The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-17
THE MOVEMENT FOR BETTER
ROADS.
ROADS.

ROADS.
A Lecture Delivered by State Sen
ator John 8. Writ, ct Rising Sun,
April nth, Under the Aus
pices Of the Friends
Normal Institute.
could not well give you a better
proof Of my interest in the Friends
Normal Institute, which / believe il
doing q good work In this community
than BY being present with you ihi.
evening, since fewer things are less ia
the line Of my pursuits than the deliy.
cry Of such sn address as this occasion
calls for.
turn Reluctantly from those themes
in which every man of a liberal educa-
ton delights, to q subject Of great
practical importance and of present
intsress-"The Movement for Better
Roads,"
shall make no apology for my sub
ject, and my chief regret is that my
professional engagements have prevent.
ed me from giving to the subject the
careful thought which its great impOr.
lance requires.
Have you ever thought Of the fact
that the matter Of the construction Of
our public roads is Of the highest i'm.
portance? You who can tell me how
much the United States Government
spends annually for Pensions, aud the
value Of the Silver product OF the
country, and are full Of statistics on
the Tariff, how much was your road tax
last year2 How much do the roads Of
Cecil county cost the tax payers an
nually2 I question if there are q hall
dozen--nay even one in this audience
who could tell me,
Well, my good friends, if you will
take the trouble to examine the records
at Elkton, you will find that this Couu
" has expended for roads and bridges
from 1882 to 1891 inclusive, the tidy
sum of $3S3, 4o4.6O
The expenditures run from S16,-
=
479.99, in 1882, to $s9.75s.ss, in the
year 1885, and the average annual ex-
penditure for the ten years is $685.
340.46. Consider for moment the
amount of sacrifice represented by this
sum of $3S3.404.60. Remember that
the tax gatherer knocks at the door Of
every property holder large or small, 81
high and low degree.
What have we to show for such q
large expenditure of money? We have
some excellent bridges, but have we
good roads? I have had to drive
around some this winter, and l have
seen roads where the mud was nearly
up to the hubs Of the wheels, and at
other times roads SO rough that il you
tried to trot. you would be so we'll
shaken up as to give you good case
against the road-menders for assault,
and battery.
What is the remedy? Not certainly
the expenditure Of more money. 1t will
be fonud in change Of system. Instead
ofthe present hand to mouth system
We should have exact and scientific
methods for the construction and repair
ofroads. There are such methods, and
our people should be aroused to the
necessity Of their adoption.
In Vanderbilt University at Nash
vile, Tenn, course has bsen estab-
lished Cor the instruction Of class in
road engineering. This course consists
oflectures and work upon the principles
and science Of the proper location, con-
struction and maintenance Of roads, and
. thorough study Of systems ofhighway
administration.
Gould this school, (founded originally
BY the Friends, a large hearted ant
calm souled people, who have contrib
uted SO much to the cause OF popular
government), do better work than Il
stimulate the public interest of thil
community in subject Of the first ant
highest importance to any people?
What is needed 10 the matter of leg
islation9 Shall we look to the Gen
ersl Government? Under the provisions
Of Sec. 8, Act l, Of the Constitution o.
the United States, Congress has powel
to establish post offices and post roads
Under this Clause national thorough
fares might have been built which
would have rivaled the magnifcen
roads Of European Countries. The un
precedented development Of the rail
roads Of the country in providing
speedy and safe carriage Of the mails
has prevented such result.