The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-01-20
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. 20, 1898
WHIT THE STATE ROID COTVEY-
TION DID

Vic iioSI uOldptc SdtileTllle> ever Htiu
in the State, and the Importance of
its proceedings can scarcely be over
estimated. The subject of public
roads was fully and ably discussed
and many important facts We're elici-
ed with regard to the rot Il system in
operation i'll the various counties of
Maryland. a Road League for the
entire State was formed, wit officers
and an executive committee composed
of active, enterprising and public
spirited citizens from all parts of the
State. The parceling out of county
roads among a large army of sub-su-
pervisors was condemned. A resoIu-
ton was passed declaring that the on
ly satisfactory method of constructing
permanent highways in Maryland is
by the issue of bonds, under proper
restrictions. TIL convention wisely
refrained from expressing any opin-
ion with regard to the manner in
which such bonds should be issued
whether by the national government,
the State or by counties desiring to do
so.
1t was made clear that permanent
turnpike roads can not be constructed
by direct taxation upon the people,
the present rate in the counties being
as onerous as can be borne Three
ways of raising the amount necessary
to construct an improved system of
roads were mentioned. One was by
the State furnishing the means, by
direct taxation. This plan. it was
argued, would greatly increase State
taxes. Another was that the c. ,unties
should issue fifty-year bonds, endors-
ed by the State, by means of which
fund could be provided to macadam-
lie Or otherwise permanently improve
the chief thoroughfares in every coun-
ty desiring to issue such bonds. 1t
was stated that with State endorse
ment these bonds could be sold DIT an
Understanding rate of not over 81 per
cent. This, it was said, would entail
no hardship upon any county that
was unwilling to embark in a system
Of road improvement, for the reason
that only the counties taking advan-
tage of this plan would have to bear
the expense of it, and there would be
no injustice in it to the city of Balti-
more or the counties which preferred
to retain their present systems. An
other plan, and the nethat appeared
to meet with most general favor, was
proposed by Mr.. b. Howard Hannah.
of Baltimore city. In an able and in
teresting address Mr. Hannah showed
how the valuable oyster beds of the
Chesapeake Bay had been wasted
and are being utterly destroyed from
want of proper legislation. He ar
gued that the bay is the common herr
tage of all Marylanders and if proper
ly managed could be made to Weld an
enormous revenue to the State and
enlarge our oyster industry to won
derful proportions. He declared that
the State of Connecticut derives Il
revenue of $1,000 year from 900
acres of oyster beds, whereas the GOO
600 acres of much more fertile oyster
beds in the Chesapeake yield no rev.
enue applicable to the lessening of
State taxes, and asserted that if the
same wasteful process is continued n
few years longer the citizens of MARY
land will have to increase their State
tax Tor the purpose of supporting the
navy to keep the peace between the
dredgers and the tongers. Mr.. Ha-
mans plan is to lease the barren oys-
ter fields, which once teemed with the
delicious bivalve, and divide the
money pro rata among the counties
for road improvement. According TO
his lowest estimate this plan would
provide very soon at least half a mil
lion dollars a year for roads in Mary
land without one cent of additional
taxation.
Mr. Humans plan was not only rea-
sonable and apparent practica BILE but
highly suggestive. When thoroughly
understood it ought to meet with the
endorsement not only of the counties
remote from the Chesapeake Bav but
also of those counties now directly in
terested in the oyster industry, but
which have been opposed to any law
that would give the citizens of other
counties any share in the profits which
might be derived from the wonderful
resources of our noble BAY, which is
the joint property of all the citizens
of Maryland.
While the interchange of views and
opinions by members of the conyen
ton upon the all-important subject OF
road improvement can not fail to
quicken public feeling on the subiec.
the most direct and positive work ac-
complished was the formation of the
Maryland Road League, auxiliary to
the National Road League. This
State organization, with the unselfish
object in view of promoting road i'm
provement throughout the State. will.
care assured, accomplish great good.
If nothing else had been done at the
convention this alone would have
been a forward step in the direction
of better roads.
The annual dues of members of the
League have been fixed at 81, which
entities the person to membership in
the county, State and National League
and the publications of the National
League OH the subject of Road I'm
provement. AT a meeting of the Exc
cutive Committee, on Friday, G.. W.
Lurman was elected chairman and
Eugene Rlackford Secretary. H. w.
Williams and Conway w. Sans, of
Baltimore city E. C. Gilpin, of Mont
gomery county; Samuel Cox, Jr., Of
Charles county, and James A. Pearce.
of Kent county, were appointed Il
committee to form county clubs and
leagues.
Chairman Lurman, Secretary Black
ford, Harper Carroll, w l.. Amoss
and Carroll Goldsborough were APP
pointed finance committee. 1t was
voted to have 5000 copies of Mr.. Ha-
mans address printed.
We are indebted to the Washing
ton Loan and Trust Company, of
Washington, ID. c., for a complete