The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-12-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union
A PHYSICIAN ON ROADS.


VERONA, Nd, December 18th, 1908.
Aessrs. Editors I'm response to the desire of
the Taxpayers Committee for citizens to ex
press their views on the matter of roads and
law regulating the same, herewith send you
some conclusions relative to the care and pres
eryation Of the roads. LIDO not see the necessity
of having an engineer, unless he so arrange
to meet the contingencies as they arise in all
parts of the county
riding over the county roads, am convinced
that water of all elements, is the prime factor
in the destruction of roads. When we have
solved the method of getting rid of water we will
have more than half way met the problem OF
good roads,.
least six or eight weeks-wagOns buggies, etc.,
driving through it, wearing it still deeper, unless
King Sol Jack Frost comes to the rescue.
ticular seasons of the year-some of them at
least Now what becomes of that mud hole in
the interim, rains in the meantime adding its
about MAY. June or possibly December that par
ticuar hole is filled up. Sometimes the sun or
frost intervenes, to be sure. One man takes care
water courses after heavy rain, thus liberating
pools as they accumulate l have seen very
pretty road ruined by handful or so of dirt or
leaves Obstructing water-cOurse- gradual ac-
cumulations taking place in the way of filth
until quite a volume of water is damned back.
They wait six, three or two months to remove
that obstruction. Why not let a man go at once
and release mud holes of accumulated water
after flood or heavy rain? A good shovel in
matters very much. At any rate we would not
have to rely upon evaporation as heretofore.
Broken uncovered stone are menace to both
horse and vehicle. rolling everywhere, filling up
side drains. Horses will avoid them il they can.
They are dangerous. A little dirt thrown over
would help to cement broken stone, thus avoid
ing the troubles incident thereto, filling up side
drains and making a new track in the bottom of
the drain. A good road bed properly maintained
would avoid many difficulties. Very little heavy
hauling is done upon roadways, owing to the
milk business. Now imagine the time required
for few milk wagons and buggies to consolidate
a bed of broken stone. Owing to slight impact
they rather displace stone than consolidate
them. A very heavy team ascending a hill upon
which broken stone are placed will do great
damage. / have seen stone moved in every
direction owing to the driver directing his horses
right or left in order to make the traction less
in pulling up hill whereas have seen a similar
load pulled with comparative ease on the York
pike over its well ccmented pavement.
live on the pike and have fully realized the
benefits of driving over good road, well drained
and paved. / believe any one of the contingent
cies set forth could be met If looked after at the
time of their occurrence. l fail to see how an
engineer could control them unless he had set
of well qualified assistants to meet the emergen-
cies as they arise, and not postpone repairs until
driven to make them by an almost impossible
road. Respectfully, f. G. MITCHELL, M. ID.