The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-03-13
THE ROAD QUESTION.
The Maryland Geological Survey has


The Maryland Geological Survey has
issued the following bulletin:
This is the season of the perennial
complaint against the bad roads of Mary
land. With the passing of the frost and
water of winter general cutlery against
! the conditions rIcurS i'll the counties as
regularly rs the plants become green
again. Observation. however, indicates,
one element of coed promise in the dis
satisfaction, it has already led to some
positive steps for real and permanent I'M
provements and holds the prospect of
further advances toward the right result
The officers of the Maryland Geological
Survey, who have followed carefully the
popular tendency during tie past few
years, are satisfied that the drift! o! affairs
is firmly set toward efficient road methods
more proper to the needs of the State and
the present time than the scattering eff
forts by which the highways have been
unsucccssfuily administered heretofore.
Although some few have failed to note
this tendency, most careful observers are
satisfied of its existence. The question
now most pertincnt-onc raised several
times of latc-concerns the means by
which the result can best be promoted.
The Maryland Geological Survey be
recognition Of unfavorablc conditions. |
Although it feels that these conditions |
are not the best, it gives them its full |
recognition because they are the condi-
tons nevertheless. The surveys work is
projected iii the belief that the best results
will come at last with the least evil from
cooperation rather than from upposi-
ton. The road funds Of Maryland are
now administered by County Commits
sioncrs through IN unwicldy number of
road supervisors. No thoughtful man
will say that such laxity of organization
and it's lack Of expert knowledge and
technical supervision are beneficial. The
survey makes torimprovement,h however,
by acting with the commissioners and
supervisors rather than against them, by
helping them rather than hiudering both
them and itself 1t has taken this course
in the belief that county officers as well
as private citizens will appreciate the adj
vantages of good public works over bad
ones if only they can be made familiar
with the good ones. This belief has been
justified by the experience of five years.
when it commenced its work the sur
vey's highway division was regarded
askance and, III some quarters, even with
suspicion. Since then it has come into
confidential relations with the commits
sioners of half the counties and has con-
suited with those Of nearly all the rest.
1t can show Il great modern highway in
Hartford county, for the extension of
which to connect Bel Air with Havre de
Grace, the Hartford Commissioners have
already asked its cooperation; an act
1nent of the Prince Georges highways
out of the District of Columbia; its plans
for the road model recently built by gov
ernment engineers over the Old National
Pike near Cumberland; relocations and
in Howard county, which
the Howard Commissioners will supple
nent by further construction this sum-
ner; the beginning of modern conStrrc-
ton on the Eastern Shore, the short
stretch near the Chester river bridge i'll ;
Queen Anne's; iunumerablc tests of road
and pavement materials for Baltimore !
,ity and other towns; surveys, plans and
specifications made for the several coun-
ties, in such number as to keep its whole
highway staff busy throughout the year,
and the recommended" ION OF Il road enSi-
neer for Baltimore county
Cecil, Caroline and Wicomico give
every indca ton that they will soon join
the movement for road bcttcrmcnt and
the subject also promises to become live
one i'll Garrett, at the other extremity 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 I'M
less this be supported by general apprc-
.iation of the best road methods which
does not yet exist. For this reason il
takes no part in any of heradical plans,
often good in conception but revolutions
airy in effect, which are proposed from
time to time. Itwould not risk anything !
which has been gained. and all that may
still be gained by exciting strong opposi-
ton without imperative necessity and
setting at variance classes who mdst
work together if permanent results are
to be Won"