The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-20
GOOD ROADS FOR WICOMICO
The Tax Payers Desire State Aid in
Building Highways.

offered by the new State aid road law.
the residents of Wicomico County, at
large public meeting held in Sails
bury on Tuesday, September 27th,
decided to act at once in taking the
necessary measures to secure the State
appropriation of $1O,CC0 allotted to
Wicomico County for the construction
of highways built scientifically under
State supervision. The whole subject
of obtaining State roads under the
new law was thoroughly discussed in
this open meeting by Congressman
William H. Jackson, State Senator
Marion V. BrewingtOn, and a num-
Der of others; and Mr. A. n. johnson,
Highway Engineer of the Maryland
Geological Survey, who attended the
meeting from Baltimore, explained
the method of procedure under the
law and answered questions concern
ing it from all who were interested
1t was pointed ont at the meeting
that should Wicomico not take up
her allotment of $10,000.O0 State
funds for her road work, the money
will he divided among other counties,
and there was full determination eX-
pressed not to allow the money to
leave the county. The whole tenor
of the meeting was another example
of the progressive spirit which the
county residents of Maryland have
shown in the matter of road building
since the passage of the new State
law, and it showed that Wicomico
County residents are alive to the
manner in which her road fund is to
be spent. The discussions conducted
were qualified to instruct the average
resident mon the best available road
material, and the questions asked and
answered showed that the study of
road conditions has been live mat
ter for some time with the taxpayers
of Wicomico County.
The meeting was called by the
County Commissioners, who wished
an expression of opinion from the
residents as to their willingness to
stand their share of the expense of
building State roads. Inasmuch as
the law demands that the county
shall appropriate dollar for dollar as
much as the State fund gives in each
case, or in other words, pays one-half
the cost, the Commissioners wished
to learn whether the County was
willing to undergo this expense be-
fore any applications for Wicomico's
share of the State fund should be
made. Mr.. johnson explained at
length the features of the new law,
advised upon the best road material
that is available to Wiconico county,
and quoted estimates upon the cost
of tiret-class modern roads, such as
could he made under the existing cir
cumstances
Mr.. Johnson told the audience to
preserve their shell roads as founda-
tion for macadam roads, and to sur
face them with Wilmington limestone
rather than Port Deposit granite, as
the limestone binds better. Stag sur
facing was not advised as it is not
durable for heavy traffic. The cost of
macadam road, including the foun-
dation, was given as from 100000 to
$5,000.0G per mile at the highest, but
with the shell foundation, said Mr..
johnson, the macadam surfaciug
would cost only 50, 10000 per mile for
roadbed twelve feet wide, with a
shoulder of four feet on either side.
In explaining the procedure neces-
sary to secure a State road, it was
shown how the residents may either
first request the County Commission
ers to petition for the State aid, or
the County Commission ers, on their
own initiative, may decide to take up
the allotment. The Highway Engi-
neer of the Maryland Geological Sur
vey surveys the road, gives estimates,
and the County builds the road by
contract under supervision of the
Highway Engineer. Then complete,
the State pays one half the cost. In
order for the residents 10 uetition for
this aid, it is necessary for the owners
of two.thirds of the property along
the proposed road to pledge them
selves to pay ten percent of the cost
of the road: but no residents who do
not SO desire can be compelled to
bear any part of this cost. The resi-
dents along any road Can compel the
County Commissioners to petition
for the State aid up to one-fourth of
the road levy OF the particular Coun-
tY.
After general discussion of plans,
Mr.. A. j. Benjamin introduced res
olution, which was adopted, provld-
ng that the county mmissionesr
take measures to secure the $4,000, 90
of State appropriation and to distrib-
ute it by petition of residents as sug-
gested in the law, further, that these
petitions shall be filed with the Com