Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-04-07
A Valuable Suggestion.

"a '"h""Hht tfHS EtsiiNus
Good pnblic thoroughfares having
been conceded to be of an incstimable
value to all progressive communities the
friends Of the movement to improve ne
condition Of the Public roads have some
what ceased to discuss the subject from
the standpoint Of necessity but have
been casting about 10 search of some
feasible plan TO accomplish the improve.
ment. This State is not alone in its
desire to advance internal improvements;
ether States are seemingly a. anxious and
il there is truth 10 the old proverb,
That in multi olicity Of coaus4Iihere is
wisdom some wise plan must soon be
discovered to accomplish the desired re-
suit. The moe and manner Of making
perm lnent thoroughfares is only mat
ter of detail; how 10 raise the necessary
money to defray the expense is the ques
tion for sOlstion. OF the different plans
already suggested in this State none of
them seem practicable. Our people are
already too heavily burden with loca
taxation to bear any additional sum for
any purpose whatsoever, however, i'm
portant the demand; to lease the oyster
beds is out Of the question for it will
lever DO to pail down an industry to de.
fray the expense of an internal improve
nent, and the experiment of amend
ing the State Constitution to allow it to
aid in tbs tier scheme is too dangerous
to attempt The Progressive South
(Rlchmond, Va, wide awake Jnurn-
al suggests natieosl government aid, and
this aftsS alb may be the only alternate
The suggestions of our contemporary
are as follows:
l. That the United States Govern
ment shall pass an act autt orizing the
Treasury Department to issre one, two,
and FIVE iellar notes, to be styled uni
ted States Road Improvement Notes."
and to be convert BILE into coin at the
Treasury or sWb-tressuries of the United
states. These notes shall he issued 10
the extent o. $66, o75 900 per year for
four years, or, a total issue Of Two hun
dred and sixty seven million five hun
dred Thousand dollars, which amount
equals one hundred thousand for each
county in every State ia the Union
which existed on Januiry LIST. 1898 -
Should any territory be admitted Into
tAe Union as St1te after the date men
toned (January LIST. 1898. } the counties
Of such State shall be likewise entitle
to receive one hundred thousand dollars
each in four years, or such other sum as
tire Secretary of Agriculture at Wash
ington st-lll cor FL size apd.as4-s
~sa-s ~ilsssy by :.
the Senate or legislature. with com !,
petent staff, to prepare plans and have
charge Of the details of road and bridge
lecatisn. construction, &c. 8
g. The county supervisors shall have :,
authority 10 appoint road engineer or :.
competent peEsoR to superintsnd the i'm :,
provement Of sll roads asd bridges IN
their respective counties The5 shall
likewise buy or order all material need !:
ed and control labor, &c but shall be ,
under the general supervision of the
State engineer. 4,
A. That the notes anhniiz4d 10 be rs
sued by the Treasury in section first shall +
be paid out in the following MANNER
The county supervisors shall make out
mencemtnt Of each year two lists Of the 9
Improvements contemplated tn be made !
during the year in their respective coun-
ties with an estimate of tie cost These
they shall forward to the State road en-
giBeer. who shall endorse one 'approv-
ed" and f.e the other in his office, with
out there are Objectionable features in @
them to which he demurs This APP t
proved list Of improvements he shall for 9
ward as soon as approved to the county
Treasurer, WHO shall attaeh his warrant
fOr the amount of the estimated improve
ments, which, however, shall not exceed
twenty Sve Thousand dollars per year for
four years. This e shall forwsrd to the
United States Treasurer, who shall re-
NIT United States road improvement
notes for the amount of the warrant to
the respective county Treasurers. to be
paid cut BY them as per warrants issued
by the Supervisors for expenses incurred
in improving the roads