The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-17

town or district by officers chosen BY
the popular vote Of such town OF
district.
The township system, however, would
requires SO many changes in our organic
law and in our ordinary notions and
traditions. that it is scarcely to be ex.
pected that we shall see it in force in
Maryland in the near future. Is it not
possible, however, to provide by law
that the road tax levied in each district
shall be expended on the roads Of the
district? s
The management of the roads must
be intensely localized, especially when
you consider the expenditure of large
sums Of money in building turnpikes or
macadamizsd roads.
You have piece from Rising Sun to
Harrisville. What would it be worth
to you to have the principal roads Of
this part of the county like that one?
It can be done, but it will take consid.
cradle money. The money can readily
be raised if there is the assurance that
it will be we'll spent.
Bonds for long term Of years at a
low rate of interest could be issued and
The money is right here in the county
to buy them. notice, by the reports
of three Banks of the county, not in
Guiding the Rising Sun Bank, that
their aggregate deposits on time Ger.
,ificates, paying 8 per cent interest
amount to $31O,S33.97. County or
district bonds, within reasonable limits,
would be as good securities for invent
ors. The annual interest charge for
$4,000 of such bonds 3 per cent would
be $4,000.
This would be charge to the county
OF little over l I cents on the 500, to
the 9th district Of 10 cents on the 500.
How much more than that is spent
every spring filing up the mud holes
which are just as lad the following
winter?
You may begin if you please in .
more conservative fashion by piking
only short stretches of roads, where the
travel is constant and heavy, and pay
lug for the same by special tax levied
for that purpose.
The only proper and equitable way
to raise money by taxation to build per
manent roads, is by levying the tax for
the same on the property of the dis
trict or districts where the value OF
property aud the comfort Of travel are
thereby increased.
The propriety of such expenditure,
aud the amount Of the same might be
decided by the vote of the citizens, or
IL you prefer, Of taxpayers of such
districts.
All Of these details could be provided
for in a general law. The expenditure
of large sums in the building Of per-
manent ways would meet with much
opposition.
But with good financial and executive
ability 10 the county government,
assisted by honest and skillful spervis.
ion Of the work it could be well doue.
No better investment Of the peoples
money could be made, nor one whose
benefits would be more constant and
widely diiFused. l believe that there
are many men in the Sixth and Ninth
districts. for example, who would gladly
pay an additional road tax If il should
be iutelligently and honestly expended
in making permanent roads iD those
districts.
The best proof Of this is that there
are cases where private citizens have
subscribed certain sums Of money to
make permanent highways in which
they are interested, provided the county
woald exPend an equal sum on such
work.
There are roads in the upper part Of
this county where the expenditure Of
large suns in the attempt to maintain
dirt roads is worse lhsn ioOlishness.
Eaoash money has been spent upon
them 10 The pas. twenty years to have
built permanet ways snd ii will be
found that Il you take any road upon
which there Is heavy travel, that 1t 10
more economical, In the long run to
build permanent way than to maintain
dirt road.
Besides where there 10 mseaiamized
road, it IL good the whole year, and is
benefit 10 every one who travels over
il. Such highways bring the farmer
nsafsr 10 market add 10 the railroads,
increase III v.laa AZ Al. t.nI Ali.