Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-05-05

subject of roadmaking and the prep
aratiOn of comprehensive measure on
the subject, to be submitted to the next
legislature in January, 1901.
The president of the commission, Mr..
Worrcll. has been fer more than ten
years an earnest student OF the vari-
Gus road systems in Pennsylvania and
other states, and he is ut present chair
man of the state highway committee
of the League of American Whcclmcn.
He is the right man in the right place
and as the head of the commission
will be able to furnish valuable infor-
nation on the question at issue. In
discussing the matter he continucd:
There is nothing more important to
n state than good roads. and it cannot
be denied that under the present super
viSOrShip system in this state there is
not much hope for Improvement. Just
how bad the system is can perhaps
be best Indicated in words by stating
that year after year sufficient money
has been collected in the shape of road
taxes not only to maintain improved
highways, but also to extend the work
of making new roads. Progress has
been impossible because of the great
waste of the peoples money, which it
must be admitted can hardly be avoid
ed under the prevailing system.
"Our commission must consider first
of all the interests of the farmers,
who are large taxpayers and are per-
haps the least able to bear the burden
We desire to prepare Il law which will
give them good roads, so that they
will be able to get their products to
market without increasing the burden
of taxation.
I'VE should, of course, have state
aid, and there should be provided a
system of supervision different from
the present The new township gov
ernmcnt bill is good law and is an
improvement on the old one, but it af-
fccts only a few townships, which will,
| have no doubt, be greatly benefited.
One feature of the present law now in
force in nearly every township which
is very Objectionable is the privilege
extended to some to work out their
road tax. This should be abolished, for
crs who are given the privilege put
their own people to work on the roads,
men and boys who are generally in
competent and bad work is the re-
suit. Thus there is Il waste in the tax
payers money in that feature of the
present system.
Beyond doubt the present methods
must be rcvolutionized, but just what
shall be done is the problem which we
must solve. If system could be de-
vised whereby roads could be built by
contract, the taxpayers money could
be made to go much further than it
does ut present. The cost of conStruc-
tion would be less because of the COM
petition"
Secretary Hamilton of the Pennsyl-
vania department of agriculture says
n good road, dry, solid, smooth and of
easy grade. is no longer to be clasScd
among the luXuries. but it is a business
necessity not only to the farmer, but
to every industry and enterprise in the
state. The manufacturers, merchants,
the railroad lines. the bOrOu%hs and the
cities are equally benefited by improv-
ed highways with the farmer who re-
sides in the immediate vicinity of the
country road.
"IIerctofore our public roads have
been maintained by the citizens in
whose districts these roads are found"
continued Mr.. Hamilton. "Thcre are
mt present about 100000 miles of coun-
try roads in Pennsylvania, which cost
annually about S4,0O00OO, or about $40
per mile, to maintain. When the I'M
serviccable condition of these roads is
considered. Notwithstanding the enor-
nous sums expended annually for their
repair, the conclusion is forced that
there is something radically wrong
with system that has this part of
our public business in control
San examination of the fact shows
that there is no single. system of road
management in this state. but many,
and in most OF the 1.5O0 townships
which the state includes there are no
continuous boards of supervisors The
officials change every year. and as a
consequence no well considered plan
for road improvement is possible while
this condition exists"