The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-05-07
The Shoemaker Road Law.
L. G. Painter in the Belair Aegis.

The Shoemaker Road law, recently legis-
lated, is tar-reaching in its benefits to the peo
ple Of The State The main provision of the
law is the annual appropriation by the State
of $500 600 or so much thereof as may be
necessary, for the Improvement and construc-
ton Of roads in the various counties.
This amount is apportioned as follows
"SEcrIoS H. And be it enacted, that no
one county of the State shall receive in any
year IA larger proportion of the total amount
appropriated by the 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
cuuties applying, as determined by the said
Commission, unless a balance remains uaal-
lotted under the arrangement above pre-
scribed. in which event said balance may be
apportioued in he 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 q county, and the other
half shall bs paid by the State Comptroller
out OF the funds allotted To each county by
the provisions Of Section T. In order to get
the benefit at this State appropriation the
Board ot County Commissioners must declare
their intention 10 cause any particular road,
or section thereof, within such county TO be
built or improved. and send such notice on
or before March the first in each year 10 the
chief engineer of the highway division of the
Maryland Geological Survey. This depart
menl shall then furnish plans, specifications
aud the estimated cost Of the proper perform
auce Of said work according to sand plans and
specifications After the contract for con-
slructon shall have been awarded by the
Board uf County Commissioners in manner
81 l.. a. 4. zs.s44 - 4h.
MaTyia theological Survey shall have super
vision Of tile work, and upon its completion
shall make out report Of the cost Of cont
slruciion to the State Comptroller.
The Maryland Geological Survey, or com
mission as it is called in the act. at the head
Of which DR.. William Bullock Clark though
lbs highway division, viii plan aud supervise
ali road construction and Improvement done
ludcr this act.
Perhaps it is not generally known that Mary
land, like mAuy other States, has provided q
department which has for its object the scieu,
tshc construction OF good roads throughout
lhe State. The highway division OF the Mary
land theological Survey was created by the
State Legislature of ls9s. The State makes
an annual appropriation of $4,000, or so
much thereof as may be necessary for the
work of this department u Is supported
>"'st " '4' s's''N' tN'','''9 - ~ '
bead 81 ~hteh force Is rue hsh"al e"g'uee1'
aHa D. 's a' the Tree service o' me various
eahni'es oi thE state Eaen slF.us 'ne ~.
various boards Of county commissioners otter
iug 20 advise, make surveys, give accurate
estimates aoj supervise any ROAD constr
Or improyemeutwh'c9 is contemplated ouou'u
au offer us accepted the county com hlSs'on
Z ers ht4 oui iorm sheet s'auns JUST "h@' j.
des.rea. ..-.u.,,
ha'iHs 'hf s'N YEATS 'ii"' ''s uet'.'