The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-04-10
The Egis& Intelligencer
THE BEL AIR AND CHURCHvILLE ROAD.

MR. EDITOR: VIII you give me space to say few
words on the all-absorblng topic OF our roads"
| have just returned to my home after two
days SOjOurn in Bel Air. where was compelled To
remain by the bad weather and the fact that the
road to my home was in places unsafe to travel
This afternoon, before starting to Bel Air, heard
that some ones horse had gotten stuck in the mud
hole near Mt peVers place ana as nS my nd ant
him out alive or not" Another person who had
just come from Churchville told me that the peo-
pie had abandoned the road. and were driving
through MIR. Dever's and my fathers fields. This
i found to be true. But to go back u bit. When
came home Wednesday afternoon, this sink hole
near Mr.. Dever's was so bad that my horse. though
strong and active. only struggled through il with
the greatest difficulty. He sank into the mud up
VIM. Kennedy. Jr., who knew had a warrant to
do some work on another portion of this road, and
him felt sure the Commissioners would approve
of his doing so. Mr.. Kennedy could not do it him.
self but he prevailed on Mr. Dever, whose fields
were being cut up by the travel over them to have
1t done. When came past this afternoon. Ii say
past advisedly, for following the line of travel
went in at Mr. Devers gate. drove through his yard
and orchard and out through his meadow found
the work going on. MIR. Dever told me that while
he was filling this hole with stones. the mail car
Ter between Churchvllle and Bel Air had at
tempted to cross the mud hole; that his horse had
sunk through the layer of stones and had gotten
stuck in the mud SO badly that it was very serious
ly injured before it could be gotten out. Mr..
Dever also said that Mr.. Carlisle with loaded
had gotten ant into 18th s hcs TINS
whole load off his wagon. These are two OF the
accidents that have happened at this place-I know
of others but can't take time to mention them
Now this is only one of number of bad places on
this road-there others almost as bad. There
is hole not far east of Bynum's Run, which is
very bad and the rails and other wreckage lying
about show that somebody's teams have come TO
grief there.
Now what is tine object of this narration? Simply
to find fault and blame somebody? Not at all! 1t
is because want to ask a question. How much
more of this kind of thing do our people need to
convince them that there are portions of this |
much-used thoroughfare that can never be any
thing but impossible in wet weather, till they are
piked? Nor is there as much of this road that |
requires piking as many people suppose. |
hear people say that the whole OF it |
must be piked That is not at all necessary. There
are portions that will remain fairly good at all |
times, if only the cutters are kept open. 1 have |
carefully studied this road and say frankly |
that there is not more than two miles out of the
five that the county is called on to pike-independ-
antly of any donations for that purpose Ii these
two miles were made good, IL would compare
favorably with any road in the county. AS 1t Is
nOw this road which is used by more than half the
people of the county, is disgrace to the communi
~ and may yet cause some accident to life or limb
which will cost the county more than 1t would to
it. 1 sincerely hope that our Com
missoners will make provision for doing some
permanent work on this road this
summer, when alone it can be done well and cheap
y. Yours, etc.,
w. BEATTY HARLAN.
ChlJrchriUe Anvil 2 1901