Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-02-23
Written for the Beacon.
THE ROAD QUESTION

We are aware that IL Is harder to formu-
late an unohjectionable system of our own
than IL Is TO find flaws in those Of others
Whatever our road system may be, il will
doubtlessly be open to criticism in some Of
its parts. But the object should be to Sc
cure the best plan attainable, adapted tn
our section and needs. We agree with L
J. Wise in that we cannot see why we
should be required to expend part of the
: compensation for our once legitimate prop
erty on the public roads should we ever be
SO fortunate as 70 receive it. We are not
quite so sanguine as the Hon. Benz. O..
q. Harris that we are likely to secure com.
pensation in the near future. Ofcourse, we
would not for a moment question the &C.
curacy of Mr. Harris predictions in the
matter nor the policy TO be pursued in the
use of il, but We cannot help indulging the
opinion ut times that our roads will remain
in the mud for ages to come il they are TO
be taken out by any voluntary compensa-
ton for slaves from the abolition States, for
they will never, in my humble opinion, con-
sent to such q proposition until we are
strong enough 10 coerce them.
1t seems to us, however, that we should
have a general road engineer-one, who
aside from having a knowledge of the
proper form and the component parts of
our available material to form roadbed,
should be thoroughly conversant with
drainage and sufficiently skilled In the use
Of instruments to determine when the roads
are properly drained. Without conpe-
tent supervisor or engineer the work done
on the roads will amount to nothing more
than patchwork Jet the appropriation be
what II may. The supervisor should be
allowed TO appoint his subordinates. IL
appointed by the Governor, it will, most
likely be from political preference, thing
which should be kept as far from q road
system as possible. If the power to ap-
point the subordinates be vested in the
Levy Court 1t will be open to the same OBJ
lection, or the court, at times, be placed in
an awkward dilemma. If elected by the
people it will still be from the same motive
[politicsl besides no heed be given to quail
ification. And last, though not least, it is
always critical moment with one in
charge to dispense with the services of an
incompetent subordinate when appointed
by an authority other than his own.
With half the present levy for road pur-
poses, we think, if the supervisor should be
required 10 make all impossible or very
bad places as near first class as our avail
able material will make them, and with
the other half to keep the balance of the
roads in q passable or fair condition.
we could in few years, by repeating the
operation. have very good roads. or course
we can never have first class roaos in the
literal sense where they are badly located,
without changing the location which would
be fraught with inconvenience to the peo.
pie and very expensive. The raising OF
the necessary funds to build good roads 81
short notice seems to US the most difficult
part of the problem. We had almost as
well talk treason as TO talk Of leasing
our oyster beds, yet we might be able To
derive a considerable revenue therefrom
Tor road improvements, without increasing
the prices Of the luxury and at the same
time making oysters more abundant The
Southern Maryland railroad presents
another idea for raising public road fund,
but whether it can be made legitimately
we are not advised. II would seem, how
ever. that the State ought 10 have the pow
er to sell il for what it will bring. Rail-
roads, we admit are cheap when one wants
TO sell, but quite the reverse when one
wants 10 buy. Nevertheless, the s. NJ. r.
Il ought to bring one-fourth Of the money
expended on ii by the State and rs tina:
appropriation was made for internal i'm
provements in st MarY's county, forty
thousand dollars would accrue to us for
public roads purposes which would help q
great deal if properly managed. If the
railroad Is ever completed the benefit 10
the people OF the St. Mary's viii be the
same whether il is owned in part by the
State or wholly by private parties. The
fruition Of the idea that dividend will
accrue to the county in case of its compile
ton il 50 remote as To become practically q
mere chimera. If 1t can be done legally il
should be sold and the proceeds applied 10
the improvement of our public roads.
Should it bring but five dollars over ex-
penses, we should be hat much the gamer
The old company, Is we understand il. has
allowed its charter TO expire and the new
company has not complied with its agree.
ment made with the parties from whom il
secured The right Of way. II those are the
facts, I've stand corrected IL they are not, j
we should tank as matter Of course the
entire right 10 the property reverts 70 the
State and the landowners along the line
| We are entirely ct sea in the matter II the
State has not the right to sell its interest In
the coucern. Yours truly, J.