men,
bers, six appointed by the Chairman of this
meeting, one being from each election district,
and that each farmers club be requested to
appoint one representative.
That this committee shall have power o.
fill vacancies and add to its number, t.
persons interested in the object.
That the said committee shall have power
to solicit contributions and receive any aid
from the State that may be granted.
That the committee be instructed to pre-
pare circular, setting forth the character of
Hartford county industries, including not
only its agricultural features, but also its
many other advantages.
In accordance with these resolutions Chair
man Silver appointed the following Com
mittee:
II. P. Strasbaugh, VIM. H. Baker, W.
Beatty Harlan, Joseph Fl. Whiteford, d. G.
Wharton Smith and Murray Vandiver.
STATE ROAD ENGINEER TO BE ASKED FOR.
The following resolutions were also Rad by
the chairman:
Believing it would be to the interest of
every corporation, company and individual,
within the borders of this State, to have all
public highways constructed and maintained
ia a manner as becomes the energy and enter
prise of our day and generation, and
WHEREAS, it is conceded, by the best
minds, that the desired result can only be
accomplished by the employment of men
educated and thoroughly instructed in the
science of civil engineering, and
WHEREAS, we the farmers, feeling that the
burdens of taxation are as heavy as the times
will permit US to bear, and believing we would
be justified in asking for State aid, in this,
all important undertaking, that, therefore, be
it
Res0Iced, That committee of five be ap-
pointed by the president of this convention
to report to the next meeting bill which, If
then approved, to be presented 10 the Legis-
lature, that will empower the Governor to
appoint a thoroughly competent Civil Engi-
neer for the State. who shall receive q reason
able compensation for his services and for
the services of his appointees, from an ap-
preparation from the State Treasury.
The duties ofthis Civil Engineer shall be,
10 appoint staff of Civil Engineers, consist
ing of one for each county in the State,
These county engineers shall be stationed
in the county town of each respective coun-
ty, and shall devote their entire time to the
Improvement OF the county's highways, Be-
ing advised, and answerable, to the chief of
the staff, to such an extent as the committee
thinks best to make them responsible.
We would ask also that this committee see
that the duties of the County Commissioners
be amended, by law, that when majority of
the taxpayers whose property borders on
certain road shall demand by petition to the
county commissioners that said road be placed
under the management and entire control of
the State Engineer, that it shall be their duty
80 to do for one year or specified time, and
further, 1t, shall be their duty to place at the
disposal of the Chief of Engineers the usual
appropriation for that iorenamed road, and
further,
The committee shall make it the duty of
the County Commissioners to appropriate
under such limitations as the committee think
best, an equal amount to that subscribed by
the patrons of specified road, and on demand
of the petitioners, place said amount at tue
disposal of the State Engineer.
The paper elected considerable discussion.
VIM. L. Amoss adverted to the necessity of
a change in OUR system of road-making. 1t
/ has been asserted, he said, that our present
system is good enough, if properly managed,
\ but what Is the use OF it II it does not ac=
/ complish good Iesults2 Isn't it time to
change it He explained the effect Of the
resolution, which if carried out by the Legis-
lsture would not interfere with the present
system generally, but would permit persons
who use a certain road to have an engineer
appointed to expend the money levied by the
Commissioners for that road, either in
macadamizipg it or otherwise repairing 1t.
A. Haviland Hull thought it might increase
taxation, but he was in favor otit.
Joseph E. Bateman said as he understood
the resolution, if the State appropriates money
sufficient to pay an engineer the farmers
| would do the rest.
w. Beatty Harlan approved the resolution
and said it was in the line of a bill before the
last Legislature that the State should provide
board Of civil engineers in each county TO
have oversight of the roads. The resolution
aims to do this without conflicting with the
functions of the County Commissioners, eX-
cept as to certain roads which need
the most repair Under the present law the
Commissioners may appoint a'scientifc civil
engineer, but this is not obligatory. The
III me has cohe, he argued, when the most i'm
portant thoroughfares ofthe county must be
turnpiked. The most grinding tax the farmer
pays is the tax on bad Roads. It is . tax on
his horses, Ms wagons, his temper, his
patience, hfs Christi anity and even on bis pro-
family. Gov. Hill of New York, in mess,
Hage, recommended that the State erect and
maintain two highways, crossing the State
at right angles, as measure of economy
which would increase the value of property
Prof Haupt thought that If the appoint
ment of State engineer were given to the
/ Governor the matter would still be left in
| nOlitica He urged the aelectjOn of such an