The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-01-13
THE PROPOSED CHINGE IN THE
MANAGEMENT OF ROADS


see any backward steps in road i'm
provement i'll Hartford county, it is
obvious that the sum named is more
than taxpayers can conveniently
stand in any one year for public roads,
when the low price of farm products
is considered.
Under the existing road system, we
are told, the County Commissioners
powerless to prevent road eIpendi-
lures beyond safe and prudent
| amount. The needs of the roads are
considered and certain sums apprO-
priated for each district In one or
| two of the districts these amounts are
| not been exceeded, but i'll theirs they
annually fall short, for the reason
that sub-supervisors exceed the
amount they were authorized to eX-
| pend. In many cases, doubtless, the
increase appeared to the supervisors
| to be justitiable, but not having been
| authorized either by the County Com
| missioners or General Road Supervi-
| Sors, it is manifest that no one could
| estimate how much our roads would
cost in any year until all the bills had
been presented. To the accumulation
of such claims is ascribed Il great part
of the heavy road tax i'll the last levy.
| 1t may be said that the General Road
| i,rl, rafItSa fn
| warrants for more than the sums au-
| thorized to be expended, but expert
| ence has shown that whenever suit is
| brought against the county for extra
| work upon the roads, the simple decla-
| ration that the work was necessary is
| sufficient to win a verdict againt the
county. The subject has been dis
| cussed by farmers at pOstof1ices and
stores and especially by the Deer
! Creek Farmers Club. The latter or
ganixation, after having talk with
the General Road Supervisors and the
| County Commissioners, has suggested
plan which aims to place the making
and repairing of roads on II business
footing, in which there will be some
official head to hold responsible for
expenditures i'll excess of appropria-
tons, and by which, it is believed
our roads can be kept up to the pres
ent standard, at least, with IL lower
tax rate. The proposed plan does not
increase the number Of salaried Off
cials nor does it take any money out
of the county. If it should be adopt
ed by the Commissioners and upon
| lower taxes or better results, it can
easily be discontinued and the pres
ent system restored or better one in
| stituted.
In order that the general scope of
the plan may be understood we give
| below the memorial which has been
| prepared and which will be formally
presented to the County Com mission
ers for their action:
JANUARY 9TH, Is 93
To county Commissioners
Of HurtOrd County:
| The undersigned, citizens and tax
I payers of Hartford county, respectfully
| represent,
| l. That the growth, in recent years,
of the county levy for roads and
| bridges demands serious considera-
| ton, not merely with a view of reduc-
| ing the amount of the levy, but also,
and particularly, with view of get
| ting better results for the amount eX-
| pended.
, That we have given this subject
most careful consideration and, as you
! know, we have consulted with your
body and the General Road Supervi-
| sors Of the county, and believe it is
| entirely practicable to secure better
results without any changes in the ex-
listing law.
3. That, at present, the roads are
| worked i'll very small sections, the
road warrants being issued by the
| County Commissioner or General
| supervisor, most frequently upon the
| basis of the needs of the roads in QueS-
| ton i'll past years, and as II result, the
sub-superyisOr who gets the warrant
works out its amount and us much
more as he pleases without supervi-
sion or direction.
4. Investigation shows that as IL
general rule the best roads, and those
most economically worked, are those
! in parts of the county where either
| the General Supervisor has been able
to give close personal supervision, or
| where Il sub supervisor has been given
Il sufficient length of road to Justify
| him i'll preparing for and devoting
| considerable time to the work and
keeping the road II order, instead of
mendinS it merely.
5. We believe that the further ap-
plication and extension of this plan
which has given our best roads, will
greatly improve the admins tration of
the system both i'll char acter of work
and economy, and we therefore most
respectfully pray that the Commission
ers will change the administration of
| the system with that end in view and
require,
4. That the General Road Super
visor shall annually, before the first
day of April, submit to your body an
estimate of the sum required to be
spent on the roads III the election dis
trict of which he has charge, distin-
gushing the amount required for
roads from the amount required for
| bridges, and appOrtioning said amount
amongst the several road districts in
towhich his election district is subdi-
| vided
b. That the General Road Super
visor, with the approval of your body,
shall at once, and as often as NAV be
necessary, divide the election district
for which he is appointed, into as
many road districts as may be practi-
cable and Gesirab bic, and with the APP
prevail of your body. name some good
| road worker as mis- assistant or over
seer for each of said road districts
G. That the roads in each road dis
trict shall be worked and kept i'll order
under the direct personal supervision
of such assistant or overseer, and under
the direction and advice of the Gener-
al Superv sOr, and the General Super
visor and the overseer shall be reSpon-
sible for the condition of the roads in
each road district, and shall not eX-
pend thereon more than the amount
allowed an apportioued for said road
district without first having reported
the necessity therefor, and having
been authorized SO to do by a resoiu-
ton OF EOu body.
We believe that the Introduction of
these changes will prove of great
economical value will result in fixing
responsibility for the condition of the
roads on persons living near and per
sonally inter ested in them will pro
vide some one, near at hand. author
lied to hear and examine all com
plants ; will give systeI latic employ
ment to all those persC rs who have
heretofore shown ability to work the
roads TO advantage; will relieve the
members of your body of much impor-
~, l,n e