Middletown transcript., 1898-03-05
FOR GOOD ROADS.

LudHul0 lDc
FOR GOOD ROADS.
1t is interesting to note that there
was a representative gathering of
Marylanders at Annapolis on Thursday
last to discuss the question of road i'm
provement and prepare bill on the
subject to present to the Legislature
which is now in session. The temper
of the meeting showed concl usively
that the people of Maryland we're will
ing TO tax themselves to secure decent
roads, and this may be said, too. of the
people of other States in which the
qu stion is being agitated. One of the
speakers declared that for more than
twenty years past large sums of money.
varying from forty-five thous and to
sixty thousand dollars, had been an
nually spent on the roads of the State,
and that these roads are now in worse
condition than they were when the inn
provements were started. He estimated
that the amounts referred to, and the
loss by time and tear and wear to the
presentmeans of transportation over
the roads, are equal to an annual of at
least one dollar per acre on every acre
Of land within the bounds Of the State.
The States which have practically
taken up the matter Of ROAD improve
ment have found that tbe cost of the
change has not been greater than was
the expense of maintaining bad roads
under the old system, and it is not
likely that before many years have
passed the antiquated method of max
ing and mending roads will strongly
obtrude itself. The condition Of pub
lie roads largely illustrates the spirit
of the people, nor is there any thing
which would be more likely t ;itiract
capital to Commonwealth than high
ways which provide easy and comfort
able means of travel and transporta-
tion.
The wealth and development of
States are largely bound up with this
question.
A CORN CONVENTION.
There was corn convention in
Chicago last week. the maih object of
the promoters being to devise plans
which the man uses to which corn can
be put may be brought to the knowledge
Of millions of people in Europe and
Asia, as we'll as to thousands in our
own land who have only vague idea
of the variety of shapes and forms in
which it can be placed upon the table.
1t may not be generally known, but it is
fact, that even in Scotland, where
the daily food Of the peasaDtry is large
ly composed of oatmeal served up in
the form of the traditional pOrridge,
in some districts corn meal has for
many years been used qually with Oat
meal; and we all know that during the
last ten years our Agricultural Depart-
ment at different times employed an
export to make known abroad the good
qualities of corn on the occasion of
national explosions and other public
events. At the convention in Chicago
there were exhibits to show its merits
and it's excellence as a substitute for
other and more expensive food products,
and if the plans that were then pro-
posed can be carried out, important re-
suits are certaIned to be obtained.
While we know flom old gossips and
from the writers of fiction as to the
place which corn had in the South in an
te-bellum dsys,it is really since the war
that it's use has increased in the North,
and there are now few tables on which
it is not found in some tempting form.
European countries are also beginning
to understand what healthful dish es
can be made from it, and Germany is
using large quantities of it with rye
in her army bread. 1t is an article,
too, which can be improved, for the
corn of to-day has developed far beyond
that which was first cooked and eaten by
the Pilgrim Fathers, and the enormous
extent which the industry of canning
fruits and vegetables has grown has al
SO afforded All opportunity for using i'm
mense quantities of it in that fashion.
AS it is estimated that there are
more than seven millions of corn
growers in this country, it can be read
ily understood that the subject Of wide-
ming the domain of the product is one
Of vast interest from monetary stand
point, as well as when it is looked at
in its relation to household economies.
The manner in which the plans that
we're formulated at Chicago are work.
ed out will be awaited with eagerness.
Robbed the Grave.
A startling incident of which Mr.. John
Oliver of Philadelphia, was the subject, is
narrated by him as follows: II was in a
| most dreadful condition. My skin was al
most yellow, eyes sunken, tongue coated,
na;n continually in back and sides, no ap-