Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-14
SEASON Of BAD ROADS.
Wet Weather Made Some
Almost impossible. Good
Work OF State Geological
Survey.

complaint against the bad roads O
Maryland. With the passing of tn,
frost and water of winter general out
cry against the conditions recurs in tn,
counties as regularly as the plants be
come green again. Observation, how
ever, indicates one element of gooC
promise in the common dissatisfaction
it has already led to some positive
steps for real and permanent improve
ments and holds the prospect of further
advances toward the right result. Tn,
officers of the MARYLAND Geological Sur
vey who have followed carefully tn,
popular tendency during the past few
years, are satisfied that the drift Of
affairs is firmly set toward efficient road
methods more proper to the needs OF
the State and the present time than tn,
scattering efforts by which the high
ways have been uDsuccessfully admins
tered heretofore. Although some few
have failed to note this tendency, most
istencr. The question now most peril
nent-one raised several times of late
concerns the means by which the result
can best be promoted.
The Maryland Geological Survey be
gan its road work in 1898 in the full
recognition of unfavorable conditions
lel - &. -. Al. -.
are not the best it gives them its full
recognition because they are the condi
tions nevertheless The Surveys work
is projected in the belief that the best
results will come at last with the least
evel from cooperation rather than from
opposition. The road funds of Maryland
are now administered by county com
missioncrs through an unwieldy number
of road supervisors. No thoughtful men
will say that such laxity of organization
and its lack of expert knowledge and
technical supervision are beneficial. The
Survey makes for improvement, how.
ever, by acting with the commissioners
and supervisors rather than against
them, by helping them rather than him
dering both them and itself. 1t mas
taken this course i'll the belief that
county officers as well as private citizens
Will appreciate the advantages of good
public roads over bad ones if only they
can be made familiar with the good
ones. This belief has been justified by
the experience of five wears.
When it commenced its work the Sur
vey's highway division was regarded
askance and, in some quarters, even
with suspicion. Since then it has come
into confidential relation with the COM
miSsioners of half the counties and has
consulted with those of nearly all the
rest. 1t can show a great modern high.
way in Hartford county, for the extern
ton of which To connect Belalr with
Havre de Grace the Hartford commiss
toner's have already asked its coopera-
ton; an act placing under its direction
the improvement of the Prince Georges s
highways out of the District of Colum.
bia; its plans for the road model recent
ly built by government engineers over
the Old National Pike near Cumberland;
relocations and construction in Howard
county. which the Howard commission
ers will supplement by the further con-
struction this summer; the beginning of
modern construction on the Eastern
river bridge in Queen Anne's; iDnumer-
able tests of road and pavement mater
ials for Baltimore city and other towns;
survey plans. and specifications made
for the several counties, i'll such way
as to keep its whole highway staff busy
throughout the year; and the recon-
mendation of road engineer for Balti-
more county
Cecil, Caroline aud Wicomico give
every indication that they will soon join
the movement for road betterment and
the subject also promises to become a
live one i'll Garrett, at the other extrem-
ity of the State. The Geological Survey
believes that better methods will be
accepted when they are appreciated, and
will be appreciated when they are
known. 1t doubts the possibility of
accomplishing any great good by radical
legislation unless this be supported by a
general appreciation of the best road
methods which does not yet exist. For
this reason it takes no part in any of
the radical plans, often good i'll concept
ion but revolutionary i'll effect, which
are proposed from time to time. 1t
would not risk anything which has been
gained, and all that may still be gained
by exciting strong opposition without
imperative necessity and setting at var
lance classes who must work together if
permanent results are to be won Wor
cester has recently taken steps in the
right direction for good roads.
Danger of Colds and Grip.