The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-09-04
THE DARLINGTON ROAD LEAGUE.
ITS HISTORY AND OPERATIoNS--A
PUBLIC-SPIRITED ASSOCIATION.
DARLINGTON, Md, Sept. 1, 1891.

DARLINGTON, Md, Sept. l. 1891.
To The Editor of The AEgjs:
DEAR SIR: In response to your request that
should furnish you a history of the darlington
Road League, beg leave to submit the enclosed.
The deep interest l feel in the subject will be
my apology for its length. Yours, very truly,
ID. G. WHARTON SMITH.
Late in the fall of 1887 a public meeting was
called at the instance of few residents Of this
part of Hartford county with the view of devils
ing some scheme by which the long neglected
highways and by-ways in this section might be
more permanently benefited. Much had been
said and written on the subject; loud and nu-
merous had been the complaints, but all to no
purpose. Nothing had been done to mitigate the
evils and 1t seemed that we were doomed to run
along in the old ruts forever. At that meeting il
was determined 10 organize Road League.
under the management of Council of twelve,
and they were then and there chosen. Liberal
subscriptions in money and hauling were pledged
and in less than thirty days our town had a good
shell road its entire length. To these have been
added similar roads in the immediate vicinity
to The great delight and comfort of pedestrians
and all travellers.
AS nothing succeeds like success" this
prompt action popularized the Road League at
the outset and greatly encouraged the members
and managers.
The Council hold frequent meetings and have
bylaws for the control of the organization, with
regularly elected officers-President, Secretary
Treasurer and an Overseer. The latter makes
full reports of his work. giving US the result of
his observation and experience at these meet
ings, and receives his orders for new improve
ments at same time; Any of our citizens who
feel an interest are always welcome. AMI all Sug
gestions,or communications have invariably our
respectful attention.
tons, of the League and are gratified to know
that in the face of many perplexing difficulties
and discouragements they have given the public
greatly improved roads all over, and in some
cases, far better that was ever expected.
Much of the improvement has been of per
mauent character, and this wise policy We de-
sign to continue year by year, if the people
whose interests we desire to serve will only half
support US. In view of the lasting Dement'S and
blessings within reach. ftfl4 I'M
ledge that they, cannot be secured without some
effort surely increased zeal and energy will pre-
Theusefulness of our road machine has been
greatly retarded for want of a sQitabfe'Ieam of
heavy draft horses. Each district should have
such team. subject to the cali of the Road
Leagues and Supervisors with heavy iron roll
Ter to smooth the road beds and ruts.
1ur plan is to commence operations early in
theepring, not in former days wait u til after
harvest when 1t suited the convenience of few
scattering, (public-spirited p road members. Nor
do we stop there, but we continue our labors
all through the year, as far as we able. We
find there is no royal road" to successful de-
ponds on our perseverance and vigilance. Had
it not been for the unfailing' assistance and help
of the members of the Council and few outside,
and the occasional appropratiohs of our staunch
friends-the County Commissoners-the ordi-
nary warrants issued once year would have
been wholly Inadequate to our necessityas every
rejecting person well-knows.
The few have borne the burden long enough,
and we now feel entirely justified in appealing
to the generosity of all who have participated in
the benefits conferred. to aid us. in every way
possible-mainly, in hauling cinders from the
neighboring paper mill-so that may be en-
couraged to extend and increase our usefulness
in the future. These coal cinders have proved
invaluable on dirt roads. and also as top-dress-
ing combined with a small quantity OF earth on
newly made pixies. Our aim is to permanently
improve the main avenues of travel and we have
much to do in that way before bad weather sets
in. -.'
The common practice of constructing deep and
abrupt breaks or what might be called "dams,'
on every hill and slope calls for reform. have
the mature Judgment of one of the best team
sters of the county-a man of hard sense and
close observation-that they are damaging to
horses and wagons, both in ascending and de-
scending. Wide, slenting, shallow breaks would
be far more }effectual in turning the water in to
the side bitches and greatly promote the safety
and comfort of the travelling public. II team
eters would gently apply the brakes before start
ing to descend the hills, the wheels might slowly
revove all the while, and so save the poor horses
as well as the poor roads.
L "a society for the prevention of cruelty to ami
mails and destruction of roads would have wide
field in Hartford county
Our citizens will be charitable in their reflec-
tions on the Road League when they remember
the many difficulties in our path, among which
might be mentioned, the warning elements, bad
ly constructed and stony roads necessarily trav-
i eled, great heavy teams poughing up one road
| after another at most unreasonable times, the
| scarcity of skilled labor when most needed, and
worse than all, oftentimes empty treasury.
