Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-07-22
Which the Progressive Counties I
The Highway Division of the State &c

The Highway Division of the State Geo.
logical Survey has done we'll to issue, in
attractive pamphlet form, brief statement
Of the purposes and mode OF operation of
the State Aid Road Law passed by the Leg.
islature at its last session. "The pamphlet,
after summarizing the objects and methods
of the law, gives the law itself In full and
appended to 1t is page, perforated for de.
tachment, containing blank form Of appli-
cation to the Highway Division for such
surveys and plans as may be necessary for
the purpose OF making specifications and
estimates of cost for any proposed road Inn
provement, the application to be signed by
the Board OF County Commissioners. The
Highway Division points out in It's pam.
phlet that as the law "does not become oper-
alive until January l, 1905, there is an op.
portunitY in the meantime for the various
Boards of County Commissioners To take
up the preliminary work in connection with
the selection Of the road to be first built"
and that these preliminary arrangements
take much time, and II they are delayed I'M
til the first OF the year much valuable time
will be lost and but little progress will be
made the first season" 1t calls attention to
the fact that "any county applying in sea.
son to have its surveys made during the
present year will gain the advantage Of hav.
ing the full cost OF the surveys paid by the
State in the end, while one half OF the cost
of the surveys made after January l, 1905,
must be borne permanently by the county,
as stated in Sections and 10 of the act"
There should BIZ a healthy rivalry among
the counties of Maryland to avail themselves
of the liberal, and yet not pauperizing, pro-
visions of the road act. The question Of Its
canstitutionality should not be permitted TO
interfere with the taking Of the preliminary
steps suggested by the Highway Division
If the law should be pronounced unconsti
no harm will have been done, while
II ii stands the test of the courts the good
any case, moreover, there is every reason to
believe that the constitutional amendment
such appropriations as are call
ed for in the law will be approved by the
people at the election Of 1905 and, though
the work will be postponed one year II 1t
has to wait for this action. yet the fixing
upon definite line at present will conduce
to Its prompt prosecution when the law does
come into operation. There is no reason
why any county interested in It's own pro-
gress should delay in making its wishes
known, and putting them in the way Of
fulflllment. In nothing can county show
its progressive spirit more unmstakably
than in manifesting its readiness and eager
ness to provide itself with that essential of
a tiourishing community, good roads.
The law gives every county an equal
chance 10 securing the CO operation of the
State. The amount Of aid receivable by any
county is in direct proportion to the public
road mileage Of the county as compared
with the total OF such mileage OF the State.
II less than this quota is taken by any coun.
W, the TbndiuuOi 10 pub NO"h oboih W. buO
general fund, TO be reapportioned among
the other counties in proportion to their
mileage. Those counties that are willing
to pay half the cost on all the improved
roads they can get under the law may thus
be benefited to point beyond their original
share, while less progressive or public-spirit-
ed counties will lose the corresponding part
of their possible benefits. The operation Of
the scheme will result In great benefit TO the
State as whole, provided the various coun.
ties show the spirit that Is TO be expected.
IL must be remembered that the thing con-
templated is not mere local improvement
here and there, but the gradual building of
a system of good roads forming a network
embracing the entire State. The application
for State aid must 10 each instance be ap.
proved by the State Commission on the
ground that the road in question is zone OF
general public convenience" With the ad'
ministration OF the law in excellent hands,
and with the clear purpose in view Of making
a genuine advance in the States facilities
for communication and transportation 10 its
country districts, there should be an eager
and general acceptance by the County Com
missIoners OF the opportunity for public i'm.
provement offered by the road law .-BaltO
Ns,ns