Democratic messenger., 1893-11-25
A STATE ROAD LAW.
Draft of a Bill to Be Submitted
by the Maryland Leagues.

by the Maryland Leagues.
The report of the committee on leg
islation cf the Maryland Road League
has been approved by the organiza-
tiun. The report is accompanied by
hill. which is now in the hands Of
the executive committee. in its liscre-
ton Ia be submitted 10 the Legisla-
ture at the coming session. and il is
probable that the matter will be dis
c,lsse.l at the road convention, which
will be rcconvened in Baltimore about
the middle of next month.
The committee on legislation, Henry
w. Williams chairman. by the report
divides the subject into there phases
the economic. the engineering aud the
administrative. Under the first head
is included questions concerning the
amount of money which may be prof
rtably spent each year on the roads
by the State or by the various coun-
ties: concerning the feasibility of the
issuing oi bonds by the State or coun-
ties for road improvements and. it so,
to what extent; also, the division Of
the expenses for maintaining and con
structing highways. These questions
the committee has seen fit TO leave
alone for the present. chiefly because
neither expert assistance nor money
was available for collecting necessary
data.
II is the committees belief that a
proper investigation should he made
of this matter by competent anthori-
ties.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PROPOSED
While the engineering side Of the
question, involving such considerations
as climate influence. geological forma-
tions. drainage. traffic and the like,
presents difficult problem, the com
mittee finds its solution. as far as legis-
lation is concerned. to be simple. The
conclusion is unavoidable, il says. that
this side of the question cannot be
dealt with by any one not a trained
road engineer.
1t is suggested that Il would be de-
sirablc that the State should create an
engineering department and place its
services at the command of the vari-
Gus counties, the latter not to be COM
PEELED to commit their roads TO the
charge of the State engineers, but to
thus be given the opportunity to avail
themselves of expert assistance. As
the duties of such a department would
be entirely technical. the committee
thinks that it should be under the
absolute control of first class civil
engineer, who should have both power
and responsibility. 1t recomends that
he be paid a salary Of $4,000 a year,
that he he appointed for four years,
and that his bond be placed at $4,000.
The minimum appropriation necessary
for this department is placed at s25,
900 annually.
COUNTY ROAD ADMINISTRATIONS.
Regarding the administration of the
roads in the counties, the committee
considers it evident that since the
counties are to bear all the expenses
they must retain all the control. The
system Of administration by super
visors is condemned and il is recon-
mended that il be abolished.
The finances and general control,
in the opinion of the committee, should
he left IN the hands Of the county
commissioners, but the report advises
that the administration of the roads
and bridges should be committed to a
county board to he appointed by the
county commissioners. Such a board
it is suggested, should be, to certain
extent, permanent; should consist Of
residents Of the county and should
have the benefit of expert advice and
assistance.
1t is advised that each board shall
consist uf three members, to he ap
pointed sor three years. one member
going out of office each year. They
would serve without pay, but liberal
provisions would he made for their
expenses.
The committe deems it right that
the various county boards should be
authorized to cal upon the State
engineering department for advice and
assistance without expense To them,
unless they desire surveys made or
such work done as would necessitate
additional expense to the department.
In this way the boards would he fur
nished with the best possible engineer
ing assistance without any cost what
ever. This system was adopted in
England under the highway act OF
1862, and TO its successful working
the committee attributes the excellence
of England's roads at the present day.
CONSTANT RErAIR ADVOCATED.
The report declares that il is neces-
sary that the roads should he kept in
constant repair and not merely be put
in order at wide intervals. To this
end il advises that the county boards
be encouraged to employ working
corps. which should continually keep
the roads in repair.
Since such a plan would require
money for its promotion, the commit
tee recommends that the right OF
farmers to "work out" their road taxes
he abolished and that the county
boards be directed. Under proper re-
,.'ricHon.. 20 nave the more importan,
wor.., such as const ruction and recon.
struction. done by contract and be
authorized To contract for repairs with
the consent of the county commission.
ers
The report says that many matters