The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-27
GOOD ROADS.
Judge Stake Explains His Views at
Annapolis.

OodSC oldhS GNplciIlo -
Annapolis.
Judge Stake, on Thursday, sub
united his views to the chairman of
the House Committee on WAYS and
Means, as member of the Executive
Committee of the Maryland Road
League. He does not agree with the
provisions of the present bill relating
to good roads. It's effect, he said will
only be to develop under the best
possible results, a highway or two
with the largest possible expenditure
of money. The road system of the
state, to be of the best possible SER
vice to the largest number OF people,
must be, he contended, uniformly
improved, because for practical use
in the movements of the people, corps
and supplies, the roadway must be of
uniform condition. If there be tepz
miles of good road and one mile q
bad road, the farmer must load t. 1
the bad mile, and cannot get the
benefit of the ten miles of good roa !.
Money enough cannot be collected
into the public treasury to make uni
form good roads throughout the
state, but enough can be wisely
spared to produce the same result
aided by individual effort.
my plan" continued the jndge,
sis a modification Of the system by
which the sidewalks of the cities of
the country are constructed and
maintained. Each individual land
owner must be required to maintain
the public highway AUDITING on his
land to d uniform standard, reason
ably safe and convenient for travel,
and this obligation must be enforced
by appropriate remedies. We will
then in comparatively short space
of time have better roads, alike avail
able for the abutting owner and the
wayfarer on foot, vehicle, or bicycle.
The wayfarer has no right to expect
something better for his uses than is
given to the resident citizens who
bear the burden of construction.
"But 1t is not equitable for the
abutting owner to payth whole cost.
He ought to bear the greater portion
of it, for in practice and actual use
he gets the largest and most use Of
it. A sum ought to be levied and
paid by the public treasury to the
abutting owner based upon the
number of rods of road constructed
by him. This will go far to relieve
HIM. His own labor, skill aud at
tention make the improvement, and
the amount paid to him in some
compensation and recognition for
his efforts. This labor and skill on
his part is not a total loss, for its
results are betterment to his land
and will increase the value of the
abutting land.
For the best results, 1t is neces-
sary to get close to the people in all
the details of the operation of this
system. Hence tits a mistake to have
a state, and necessarily to some ex
tent a political bureau or superyi
sion. The levy and payment il
aid of the landowner should b,
though the local management, tn,
county commissioners, they boin!
under our state organization the au
thoritatiye representatives closer Il
the people.
"The difficulties in the past ant
now attending the road management
is its removal from the people. |
is absolutely necessary to bring i
into the closest possible relation t,
them, which Will be accomplished
by this system. A state bureau o
superintendent with a state appro
priation, IN my opinion, with tn
experience l have gained with tn
splendid turnpike system of GU
county, will be positive evil,
1.-The best thing for the legislator
to do is,to provide for the appoint
ment by the governor of an unpaiC
commission to formulate a law il
accordance with the system ] hav
outlined, to be reported for legisla
tive action"
Crusaders.