The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-02-06
Public Roads.



MEssRs, EDITORS AS so many persons
are now agitating the subject of a new county
road system allow me to express few ideas
that have often presented themselves to me,
in The course of my observations in county
road making. But before proceed further
let me say that have read the Suggestions
of Hon. f. T. Shaw, published IN the ADvo-
CATE of the 23d ult., and think they present
the framework Of good road law. Inc
proposition to let each district take the road
1uestion into its own hands, under the super
vision and control of three supervisors from
among the people of each district and thereby
bring the matter closer TO the citizens inter
ested, is a practical idea. believe that the
proper persons to work our public county
roads and keep them in repair are those who
own and farm the lands through which the
roads, road or parts ofroads are located. They
live directly upon or adjacent to their respective
highways They, above all others, are inter
ested or should be, in the condition OF tue
roads in proportion as they are interested IN
the condition of their farms. In fact they
are part of or an inseparable adjunct to
their farms; and every sensible man knows
that in proportion as his road is keptin repair
so is the value of his farm enhanced. | can
conceive of no circumstance wherein the
truth of the old adage, "a stitch in time
saves nine is more forcibly illustrated than
in the management of county roads, There
fore one should always have his road directly
under his eye, and when he sees breaker
choked or wash started he can often III hall
an hour prevent what might, through neglect,
cost days to repair Under our present sys-
TEN, however, | have known persons through
some personal influence, political or other
wise to succeed in getting roads to work that
we're located one and two miles from their
place of residence and whose only personal
interest in the condition of the road was to go
at a time convenient to himself and work out
the entire levy, never, perhaps, seeing the
road again to open a breaker, stop dram,
or throw another shovel of dirt until the sum
mer or autumn rains come and wash 1t from
beginning to end Roads are sometimes two,
three or four miles long aud when person
is appointed to work the entire road, as is
often done, he necessarily loses too much
time in travelling to and from his work.
Again. County Commissioners are often igno-
rant Of the distance and condition OF roads
throughout the county, and consequently
often appropriate too much money on some
and too little on others. Therefore law
embracing the district system, as suggested
by DR.. Shaw and giving the roads to the
several farmers whose lines embrace them,
in preference to others, so far as 1t Is practl-
cal to do so. and regardless of political lniig-
ences, think would be worth trial. 1t
would no doubt create a rivalry, not only
between the districts but between the farm
ers in the same district, who would take
pride in striving to see who could make the
most improvement for the outlay. The per-
sons having the roads in charge of course
should receive a reasonable compensation
per hour for the labor performed, or for mate
rial. such as stone and hauling or blowing
The supervisors of each district having at all
times general supervision and control over
the work. the settling of accounts, &c. |
would also suggest that they be chosen from
different parts of the district and not more
than two of them in Il district he of the same
political party. y