The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-04-29
THE SHOEMAKER ROAD LAW.


| The Shoemaker Road law, recently legis-
| lated, is fir-rcaching in it's brncits to the peo-
| pie of the State. The main provision of the
| law is the annual appropriation by the State
| of 5000 900, or so much thereof may be
| necessary, for the improvement and construc-
| ton of roads in the various counties.
This amount is apportoncd follows:
| SECTION IL. And be it enacted That no
| one county of the State shall receive in any
| year larger proportion of the total amount
appropriated by this Act for said year than
| the proportion which the then existing miles
| of public road in said county bear to the then
| existing miles of public road in all of the
counties applying, as determined by the said
| Commission, unless balance remains unal-
| lotted under the arrangement above pre-
| scribed, in which event said balance may he
| apportioncd i'll the same manner among the
counties which have not received the full
amount OF their application"
The county must bear one half the expense
| for the Improvement, extension or conStruc-
ton of any road in Il county, and the other
half shall he paid by the State Comptroller
| out of the funds allotted to each county by
the provisions of Section IL. In order to get
the benefit of this State appropriation the
Board of County Commissioners must de
clare their intention to cause any particular
road, or section thereof within such county
to he built or improved and send such notice
ON or before March the first in each year to
the chief engineer of the highway division of
the Maryland Geological Survey. This de-
partment shall then furnish plans spcCitica-
lions and the estimated cost OF the proper
performance OF said work according to said
plans and specifications. After the contract
for construction shall have been awarded by
the Board of County Commissioners in a
manner prescribed, the highway department
of the Maryland Geological Survey shall have
supervision of the work. and upon its COM
pletion shall make report of the cost Of con-
struction to the State Comptroller.
The Maryland Geological Survey, or COM
mission as it is called in the act, at the head
of which is DR.. William Bullock Clark
through it's highway division, will plan and
supervise all road construction and improve
ment done under this act.
Perhaps it is not generally known that
Maryland. like many other States has pro-
vided a department which has for it's object
the scientific construction of good roads
throughout the State. The highway division
of the Maryland Geological Survey was crca-
ated by the State Legislature of 1895. The
SO 900, or so much thereof as may he ncces-
sary for the work of this department. 1t is
supported solely by the State. consists of five
men, at the head of which force is the high
way engineer, and is at the free service of the
various counties of the State. Each spring
the department sends out circular letters to
the various boards of county commissioners
offering to advise, make surveys. give accur-
strtiction or improvement which is contem-
plated. Should an offer be accepted the coun-
ty commissioners fill out a form sheet stat
ing Just what is desired
During the six years that the department
has been in operation many of the counties
have awaited themselves of this service, and
as a result good roads have been constructed
upon an economic and scientific basis. Here
tofore much of the road construction in the
counties has been unsatisfactory and expen-
sivc through ignorance of proper methods
To quote from the third report on the High
ways of Maryland, 19O2-19O3, by A. n.
Johnson, highway engineer. There is no
more forccful argument for road improve
ment than a sample of good road, and it has
been the experience, not only in Maryland
| but elsewhere, that very frequently those who
oppose building piece of road do so through
| ignorance of what the result would be, and
| when once these results are made evident by
| Il practical example, no further argument is
| needed. THERE'S no doubt of the great advan-
tagc that would he gained from a system of
| model roads in every county in the State.
The new law will not 30 into effect until
! January the first. 1905. This will give the
| Geological Survey, acting through its high
| way division. ample time to prepare for act
| i've duty. The counties will be urged to take
advantage of the State benefit. surveys and
estimates will be furnished, and everything
| will he in readiness when the fund becomes
| available. 1t is to he hoped that Maryland
| will then take a long stride forward along
| the line of good roads. l.. G. PAINTER.