The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-07-18
The Road Question Revived.

The Democrat in a recent Issue urged
the Road League to appear before the
County Commissioners before the time of
fixing the tax rate for the county, and
ask an increased appropriation for the
public highways, pointing out that since
good weather had put the roads in fairly
passable condition no effort was being
made to put in practice the suggestions
of the meeting held at Elkton in the early
spring, by representative citizens from all
parts of the county. In response DIR. c.
M. Ellis, who was instrumental i'll calling
the meeting, contributes a communica-
ton to the Democrat of last week, OF
which the following are extracts:
"The appeal to the committee appoint
ed BY the Good Roads Convention as a
Road League, to appear before the
County Commissioners and urge action
by the Board on the recommendations
submitted by large delegation, before
the final determination of the tax rate
had no response from the League, and
this for several reasons, primarily, because
there has been no league organization,
which has been delayed pending the evo-
luton of an intelligent and efficient
working system. We hope TO do some
thing in this line before Fall, so that re-
newed efforts will be made 10 encourage
and give working shape TO the sentiment
for better roads. The recommendations
of the meeting had the unanimous sup
port of the press of the county. There
was every evidence of spontaneous and
united approval in all parts of the eouuty.
"What has been the result of this sur
prising demonstration of the popular will
upon the commissioners They have
practically ignored it. For few districts,
five believe, they have appointed road
supervisors, all, so far as | know
them, competent men. But they have
not been given that control of the
district roads and funds that we requested,
so that their appointment is much more
likely to increase the very difficulty of
our existing methods, against which we
have so eagerly protested, than aid MS in
reaching better
'Our contention is, and has always
been, that with the $22 900 levied for road
purposes the material and essential points
for which we are striving could be ac-
complished 1t is the political dickering
with the roads and one or more hundreds
of contractors that we want broken up
and everybody wants it broken up. At
least up TO this time no one has dared
publicly to disclose that he wants it
continued.
$50 far as the commissioners are con.
cerned, notwithstanding the favorable ex-
preston of one or more members of the
Board, nothing has been done on the sur
face that gives any encouragement TO the
advocates of better roads, who comprise
the great majority of the taxpayers 1t is
entirely competent under the constitu-
tional provision for the commissioners tc
construct such a system as will satisfy the
county, and expert knowledge aud exper-
Sence is freely at their cali to aid tham.
Will they respond to the unmistakab'e
demand aud avail themselves of the cap
able agencies the State offers them in
constructing neg system on the lines SC
earnestly commended to them and so cor
daily approved, or will they allow this
important subject to drift to 81 acute
crisis in our county politics "