The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-30
SATURDAY. JANUARY 80, 1904 ..
Road Building in Maryland.

Road Building in Maryland.
Entcrprsing men in Maryland are
making an effort to have the Legislature
IL pass bill providing for the improve
x n1ent OF The public roads of that state,
and from our reuding Of the bill winch
has been prepared 1t seems to US 20 DC
sensible and practical.
First of all, the bill provides for a
state commission, which shall direct the
i work. In The several counties, and this,
in our view, Is of primo Importance one
y difficulty In Virginia In the work which
Z has been done on our public roads was
the lack of direction. Virginia has spent
great deal of money on her roads, but
by reason OF the fact that tho work ms
been done in an unscientific manner, the
a money las been largely wasted and the
4 tax payers have become more or less DIS
Il couraged Practical men do not mind
spending money when they get value re-
ceived but when they are taxed to make
roads and see no good results they become
weary Of paying and arc opposed to the
I ! /. To- Us . u
whole system.
Beginning with State commission
Maryland proposes cooperation between
n the State and the counties The proposal
is that the state appropriate S20o,0oo per
wear for road Improvement, and pay one
half the cost OF road building In any
county. It is provided that whenever
there shall be presented to the board OF
II county commissioners Of any county a
petition signed by the owners of at least
two-thirds Of the land or real estate
fronting or bordering on any public road
not being less than one mile In length,
and setting forth that they are willing
to be assessed an amount equal to ten
per cent. Of the entire cost of the I'm.
provement, 1t shall DO the duty OF the
board to include such roads In their re-
quest to the State commission. and that
3tlle SAID ten per cent. shall be assessed
on and collected from the petitioners as
other county taxes are collected.
Here we have cooperation between
individual Taxpayers in any section OF
the county. the board of county commits
sioners and the State, each paying fail
share of the cost. When the application
has been made in proper form. the State
commission is required to have survey
made, and to let tho work out to CON
tract, the cost having first been es
timated BY the commission. If any bic
of lima ia
the work is then. ordered to be done. ths
State paying .ial5 the'cost
These are the general provisions of thu
bill. We have not room to so into details
should like to see some such plan adopt
ed in Virginia. Virginia ought by nj
@a means to have a road commission, who's
duty 1t would be to stimulate interes
in road Improvement, to urge the impor
lance of 1t upon the people In the rura
districts to make the necessary survey
81 and supervise the work, and the Stat
should also pay its part OF the cost, 70
~ the State would get its return In NOR
taxes from the counties through whlc
the Improved roads would run
II We should begin to work in TIL
way, 1t would not be long before tn
people would become aroused. and ever
mile OF first class road which should b
built would be an inducemcnt and or
enlargement TO build more.
1t is a matter which we cannot affor
u 10 neglect The States of the North u,
Ii outstripp!ng us every year In road bulk
ing. and we must keep pace or suffer II
consequences.