The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-23
STATE AID FOR ROADS.

The instructive pamphlet upon the State Aid
Road Law has been issued by the Nd. Geo.
logical Survey to meet the requests tor lnfor-
nation which comes from various sections OF
the State, and shows clearly TO the County
Commissioners and individuals interested, how
to proceed under the law 10 early obtain the
advantages of the act
As stated in a previous publication, $780,
600 of State funds will be available under tins
act TO assist the counties to build good roads
by paying one half the cost, each county re
cceving such proportion of this money as the
public road mileage of the county bears to The
total road mileage.
A feature of the law which has been much
misunderstood and which is to be explained
with unusual pains in the pamphlet is the sec
ton regarding the payment of 10 per cent Of
cost by the property holders. Many OF the
latter have been frightened by thinking that
the two thirds of the property holders OF any
section of the road can compel the remaining
one third property holders to help pay the 10
per cent. levy, but such Is not the case. In
no instance does anyone who does not WISH
the road, have to pay any part OF the cost
The County Commissioners Of county
petition the State Commission for and 10 build
certain piece of road. II IT Is found upon
examination BY the Commission that the road
ieLce and a proper one 10 construct, an estl-
mate ct the cost Of the improvement is made,
together with plans, specifications. etc, Tor
| doing the work This is undertaken by the
| County Commissioners either by contract, or,
| If the prices for doing it IN tins manner are
| considered too high. then in other ways that
| they may deem best
| In the event that the County Commissioner,
| fail to petition for state aid under that law il
| is provided that the owners of two thlrdS Of
| the lands binding upon any publl', road or sec
| ton of road not less than mile long, can
compel the County Commissioners to petition
| for the construction of the piece OF road pro
| yided that the owners petitioning have paid 81
| pledged 10 per cent. of the work. Those who
| have paid or have pledged to pay 10 per cent
| of the cost cannot, however, compel any Other
/ property holders along the road to bear any OIL
| the cost. The work then proceeds as already
| described except that the County Commls
sioners cannot be compelled by this payment
Of 10 per cent. by property holders to contract
/ for work 10 an amount greater than one fourth
| Of the road levy of the county
/ ANY expense due to the payment tor land
/ that NAV be necessary to secure proper 10
1 cation for the road any damages that may
| arise through the construction OF the road wal
not be paid by the State,
/ After the work Is done according 10 tht
/ specifications and the Stale Commission has 81
! certified to The Comptroller, Than one half o.
+ the cost OF constructing the road will be pald
I hy the State TO the county building the road
/ but ia no case is the amount paid by the State
/ 60 exceed Que half Of the cost rs shown by the
/ estimate of the cost ofthe work as At first made
( By the Commission.