The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-01-18
THE COLORA ROAD QUESTION.
Colora, Md, January 9th. 1902.

EdltOr Cecil w Ing
Presenting upon the patience
and forbearancc of the Editor OF the
Wing, ! shall reply to 'TnXpaycr's" let
ter printed in issue of january -lth.
''TaXpayer' SAYS that | want any kind
of road just so it is new. This state.
mcnt can be accounted for only in one of
two ways; either by ''TaXpaycrS" in
ability to understand the plain statement
to the effect that it would he Il decided
improvement to build this road even
though it were built of dirt, or by his
deliberate intention to "mislcad." ! said
plainly that | was not arguing in favor
of dirt ~ against stone or gravel for the
| construction Of roads, and the fact that
''THNpaycr' cannot understand plain
English language or desires to IAiScon-
StrUc the same is no fault of mine and
''TaNpaNcr' is fully entitled to whatever
satisfaction he may derive froM such an
answer.
Either it would or it would not lie IN
Improvement to build this road of dirJ.
| maintain that it would he. Let 'TaX-
payer answer this question negatively
in reason if h" can. "TANpaycr" says
there is not one foot of dirt road within
one mile Of Colora. Here again ''TaN-
payer" either does not know OF seeks TO
'mislead." However. | prefer to hold
the more charitable view. that he does
not know. Will "Taxpaycr" examine
the road from Mr. Robert Loves spring
to Mr.. Henry KccnS tenant house. and
thus inform himself us to what are the
constituent elements thereof, in order
that he may i'll turn. inform the puh!;c in
his next letter. and will he 50. whether
this road is mile or NOR" or less from
Colora? The point of this Interrogation
is obvious to all acquainted with that
road, Tue horses are all laughing ut
''TaXpayrr" about there being no dirt
/ roads within II mile of Colora, but why
discuss this assertion? 1t is entirely IT.
relevant.
1t is Il fact that during the time that
the frost is coming out all dirt roads are
more or less in foundcrous condition
and in a measure impassablc but what
percentage of the year is this the case?
Are dirt roads usually bad during the
fall, winter and spring months, compris-
ing nine Of the twelve calendar months
of the year: Surely, even "Taxpayer"
will not so contend. To the contrary,
dirt roads are almost uniformly good for
llt Itllph bl tlSnI IllbnlIS Ill lllt year,
this period covers that portion of the
year from the first of April to the first of
December and not all of the time of the
remaining months do we find the roads
in bad condition. The above is true and
everybody knows it to be true. and most
people are pretty well convinced of the
fact that the opinion and assertion of
''TaXpaycr' can neither add to or take
from the truth. But "TaXpaycr' tacitly
, if not expressly admits this truth, when
he says in his first letter that the pro-
posed new road would soon be impass-
able at least during the winter season
unless macadamizvd.
Now as to the question rs to when the
major portion of the heavy hauling To
and from Colora is done. When do the
farmers haul their fertilizers from
! ColOra! At what season of the year do
they haul out their grain and straw and
hay! What percentage of the lime
which is shipped to this point comes dur
ing that season of the year that tn" roads
are bad? When is the lumber mostly
hauled from this point? And even coal,
which is used almost exclusively during
the winter season. Is it not fact that
most of it is hauled prior to the time
when the ,adS usually get bad? The
tomato crop. when is that delivered to
tn" two canning houses ut this point ::
HE answers 10 these questions appear
ut once to the fair and rational mind
1t would be interesting to have Tax
payer answer them.
The hill mentioned by TaXpnyer' on
the road leading south from Colora. is
about two hundred feet long. and not
nearly so steep ;tS the other hill. and be-
ing short and straight is not an impcdi
ment to be compared with the other one
| hence there is no such necessity for grad
, ing ii as ''TaNpayrr" would have us be
lievc. However. if Taxpayer" is not
satisfied unless he can have grading done
. somewhere, in order to smooth matters
over with him and thus make him feel
! perfectly easy. | will agree to grade this
! hill to one-half of what the grade is now.
hauling the dirt away, and thus not JIM
tcrfcring with Mr.. Brown. and also CON
| Struct the new road with stone and
gravel surface for what it will cost to
grade the old road, or in other words,
agree to grade this hill for one-third Of
the cost of grading the other hill. The
mere assertion of '"Taxpayer' that this
| proposition does not amount to anything
is nothing more than the baby act ON his
part. yet l coincide with the opinion of
''TaXpayer' that it is not likely | will
be awarded the contract, for doubtless
there would be a number of people seek
ing the contract at Il much less sum than
Indicated by my proposition.
If "Taxpayer' will read the proceed
ings of the international Good Roads
Congress" which was held ut Buffalo in
September last. in which experts as to
road building from different countries
read papers on the subject from Il scien-
tific and practical standpoint. possibly
he may become better informed as to the
construction of roads. 1t is the opinion
of these experts, based on practical ex-
perience. that main roads should be
twenty-four feet wide and macadamized
or graveled to X width of sixteen feet in
! the middle, and if Taxpayer" will hold
his breath willie | tell him about it,
4