Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-02-07
FOR BETTER ROADS.
Meeting OF Anne Arundel Farmers
To Form a Road League


To Form a Road League
The call for a road convention to meet
here to-day was largely responded TO
and at the hour designated the hall Of
the House of Delegates was well-flled.
Every district in the county was well
represented.
P. II Israel, Esq. member Of the ex.
ecutiye committee of the State League
called the meeting TO order He sketch
ed the use of the State League from Deer
Greek Club and few other spirited men.
and said Columbus day had been signall-
ed by the organization OF the National
Road League whose object was TO better
the roads OF the county. He traced, in
its brief period Of existence, q large
amount OF work the organization had
done. Mr.. lsr iel then nominated Sena-
tor Moss as president of the meeting
lie declined and suggested William A.
shipley as president. lie Was elected,
and Elihu ) Riley WAS made secretary.
Senator Moss then pledged his effort
for all legislation to carry out the objects
of the league He asked the league 10 APP
point its best men TO execute its uill-leave
politics and factions out Of the question
lie said the county wants a public road
systems permanent committee. He com
| planned that last session of the legislature
the county had no authorized body
| 10 speak for them on the subject He
spoke CT the value of good roads espec-
| tally to Anne Arundel which was so ad-
mirably supplied with railroads aud
| waterways.
| MIR. III. w. Williams, Of the State Road
/ League, and organizer OF county leagues
explained that the State Road League
was organized TO obtain good roads. IL
has no plan and no politics In 1t. Ttis
| is the second county league organized.
The league is to test public sentiment.
| to go with IL and not against 1t, and then
submit plan after thorough knowledge
of State and county sentiment. The
counties are the vehicles OF communica.
/ ZION. The reasons for the bad roads in
Maryland are: LIST they have never been
| properly constructed; 2nd the sporad
ic repairs put on them.
In other countries skilled men mend
the roads. There are over 10000 miles
| of public roads in Maryland, though II
| is not necessary 10 improve all Ii will
| cost about 81, 500 per mile to macada
mize a road suitable for ordinary coun.
try purposes.
| 1t will take 100000 TO place the
| public roads In this State ia u good con-
dition winter and summer That mon
| ey ought to be spent by competent,
| skilled men. There are about 900 miles
in Anne Arundel At $4,000 mile, 300
miles that ought to be improved, would
cost 100000. Three hundred thousand
dollars are spent yearly in this State on
| public roads. At this rate II would take
| 80 or 40 years before good roads could
be built and then there would be none
| for transient repairs. In this country
| you spend $50 per mile. In the old
countries they spend S50a mile for re-
pairs. A hundred years ago England
had bad roads. Under good system
she has now good roads. He suggested
| several plans for good roads; LIST, the
State to build them; 2nd the expenditure
! of the money by n scientific con mission;
J Bird, 10 issue county bonds; 4tb, the State
| to endorse. then the county TO pay the
interest, and the State to provide sink
ing fund TO pay the principal
James nj. Munroe. Ee4., proposed q
main macademized highway from Friond-
ship to Brooklyn, 4S miles long, to cost
| $3.50, 900 and to bond the county 10 pay
| for it, He suggested aS revenues to raise
| il lease of the barren oyster lands.
though the oystermsn would not listen
to this. and poll tax.
w. G. Gischel. president of the county
commissioners, and ex.Judgo ID. X. Ma
| gruder, also addressed the meeting
On motion OF Mr.. z. III. Israel, the
chair appointed the following committee
on permanent organization DIR. q. Nor
ris Chsston, BENZ Watkins. Dr. Elijah
Williams, John w Shipley, Fulton Kel-
ly, NJ NJ. Smith, r. Montgomery Pin
die.
The committee on permanent Organiza-
ton then reported. The report gave the
form of charter of the county leagues;
that its name should be the"Anns Arun-
del Road League" its object to obtain
good system for the public roads and TO
secure the necessary legislation. Mem
bership was open to all citizens, and pro.
vision for an executive committee The
committee suggested the following as
permanent officers President, VIM A.
Shipley; secretary and treasurer. J. Har-
wood Iglehart. The report was adopted
and the names OF members we're then en-.
tered on the list, after which the con-
vention adjourned.