Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1895-08-30
The Pnblic Roads.

NJ AAuduss
The bad condition into which our
public thoroughfares are gradually get
ting, deserves at this time something
more than passing complaint. The
subject of an improvement of the puo-
lie highways of the State has for some
time been agltated, and plan after plan
suggested, but no idea has yet devel-
oped into any sort of practical form
whereby system could be adopted to i'm
prove our public roads. OF course it
would be very nice to have State law
furnishing State aid to such an inter
nal improvement, but the constitution
stands in the way of anything of the
kind, and nothing but talk will or can
result from the agitation of the subject
as State matter. We must, there
fore, fall back on our own resources as
before to keep up our county roads.
Much money has been spent in that d.
rection, and at one time this county
could boast of the best thoroughfares in
the State, but in late years instead of
improving they have been getting from
bad to worse, until their condition has
become alarming. The reason of this
is, first, that there is not sufficient
sum of money appropriated to be spent
for the purpose. The original sum
of ten thousand dollars was barely
enough to in any manner permanently
improve any of the the public roads,
and since that sum was cut down by the
Legislature in 1886, the amount ap
propriated has not been sufficient to do
more than patchwork And the second
reason is that most of the road superyis
ors are totally unfit for the service.
they know nothing about mending
roads and are appointed sorely for po-
litical reasons Remedy these two evils
and it will be found that an improve
ment will result therefrom Legislation
action is needed. The appropriation
should be larger. Twelve thousand
dollars is as small sum as should be
expended for the purpose, and the ap-
pointing power and the number of road
supervisors should be changed 1t has
been suggested that as there are nine
Election Districts divide the county
into nine road districts; appropriate
twelve thousand dollars for the improve
ment of the public roads to be divided
among the said several districts according
to the number of miles in each district
and elect road supervisor for each dis
trict, make the election simple and
inexpensive and hold it in the spring.
separate and apart from any other elec
ton This plan seems feasible and we bo-
lieve if adopted would bring about prac-
teal results. 1t certainly seems an i'm
provement on the present road system
and is worth trying. The sum of money
appropriated would be sufficient to epa-
BILE permanent work TO be done, and the
number of miles of road each supervisor
would have in charge to repair would
be so lessened that he could at all times
keep watchful eye over the whole and
could carry out a systematical plan of
permanently improving all the roads
under his charge, which they cannot do
now. And then if the supervisors are
secured in the manner suggested bet
ter corps ofsuch officials can be secured.
1t strikes us that If each district should
be allowed to elect It's own supervisor,
and the election held separate and apart
from any other election, the people
could be relied upon to elect only COM
petent persons for these places
At any and all events a change in
our road system is necessary and the Leg
islature must do it. Both political par
ties will in convention assemble. in a
short time from now to nominate cand:-
dates for the Legislature, and would it
not be well to let the latter know what
will De expected of them. If SO, the
people of the county en- masse must do
it. Talk by one or two individuals will
accomplish nothing The subject must
De agitated by many and the matter
given in hand to the candidates Of each
'ariy in some tangible shape SO that
hey may understand wat is wanted
nd demanded of them. d