+ 1t would seem but right that some legal re-
strictions or penalties should be imposed GER
tain class of wagons. 80 that the comfort and best
interests of whole community should not be
wantonly sacrificed by few individuals. This
lam informed has been done in other Places.
1t was proposed recently by a prominent citi-
zen and an eX-State Senator that the county
should issue bonds. and sum thus obtained to
deal more literally with the great question of
road improvement. Many Ghink there is much
wisdom in this: OF course. every, safeguard
under the control OF special Commission, citi-
zens of known sagacity and probity, and kept
might our rough plpees he made smootb" ' a9d
l. the hills laid low. Some of our highways
could be judicously widened, some changed
from precipitous hills to easier grades, and such
high standard of excellence maintained on our
road ways as would render them available for
easy travel and transportation throughout the
entire year.
Road improvement has not advanced hand in
hand with progress in many other directions,
partly. suppose because it is every body g bu-
siness'' and therefore "nobody's business" This
most important though perplexing problem is
yet unsolved. Our Road League is at least q
movement in the right direction and we think
the popular tide is setting in favor of such Or
CARNATIONS, for Tin union there is strength
me state OF Florida mas recently taken the
an dctt0e interest in the maintenance of good
roads, RoienS ColenS. Section No. of their new
citizen between the ages of Is and As excepting
physicians and clergymen shall work eight days
of every year on the public roads. or pay one
dollar day, or furnish suitable substitute.
An era OF greater prosperity for the rural dis
trictS now seems near at hand, and with it should
come the solution of this great and vital cues
ton. Because of existing evils which make
country life unattractive and burdensome for so
large a part of the year. many of our youth are
driven from rural pursuits and happy homes to
the great cities, where they are lost in the surg
ing crowd and often engulfed in the maelstrom
OF evil;
things. That many of us may live to realize the
full fruition of efforts and hopes is the sim
cere desire of
Yours. most earnestly,
PRESIDENT DARLINGTON ROAD LEAGUE.
Reunion of Physicians at Happy Valley
Park.
Reported for The Egis.
The fourteenth annual reunion of the PENN
sylvania and Maryland Union Medical Associa-
ton was held at Happy Valley Park, near Port
Deposit, on Thursday of last week. There was
large attendance of the medical profession from
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, who,
with their wives and families and invited guests
numbered over three hundred people.
The meeting was called to order by the Presi-
introduced Dr. John 6. Morris. of Baltimore
DR.. Morris made fluent speech, freighted with
and entreated the members of the Association,
on this day at least, to lay aside all dssension
and petty jeaousies, and cultivate fraterna
feeling of union and concord,
DR.. Cromwell, President of the Cecil County
Medical Society. made the address of welcome
which was followed by the presidential address.
by DR.. John H. lamar.
Short addresses were also made by Drs Pack
ard. of Philadelphia; Craig. of Columbia; Ulrich,
".
York, all of whom conceded in the view of the
mutual benefit and happiness derived from such
commingling together, and expressing the wish
that many more such occasions may be enjoyed.
The following officers for the ensuing year
were elected: President. DIR. X. B. Ewing, Vest
Grove, Pa; Vice Presidents. DR.: w. W. Virdin.
Lapidum, Md. and DR.. Louis Frey, York, Pa;
Secretary and Treasurer, DIR. T. NJ. Livingstone
Columbia, Pa. =; Executive Committee, DIR. Alex
Craig, Columbia, Pa; DR.. W. s. Roland, York
Pa: DR.. K. Riley Burcher. Lebanon, Pa; DR.. W.
B. Ulrich, Chester, Pa; DR.. c. Gaen Treichler,
Honeybrook, Pa; DIR. H. Clay Whiteford, Oar
lington, Md; DR.. Geo. s; Dove, Rising Sun, Md
caterer of Baltimore. The afternoon was spent
in dancing by the ladies.
Hartford county was represented by Drs, W.
Stump Forwood and H Clay Whitetord, of Oar
lington; ]. Fl. Kennedy, of Aberdeen; W. S.
Gorsuch of Churchville W. w. Virdin, of Lapi-
dunn. and j. F. H. Gorsuch of Baltimore coun-
ty. MEDICUs.
Summer Gaieties in MarshalIs District
Reported for The Egis.
UPPER CROSS ROADS, Aug. 31.-On wednes-
day night of last week a pleasant dance was
Qt Ia Of