The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-04-10

stock unpaid in whole or i'll part.
1t is proposed to take the revenue
to be derived t.lerefrom and apply
the same to fund to be used for i'm
proving our rural highways. The
bill provides that any State or
geographical subdivision thereof,
through its proper officers having
jurisdiction gifts public roads, may
apply to the director of the bureau
Of public roads for cooperation i'll
the actual construction Of a per-
manent Improvement of any high
way within the mentioned geographic
cal subdivision.
Each application for cooperation
is to be accompanied by the proper
resolution stating that public inter
est demands the Improvement of the
highway described therein, but such
description shall not include any
portion of a highway within the
boundries of any city or Incorporated
village. After such application is
made the director is to make an in
vestigation to determine whether
the highway or section to be I'M
proved is of sufficient public import
ance, taking into account the use,
location and value of such highway
or section thereof for the purpose OF
common traffic and travel, and for
the rural free delivery of the United
States mail.
Should the same be approved, the
highway shall be mapped both in
outline and profile. On this shall be
marked how much of such highway
may be improved by diversion from
the existing lines whenever it shall
be deemed better to shorten said
road. He shall also cause plans and
specifications thereof to be made OF
telford, macadam or gravel or other
suitable material for construction.
The plan of cooperation contem-
plates the Government paying one
half of the expense of the work
which shall be done under its di-
rection; the other half to beraised by
local taxation or private subscrip-
ton. In this manner, the principal
highways of the country could be
gradually improved in a substantial
manner, and the taxpayers would be
called upon to bear only one-half OF
the expense.
While the bill has not yet reached
the stage of entire practicability, yet
it would seem to be a step in the
right direction. No class feels the
burden Of the trusts more keenly
than our rural residents, and if they
cannot be curbed, this at least, would
require them to return to the invol-
untary doners some portion of the
spoil.
The provisions of this bill were
fully discussed by Mr.. Dodge at a
recent meeting of the Deer Greek
Farmers Club, and from allinforma-
ton that can be learned it would
seem to indicate that public opinion
is slowly but surely trending in the
direction of national aid. If we
supplement the affairs of the Govern
ment by State aid, which has been
found to be entirely practical in New
York, and several other common.
wealths, the road question would
practically be solved. That it is I'M
just to compel the county to entirely
maintain its own highways is ap-
parent to every right thinking man
no matter whether he is a resident OF
the city or country. The cause OF
good roads is as common as public
education. The State gives material
aid in this direction and the Govern.
1nent by its liberal appropriations to
agricultural colleges and agricultural
experiment stations seems to recog-
nize the same spirit.
One fact that should not be lost
sight of is that when we get good
roads it will take as much if not
more money to keep them in order
than is present spent. In fact our
road tax rate is none too high. The
only objection that the taxpayers
make is that the returns seem very
inadequate. For this the County
Commissioners should not be blamed.
They are doubtless doing all that
they can to improve the situation.
The fault lies in the fact that the
present system is entirely wrong.
With modern highways will come a
reorganization of methods and only
until that time is reached can we ex-
pect little better practical results
than we are at present enjoying.
AN EXCELLENT CHOICE.
The urinary e1ectio,1 ~, Ra1tir,1o ora