The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-01-21
The New Road Law.

tn another column we publish today the
new road law for Carroll which will go into
effect in March next. The law is the re-
suit of discussion of the road question last
winter. and is intended to work animprove-
ment in our road system. \ similar sys-
tenn has been tried in other states with good
results and it is hoped that the law will be
given hearty support by all citizens.
Don't begin to criticise and condemn, or
study how the law won't work. The act
is founded upon an honest endeayer to give
the county better road system and better
roads. and all who sincerely desire better
roads should uphold it and give it fair
trial.
Under the law the road tax will be spent
where it is collected, and the people OF each
district will have immediate control over
their own roads, They can fix the tax
levy at any rate they choose, not exceeding
twenty cents on the S100-at five cents on
the 500, at six, at seven, at eight, at nine,
at ten, at fifteen or at twenty, just as they
choose. For the first year, however, it
might be well to make the levy in each
district in accordance with what was spent
in the district last year a years trial will
develop what is needed for the succeeding
year to meet the demands of the people.
Under the present system the governing
power is too far removed. The County
Commissioners cannot personally inspect
many of the public roads, and cannot know
the exact condition of the highways Or their
needs. Neither can they supervise the
methods used in road making and mend
ing, nor can they regulate the time that
improvements ought to be made. Under
the new system it will be entirely practical
BILE for the local road commissioners to be
personally cognizant of the work done on
all roads in their district, and TO know
whether the money is well spent or not
BY the new law, in appointing road SUI
pervisors preference must be given to the
owsers of the land binding on public roads.
It was supposed that persons would do more
for the money upon the roads in front OF
their own farms and immediate neighbor-
hood than would some one living two or
three miles away, hence this provision.
And it was thought, too, that a rivalry
might be raised between the several dis
tricts as to roads and this would stimulate
each to excel the others.
The only complaint that was raised
against the law when it was first published
last year, was that it would take from the
road tax in each district the per diem of
the road eommissioners-S150 This crit
icism is not well founded. Any man who
works three OF four hands can make good
wages by personally directing and superin-
tending them, and it was thought that the
salaries OF tne roau COMMISSIONERS Moufh
be fully made up by their personal super
vision of the road system in any district.
Great care, or course, should be exercised
in the appointment of road commissioners,
and after appointment the commissioners
should study the methods of road making
in order that they be well equipped to di-
rect operations in their districts.
1t will take some weeks to get the system
in running order, and the road commits
sioners should be appointed as early in
March as practicable in order that details
may be worked out and public sentiment
be aseertained as to the amount of levy.