Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-03-27
Public Roads and Turnpikes.

Mr. Editor In the columns of your issue
of March Goth Pro Bono Publico" discuss es
this subject, which is as familiar to the peo-
pie of this county as is the song of Annie
Rooney" TO the dusky lad Of Southern
Maryland town. He says he ventilated his
views a few years ago and the improvement
in the roads has satisfied him that his arti-
Gle did much good. Then why not write
one every month? Sow the good seed often /;
preach the better road doctrine every chance
you have fear the good results of one
article, every few years, will be knocked out
by as frequent open winters, and leave us
to plod along in mud hub deep. He is right in
his advocacy of stone if any permanent i'm.
provemcnt is expected, especially if the road
is much used. 1t matters not how well the
road is worked, or how competent the civil
engineer employed, or how high his salary
may be, or how much money is expended,
or how many road meetings are held and
resolutions passed, or articles written, the
elements will get the better of us every
winter and spring on every dirt road that is
much used. These are the reasons why
men who appreciate good roads have sub
scrIbed to build turnpikes.
Let us look at the experience of the stock
holders of the two turnpike companies in
this county and see ifany grains of encour-
agement can be extracted TO induce others
to embark in similar enterprise. The
Union Turnpike, extending from Brooke
Vile to the District of Columbia line, with
a branch road from Sandy Spring; the
Washington and Colesylle from Ashton to
Sligo. They lead from thicky populated,
thrifty, productive and wealthy agricul-
tural communities to the Washington mar
ket-hence the most used thoroughfares in
the county. The cost Of constructing these
roads, with economic management, was near.
ly $3,400 per mile, which could not have
been raised except by large subscriptions
by few wealthy, public spirited men and
the assistance of business men of Washing
ton with whom our people traded, the pros
porous condition of agriculture at that time,
which made it possible for all to lend some
assistance and by bonding the road. Had
not all these favorable conditions existed
these roads never could have been com
pleted. The most of the stock that has been
sold brought from $3.50 to So per share of
1876. One road (the Union) pays dividend
of per cent. the other none, and has been
completed twenty years. These turnpikes
were made on the bed of county roads, saw
ing the county over $400 annually in work
ing them, for which privilege the county
imposed a nc in the shape of county taxes
of $119 annually. These roads enhanced
the value OF property measured by the as
sessment) oEe.fith, which benefited the ten
per cent Of US who wanted to sell, but i'm
posed penalty of one fifth higher taxes on
the ninety per cent. who did not. Add To
this an Increase of Is cents in county tax
since they were built, the toll we pay,
which is four times as much as the average
stockholder will ever receive in dividends,
and the recent decision of a Baltimore jury
which requires US to maintain level road
LIT. - tn
prove that jury decisions are not final,)
which requirement necessitates an addi.
tiona expense, or be liable for accidents.
Then ask yourself the question: Is there a
community In the county, no matter how
badly afflicted with bad roads, that could
secure voluntary subscription to build turn
pixies in the face of this experience?
Now let US examine his proposition to
pike the public roads at the county's ex
pense If the stone is handy, with good
management it could be done with 81, 800
per mile. Say we pike ten miles the first
year, and so on, which would cost S35 900
| With the present basis OF assessment this
would require an additional levy of 36 cents
on every 500, which would raise the tax
rate to $127t county tax and 81 45, county
and State. The cost of repairs would be as
much as now. Gould our farmer taxpayers
stand this these hard times?
He says, "let the work begin at the coun
! ty seat first, gradually stretching out till we
have all county roads made good. fear the
taxpayers remote from the county seat would
lose patience waiting their turn to come
and go to the sleep that knows no awaken
ing, leaving their grand and great grand
children TO plod over the mud roads after
paying 80 cents turnpike tax all these years
for two generations will have passed before
ten miles each year could reach all.
A good deal of improvement is going or
along the railroad, which will increase the
basis of taxation, but every little town viii
demand incorporation, in order to have the
road tax refunded for street improvements
They require additional and better schoo
facilities Very little will be gained from
this source. Three -fourths of the taxpay
ers in this county will object TO his propo
sition with their chances so far in the din
and distant future and the increased taxa
ton which they must pay.
/ would suggest: First, the adoption o
the township system, which would give u
the advantages the incorporated towns nov
enjoy in improving roads. Second, the adop
ton of the secret ballot, which would des
troy the occupation of the tricky politician
whose influence is recognized and his use
fulness to party rewarded by appointment
as road supervisor, and his competency an
ability not considered. Third, the recogui
ton Of the merit system, which would rele
gate the incompetent spokesman 10 the rea
in the public service and secure the service