The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-03-13

the State may very properly be asked to aid
in this development of her internal improve
ments, as it is now proposed to do in your
sister State of Pennsylvania.
Good roads cannot be obtained by electing
men to serve with the expectation of making
what they can out of the Office.
Under your organization 1t would seem
that full authority is vested in the County
Commissioners to employ competent engin.
er to supervise the building of the highways,
but as the law is not mandatory I presume
it is dead letter, or there would be no ne
cessity for this agitation. In my opinion the
election or appointment of road commission
ers acting under the county commits
sioners would merely complicate and
still further subdivide the responsi.
bility. The short cut to good roads
in this county is to amend the law by
substituting the word shall for may in Sec. 1,
Art. 20 of the General Laws, emitting in
Their opinion, so it will read: 1.-THE County
Commissioners, whenever the public interests
require or will be thereby advanced, shall
commit the whole matter of grading and con-
structing the public roads and the repairs
thereof, &c, &c. to the care of
competent and scientifically educated Civil
Engineers, who shall direct and manage all
such public works under the immediate con-
Thus the engineer becomes directly amen
able to the Commissioners and these latter to
their constituents. 1t would also be an i'm.
provement if the county commissioners were
limited to three in number, to term ofthree
years, one being elected annually, and if they
were not ,re-eligible for at least two terms.
There are numerous other qualifications not
necessary to recite.
This matter of legislation is one of great
difficulty to adjust, as the various State laws
are so diverse in their provisions. For this
reason no definite result has yet been reach
ed by the Philadelphia Committee on Better
Roads, although numerous bills have been
collected from various States and societies,
and it is hoped ere long to be able to formu-
late them into measure which will embody
most OF the important features of good
road law.
1t is question which is being discussed in
many parts of the Union, in fact it would
scarcely be an exaggeration to say that like
an epidemic it has attacked every State.
The inquiries that have been pouring in
upon our committee manifest unusual inter-
est and the unexpected demand for the pub
LEGATIONS issued only few weeks ago has al.
ready exhausted more than half of the edition
of 900 copies. Among the many editorial
notices received there are some very interest
ing statements which I should te pleased to
submit, but suffice it to say that the Chicago
Times states that Everybody will admit the
wastefulness of present conditions on gener-
al principles, but one whose attention has
been thus generally called to the subject will
be rather startled to learn that the execrable
roads of this State of Illinois now cost our
people $15 SOC, 600 annually extra for hauling
and detract from the aggregate value of the
farms of the State $160000,000. How long
would it take at that rate to lace the State
over every county with wellmade roads?"
The same is true of almost every State and
county in the Union. In this county nature
has placed at your disposal abundant re-
sources and the roads can be readily improv-
ed, therefore, at a comparatively small cost.
The main question before you is this, Do you
fully realize the great benefits of good roads,
financially, morally, socially, and physically?
If so are you willing to secure them?
For where there is will there will be a
way.
ROAD MAXIMs.
1t does not improve a road to throw stones,
fence rails or brush into rut or mud hole
This only makes the road more impassablei in
dry as well as in wet weather. 1t must be
drained or the road raised.
The best way to CROSS q marsh is to go
around it ifpossible, as it will take less time
and less work.
1t is better to bridge stream than to ford
it and avoid the steep, muddy banks, treach-
erous bottom and distractions caused by
freshets.
1t is cheaper 10 keep regular force of
skilled laborers at work repairing and con-
structing roads constantly than 10 call out
levy of raw recruits spasmodically when the
injury to the road is so great as to endanger
life or stop travel.
1t is wiser to pay taxes for maintaining
roads, than for keeping horses that cannot be
used large part of the time because of the
impossible condition of the highways.
1t costs much less to maintain well made
road in good condition than poor road in
oassable condition.
There is no tax which bears so heavily
Upon all classes of citizens as that due 10 bad
.oads.
The road should not drain the fields, but
,he fields the road-it will be better for
both.
The market-range of every product is linn
ted by the cost of transportation.