Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-08-19
Working for the New Turnpike.

inuuenual cltlZenS OF this and other sections
of the county went before the County Com
missioners to consult them in regard to the
construction of the proposed turnpike from
Rockville to the District line. The bids for
the work, made last week, exceeded the
amount named in the law and were reject.
ed by the Commissioners. 1t was generally
understood that this failure would lead to
an abandonment of the enterprise.
In order to avert this disaster to the pros
perity and business interests of large por-
ton of the county, it was determined to
make this appeal to the Commissioners. -
Earnest addresses on the subject were made
by Messrs. Edward G. Peter, Samuel l..
Phillips, Hattersly w. Talbot, VIM. Veirs
Bouic, Jr., Beverly Codwise and Philip d.
Laird. Mr., Phillips also presented the fol-
lowing opinion on the law governing this
matter:
Rockville, Md, August IS, 1898.
The Honorable Commissioners Of Montgomery
county, Nd.
Gentlemen AT the request of Mr.. VIM.
Dorsey, | beg leave to submit the following
views on the Interpretation of Chapter 257,
Laws OF Maryland, 1898, relating to the con-
struction of the Washington and Rockville
turnpike.
/. The law is mandatory. The Commits
sioners have no option whether they will
build the road or not. They are not only
authorized, but directed" to construct it.
1t is their imperative duty to proceed with
diligence and with their best official iudg-
ment to carry out the law. They are not
bound to assume in advance that the Legis-
ature has provided an insufficient sum, but
it is rather to be presumed the amount is
adequate. Their duty is to construct 1t
faithfully, as required, for the lowest sum
possible, and if after having entered upon
the work, the sum proves inadequate, it is
not their fault or affair, but that of the legis.
lature.
2. There is no clause in the law which
provides that the Commissioners before
commencing the road should institute an
inquiry to determine that the amount APP
propriated will completely finish the work.
Any such investigation is exiraneous and
entirely without warrant, and if the Legs
lature had intended the Commissioners
should have taken up this last part of the
work in the first instance, and ascertained
IN
that the sum was adequate for complete con.
struction, it would have said s0 explicitly.
3. The fact that one contractor had bid
$37 200, and another $50 900, is no excuse
why the Commissioners should not proceed.
1t is "a very good reason why neither of these
men should be awarded the contract. Their
bids are not conclusive that the entire work
cannot be completed for $4,000. Such
men usually proceed as follows: First, they
compute the cost of the work In sight.
Second, they add from 10 to 30 per cent for
unseen work, incidental expenses and delays.
Third they add about 20 per cent on the total
for profits. In work which would cost the
Commissioners $4,000, add 20 per cent for
margin OF safety, making $4,000, and to
which add 30 per cent for profits, making
bid $4,000
From my experience in building railroads,
| should expect to accomplish with $35,OOO
for what contractor would demand about
$35 000 and obtain better work also.
A. | take the liberty of suggesting the
method would adopt in carrying out the
direction of the Legislature:
l. Obtain from competent engineer
well prepared plan of the present and new
road
2. Pass resolution by the Commissioners
to grade a sixty foot road, twenty feet at
least in width thereof to be covered with
broken stone of size which will go through
two-inch ring, and to a depth OF at least OF
twelve inches, and that the same shall be
thoroughly rolled with q steam roller before
it is opened for travel.
g. Appoint competent road builder as
superintendent.
4. Proceed to grade strip of the center
of the road forty feet wide as far as the Dis
trct line, and cover sixteen or eighteen feet
of Its center with broken stone as above,
and roll it temporarily with a large iron
horse roller if steam roller could not be
hired reasonably.
5. When the District line is reached, re-
turn TO the Rockville end, and again proceed
towards the District to widen the grade to
sixty feet. If sixteen feet only was covered
with stone, then add four feet more.
g. Endeavor, at first, TO save contractors
profits by employing or buying teams and
tools; or by giving out sections of grading
of a mile or more TO contractors like steam
railroads do. Use the county's stone crusher,
and hire or buy a steam roller, irrespective
of price, for such is the law. This steam
rolling may be postponed until the final
widening of the road to twenty feet. Much
will depend on efficient tools and the activ-
ity and ability of the superintendent.
z Appoint, without pay, three citizens,
deeply interested, as supervisors, with au-
thorty to dismiss incompetent or idle en-
ployes, and TO correct work not done &C
cording TO plans.
There is nothing in the law which directs
the Commissioners TO complete with siGty
feet width and twenty feet stone each mile
or section before procet ding TO another sec
ton. The method of construction Is lett
unrestrictedly to their discretion. The para
mount intention of the law is, the construc-
ton of turnpike. The plan outlined above
is in accordance with this intention, for 1t Sc
cures, at all events, good servlceable road
for the money appropriated. II the money
is adequate, IL must be widened and built In
every respect as provided by law. Ii the
money is exhausted on the forty foot grade
and sixteen feet Of stone, the Commissioners
will receive the appreciation and thanks Of
the citizens who reside in this section for the
able manner in which they have carried out
the law Respectfully,
s. l.. PHILLIPS.
We concur in the above opinion and sug
gestions of Mr. Sam l.. Phillips, with this
addition. In our opinion the Commissioners
must ,bey the mandate Of the Legislature
and build the road, regardless OF Its cost.
There is nothing in the Act limiting the cost
Of construction to $4,000. This amount is
to be borrowed, the balance, If any is re-
auired, should be raised by the Commits
sioners in the manner that other funds for
county purposes are procured.
Signed Talbot 81 Prettyman, VIM. Veirs
Bouic, Jr, Edward g. Peter, Philip ID. Laird,
Thomas Anderson, j. Abby Henderson, W.
Garner Bouic
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Split in Montgomery.