The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-12-16
a physician On Roads.

VERONA, MD, december lZtns lSOi'
MEssRs. EDrToRs:- I'm response to the desire OF
the Taxpayers Committee for citizens to express
their views on the matter OF roads and a law reg
ulating the same. herewith send you somes con.
illusions relative to the care and preservation of
the roads. do not see the necessity of having
an engineer, unless he can so arrange to meet the
contingencies as they arise in all parts of the
county.
From an experience of twenty-five years riding
over the county roads, am convinced that water,
of all elements is the prime factor in the destruc-
ton of roads. When we have solved the method
of getting rid of water we will have more than
half way met the problem of good roads.
Witness the condition of mud.hole for at least
six or eight weeks-wagons buggies etc., driving
through it, wearing it still deeper, unless King Sol
or Jack Frost comes to the rescue. And why?
Because roads are mended at particular seasons
of the year-some of them at least. Now what
becomes of that niudhole in the interim, rains in
the meantime adding its quota to the damage
already done, until along about May. June or
possibly December that particular hole is filed
up Sometimes the sun or frost intervenes to be
sure. One man takes care of five miles of the
York turnpike. He opens water courses after a
heavy rain, thus liberating pools as they accum-
ulate. have seen very pretty road ruined by
a handful or so of dirt or leaves obstructing a
water-course- gradual Accommodations taking place
in the way of filth-until quite volume OF water
is damned back. They wait six, three or two
months to remove that obstruction. Why not let
q man go at once and release mud-holes of accum-
ulated water after flood or heavy rain? A good
shovel in the hands of an intelligent workman
would help matters very much. At any rate we
would not have to rely upon evaporation, as
heretofore
Broken Uncovered stone are menace to both
horse and vehicle, rolling everywhere, filling up
side drains. Horses will avoid them if they can.
They are dangerous. A little dirt thrown over
would help to cement broken stone, thus avoid
ing the troubles incident thereto. filling up side
drains and making new track in the bottom of
the drain. good road bed properly maintained
would avoid many difficulties. Very little heavy
hauling is done upon roadways, owing to the
milk business Now imagine the time required
for few milk wagons and buggies to consolidate
a bed of broken stone. Owing to slight impact
they rather displace stone than consolidate them.
very heavy team ascending hill upon which
broken stone is placed will do great damage.
have seen stone moved in every direction owing
W the uriVer uirecllg us nOrseS rgnL or lett IN
order to make the traction less in pulling up hill;
whereas have seen similar load pulled with
comparative ease on the York pike over its well
cemented pavement.
live on the pike and have fully realized the
benefits of driving over good road, well drained
and paved. believe any one of the contingent
cies set forth could be met if looked after at the
time of their occurrence. 1 fail to see how an
engineer could control them unless he had set
of well qualified assistants to meet the emergen-
cies as they arise and not postpone repairs until
driven to make them by an almost impossible
road. Respectfully.
F. G. MITCHELL, NJ. D.