The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-12-30

glneers' department.. What can III
objection be when your 100000
year, which is now practically wasted
isweli and intelligently spenty Thj
alone more than pays the cost of sucl
department. One thing experienc
mas proven, and that is that It is nj
teriy futile to leave the hnilding O
highways to localities.
! The proposed postal savings de
posltories offer possibilities for fund,
70 improve the roads. What to dc
with the funds of such repositories
seems to be a most important eonsid
Grafton. Invest them in bonds issued
lor the Improvement ofcounty roads,
under skilled supervision, and a
hle-h naGt viii he conferred The
money deposited will thus 90 out
among people thrifty enough to save.
and security obtained of unoues-
toned integrity"
"Other States have got good roads
through good legislation. and Won
must convince your legislators that
the State Of Maryland is entitled to
Just as good legislation as any other
State of the Union. You must stir
them up at home and follow them up
TO Annapolis You have selected
them and given them power and OBJ
portuniry to find out for you what is
the best. The problem is being solved
III many States and in many WAYS. all
satisfactory to the farmers in those
states 1t is for them to find ONT
Whlc.l way is the best and best adapt
ed to conditions in this State. They
can send their communities in any
state or call for information from any
authority, State or national. They
can see for themselves how the var
lous plans Of road improvement oper-
ate. They can call before them such
OF your own citizens as have had prac-
teal experience in road Improvement.
and at slight expense they can bring
experts from other States. They can
secure for you the benefits of the ey-
perience of Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut. New jersey.
North Carolina, Alabama. Kentucky.
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Cali
tornia, each of which has its own
method Of road improvement.
IsNl,, +,l =
III n general way, that is:
"First-1A complete reform in the
local road administration, so that you
will get your moneys worth for the
money you now pay.
'Second-IOu want more money
for roads, without more taxes on
farm property.
"Third-YOu want an efficient su-
pervisor to make sure that the new
money spent on roads shall be spent
to the best possible advantage.
"Fourth-You want to make sure
for the future that all property and |
all the people interested in or benefit
ed by good highways shall contribute
their proper share towars building
and maintaining those roads"
Gen. Stone was followed by Presi-
dent Powell, of the Evansville Farmers |
Club, an organization which is a unit |
for reform in the method of road main
tenance. Mr.. Powell said in part:
The roads of this State. unfOrtu-
nately have been 4 spoils system as
soon as either political party won, to
Tx the election next time, the roads, !
first received attention. But how
First. by appointing road supervisors
not men of experience in roadbuilding,
but men who would be successful in
getting other men to the primaries to
vote as the boss would dictate. The
class of labor used on the roads has
Deen the poorest, for you and | know.
with few exceptions. this work is done
oy men we would not hire expecting
either full days work or intelligent
execution of the task allotted TO them.
Ildu UIle pTeSeHG system is an aDSO- /
ute failure is most clearly proven by
he fact that after so many years there
IRE 50 few good roads, and | feel sure
upon investigation you will find the
few good roads we have were not |
built out of the general road tax, but !
by private subscription
President Sylvester of the Maryland |
College, followed, and
urged that the example of Rhode Is
land be followed, and that the stu
dents of the Agricultural College pre-
pare, under the supervision of State
engineer, plans and estimates for the
of the county roads and
bridges.
a resolution was adopted by the
Grange appointing a committed of five
to do everything possible towards bet
ter methods of roadbuilding, and to
confer with committees of other or
ganizations named for the same pur-
pose. Those appointed are Fillmore
Beall, of Prince Georges county; Asa