The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-08-28
STATE AID TO ROAD MAKING.


"The Legislature of New York has
adopted an amendment to the State
Constitution looking to the eNpcndi-
ture of $5O,OO0,00O on the public
roads. 1t is said that there is no
doubt of the ratification of this
amendment by the people. Its pro-
posed to spend $1,000, 00Oa year tor
ten years out of the State Treasury
upon conditions that the counties
spend a like amount. Thus in ten
years at least $10O,O0O,O0O will be
expended upon permanent highways
in the Empire State-a sum sufficient
to construct about 10000 miles of
good stone road. Pennsylvania will
expend six millions from the State
Treasury to aid in road improve
ment, and Delaware has also made n
proportionately liberal appropria-
ton. New Jersey was the pioneer i'll
roadmaking by State aid, and now
that State has better roads than any
other State in the Union, the value of
real estate has been great y enhanced,
and after the first trial no one has
been willing to abandon the policy,
because its advantages are too obvi-
Gus.
"Some time ago a patriotic citizen
of Hartford county, i'll this State, left
a sum of money to make road.
The road was made from Churchville
to Bel Air, and it is reported that the
value of farm lands and, in fact, all
real estate along that highway has
advanced az least 20 per cent. The
design of those who favor State aid
in road Improvement is not to relieve
the counties and local communities
of the obligation to keep their roads
in order by their own efforts as far as
| their resources willreach. Therefore
the States which have undertaken
this great work have uniformly fol-
lowed the New Jersey plan, where no
appropriation is made by the State
for any road except upon the condl-
ton that the county will contribute
ali equal amount. This stimulates
competition among the counties to
get State aid by aiding themselves.
The question is whether Maryland is
to lag behind her sister republics in
race of civilization and of improve
ment. The States to the north of us
have embarked upon a wise policy of
progress. Some of the States to the
South of us have been wise enough to
improve their roads by utilizing coli
vict labor. Is Maryland to remain
in the ruts? That is the question for
the Governor and General Assembly
that will be elected next November
to answer.
"The election next fall will be a
battle royal between the two parties
for control of the State government
for four years. Public sentiment will
demand of the party that wins that
it shall do something to promote the
the material progress andprosperity
of the State. For years past the
Legislatures have occupied them
selves in serving corporations, in en-
acting hawk and owl legislation and
in chartering companies. Little has
been donetopromote the proGressand
material prosperity of the State, and
the people are becoming profoundly
weary oft. They all demand Of the
next Legislature some kind Of law
passed regardless Of politics and for
the public good. The party, there
fore, which gains the election next
fall will establish itself in the con-
fdence of the people if it will distin-
guish it's occupation of the State
House by some one great achieve
ment for the public good outside Of
politics and in spite Of politics. And
the Improvement Of the State by
making roads is good place to be-