The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-09
BETTER ROADS
IN MARYLAND
Much Interest Shown in Many COun-
ties of the State
THE SHOEMAKER ROAD BILL
Has Given Much Encouragement
What the Geological Survey is
Doing.


aid in the building OF scientifically
constructed roads. known generally
as the Shoemaker Good Roads bill.
the Maryland Geological Survey, I'M
der the direction OF DR.. VIM. Bullock
Clark is preparing for an active sum
mer of service in the interest Of the
Boards of County Commiss toner's
throughout the State, from which
calls for assistance in the way of eX-
pert information, estimates and road
engineering have begun to come in
to the Survey authorities. As the
advantage of the new law became
more generally understood in its
economical aspect, ease of administra-
ton and satisfaction to the user Of
the road, the MARYLAND Geological
Survey will be very active through its
highway engineer, Mr.. A. n. Johnson
in meeting requests Of assistance
from all quarters of the State.
A very striking sign of the prospec
1--WE DtGleIutllI vi l'ldhc III al lulNl
is the interest and progress manifest
ed in the various counties to help
themselves and to push forward scien-
tific bodybuilding. In each case the
fact that there will early be available
a considerable sum under the Shoe
maker Act will be great assistance
andlit is expected that full advantage
will be taken of the opportunity for
obtaining the supervision of road
building by Mr.. A. n. Johnson. The
question with which each county is
confronted is whether under the pres
ent method of administering its road
funds the roads have steadily imprOy-
ed dollars worth for every dollar
that has been expended upon them
and whether the best results have
been obtained in each case. In other
words, have your roads in your cOun-
ty when ouce built, even though at
considerable outlay, given thorough
satisfaction and require but little ex-
pense from year to year for repairs,
or does the same amount of labor
have to be gone over each year at
the same total expense because they
were not built scientifically in the
first place?
What are the facts in this connec-
ton? In the past fifteen wears the
people of Montgomery county have
expended on their roads, including
tolls, over $40, Let us say that
it is necessary to expend as much as
half this sum on repairs which are alb
solutely needed to keep the roads in
safe condition and that the other
half of the money should have been
expended in making good macadam
roads. If this had been done, then in
the past fifteen years they would have
spent a little over $270,000 on we'll
made roads. Now put the cost of a
good macadam road at comparative
ly high figure, say $4,000 per mile for
a 13-foot macadam, accordingly they
should have constructed in the last il
years As miles of good roads. But
As miles of good macadam roads have
not been built in the last Is years in
Montgomery or in any other county
of the State.
A realization of the unsatisfactory
and wasteful method pursued in the
past, is, however, apparent in many
parts of the State and there is now
in progress a definite sentiment fol
scientifically constructed roads. Re.
ceived by the Survey from IA of the %
counties in the State and examina
tions, plans and estimates have beer
made for upwards of 60 pieces o.
roads Not all of these have been i'm
proved wholly accordingly to the sug
gestions given, but in large number
of instances the work has been done
according to the plans and specified
tions that were furnished.
I6 ldIeSb engagement lCCClNCd "
the Highway Division, through thu
impetus OF the superiority of the road
already built by the Survey and b!
the recent discussion of the goot
roads bill in this State, is PROPOSE
ton to build a macadam road TIVE
miles long from Kensington, Mont
gomery county, to Wheaton. Mr.
Johnson had a cons ultation with tn
Board, of County Commissioners o
Montgomery county last Friday a
which measures were taken to hav
specifications presented at an earl
date. As another instance of progress
Baltimore, Prince George, Allegan
and Carroll counties have engaged
road engineer for the improvement Q
their highways and with these gentle
men the Highway Division of tn
Survey will in all probability be Gale
into consultation. In a number c