The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-12-18

ing made hy the iIc%s. organized bodies AN
prominent persons. VIII" are giving thi
problem hearty and cooperative attention
So far, no opposition has been developed, ant
while there are number q: bills that hav
hcrm formulated by different Pcisnns, no on
seems to be welded :" any particular pIni
| should better one rc suggested. The fol
lowing statistics from the Baltimore Amcri
can are interesting:
! The public road question promises to DC
ctipy prominent position i'll ne discussion.
and acts "f the next Mar! land lrSi"lrtur"
| Already the discussions amnnl, farmers and
Others interested in the suhiccI arcin progress
| As both PARTIES are pledged TO do something
| to secure an Improvement in The public high.
! WAYS, It looks as though legislation in some
form Is Forthcoming. The agitation f..
5cttcrtoads began 'iur:nE Govcrn"rI. wndt :
administration and has continued since with
: the prospect of something more practical AMI
more tangible Is an outcome than The present
/ law.
Tho states finances az" in such excellent
| shape that. with an economical admnistrl-
ito" of the state government. with reduced
expenditures by The state legislature and
without reduction of the state tau. there
should be available annual! rom S2ou.uUO
| to $500, 90" tor road improvements. This
would mean that there could lac constructed
i'll this state every year at state expense frO:H
200 to 800 miles of modern roads.
1t IS not proposed. however, that the sta:c
dciray ;dl the expense. It is suggested that
nt:t "f the state treasury there should lie re-
turned 20 each county 81 certain sum to beck
pended in conjunction with the cuunty's APP
preparation for macadaIaizing public roads,
noc in makcsnift repairs to existing and badly
constructed roads.
"Maryland is we'll prepared t" proceed with
The Improvement of public highways. The
movement has the approval Of Governor
elect Warticld. The state has :; Bureau If
Highways. i'll Charge Of corps of road
Gincers. Roads especially needed arc from
Baltimore to Washington from Washington.
II. &. through Montgomery county, in
terscct the Western turnpike al Midd!ctown,
Frederick county: connecting the various
county towns Of the Eastern Shore counties;
from Baltimore through Annapolis and
Prince Frederick, to Solomcn'S Island; from
Washing on through Prince Georges. Charl, :
and st. MarI's counties. I" Point Lookout.
In the western counties nearly all the princi-
pal roads are already macadami<cd, but there
arc many of Importance which ought to he
improved. The use OF automobiles they
have become cheaper to make VIII increase
more and more, and will ,aic away froIn
country lifcit, clicfdrawbackS namely. isola-
ton and solitude. Forthe use ofautomobilcs
and bicycles good roads are essential.
I'm the whole State OF Maryland there are
about I4.LSi miles of public roads, including
the toll roads, or about 1t. miles to each
square mile o: area. OF these 1918 miles
are ear Ii roads, 500 miles are stone roads.
225 miles gravel roads. go miles ave
shell roads; 2,o21 miles. II per cent. ofthc
whole, are main roads. There are IL toll
road companies having an individua! mileage
of from IL. 10 - miles, and an aggregate
mileage of i73 miles. These roads axe group
cd about Baltimore. Frcdcrick and IIagcrs-
town.
IL was est inn atcd hat the tai annual cost
OF the old road system was about $500, 900
a year, with nothing permanent about the
result. The cost to farmers ani OTHERS of
hauling over Inadequate roads is estimated
at s. 900. 400 Il year.
The cost of hauling in New Jersey has been
reduced onc.half since the roads were i'm |
proved. Therefore, Ivy improving Maryland
roads onc-haif of this SIM would be saved |
Making liberal allowance for the fact that "a |
part oftllc hauling - done over The toll roads |
and that some "f it zoe; over unimportant |
roads that could not be Immediately improv- |
I'd. it is estimated that at least $4,000 UUo 4 |
year couid be saved by improving: the main |
roads OF The state. = similar estimate Is |
reached by considering the reduction III tie !
number of draft animals necessary and the |
saving in the Weir and Jra- on animals
wagons and harness by good roads. other
benefits of good roads are: Increased valuc
Of land. great saving uf time. the ability TO
reach markets at all seasons. the develop
ncnt OF rural mail delivery, the Increased |
ease of social intercourse. etc.
1T would cost the State about $ 600 OUO
to construct an cxcciicn; system of roads
and 10 do away with tolls. The expense. if
iividcr! over period Of zen years. would
max" the cost less than ! for each iHhahi-
tant. The STATE : we'll equipped with ma
tcrai necessary TO h@;Id good roads.
The Pcnus ylyania Public Road Law,
which is considered Il model, and which was
passed at Tie last session of the General AS
scmEly of that State. authorizes the State to
give aid to the counties and townships of the
in the Improvement OF the
highways.
This law est abIiSncs a new department at |
II Harrisburg. known as the State Highway
Department, at the head of which snail be n
,iyii cn2sinccr experienced in the construction
aud maintenance of roads. Under the Supcr-
vision OF this official shall come all the pcrma-
ncnt improvements Ia reads that arc made
with State aid. The method OF applying the
State aid is briefly thus:
The state Highway Commissioner upon
the application of the Count Y Commissioners
Of any State for the benefit of the act. shall |
make an Investigation Of road. the improve
nent Of which is proposed. and if in Ills opin-
ion the road needs thr permanent improve
nsnt the work shall be proceeded with by
When completed the State shall
pay ~ "-tiIirds OF the cost. ,hc county one
ST. III ard the township oHc-#iNth.
''Th, county commissioners may make APP
plicatioi. for state Aid Tie petition the
OF the township. The township
shall position the count commits
sioncrs upon receiving petition signed by |
the owners Of Il majority in valuation of the
assessed property III the township. In ease
the township supervisors petition the county |
for thc benefit nf the act> and |
within 80 days thereafter the owners of Il |
of the ASSESSED valuation of real cs- |
tate i'll tilc township petition he { ,mmsSion- |
ers protesting: against Tie proposed improve
ment the commissioners shall take no action. |
after the roads are built with state aid |
they must be maintained by III" township |
But again upon application "fthc supervisors