The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-08-04
State Aid In Road Work.

State Aid In Road Work.
Owing to the fact that certain Of the
counties of Maryland to which the High
way Commission of the state has fur
nished estimates for the construction of
modern roads under the provisions of the
state aid road law, have neglected to fully
designate the portions of the roads which
they wish improved and the total amount
of the state aid fund which they desire to
take up this year, State Highway Engi-
ueer, Walter w. Crosby, has just sent to
the county commissioners of each county
applying for state aid letter announcing
that all counties desiring the full amounts
of their allotments must so notify the
Highway Commission on or before Aug.
S. After this date, the appointments
of the counties failing to take advantage
of the law, will under the provisions of
the law be reapportioned among those
counties desiring to take up more than
their original allotment, but as it is hoped
that as many counties as possible will
share in the advantages of good roads,
every encouragement to the counties to
announce the amount of aid desired is
being given by the Highway Commission.
The county commissioners are earnest
ly urged not to delay in replying to the
communication of Mr. Crosby as there is
now no time to be lost and the commits
sioners who hesitate will simply put their
counties behind their more progressive
neighbors. Nor should county commits
sioners, who generally hold one meeting
in the month, wait until their next regu-
lar meeting which may be too late. but in
such instance should call special meet
ings at once.
In order that the residents Of the conn-
ties may know just how far this an
nouncement affects their respective in
terests, it may be we'll to review what the
counties have done since the original Pc
titions for state aid we're sent to the High
way Commission last spring. Of the to-
tai number of Maryland counties, IS ap-
piled for state aid last spring, in quantities
varying from I to 60 miles. Garrett,
Somerset, Wicomico, Calvert and Kent
counties were the only ones which failed
to apply at all. Since the estimates have
been given to the counties of the cost of
the roads petitioned for, intimation has
been received in some cases that the
county authorities have decided not to
proceed any further under the law. In
the case of Caroline county which asked
for estimates for four miles OF road, it has
been impossible to have the pieces of road
designated closely enough to have the
surveys made, and the estimates could
not therefore be given. Estimates have
been submitted to Anne Arundel County
for miles, and to Charles County for
mile, but nothing further has been heard
from the county commissioners. St.
Mary's county was given rough estimates
to assist the authorities in deciding where
they wanted the surveys to be made; no
definite pieces of road have been desig-
mated, however, and no detailed estimates
have been given. Talbot county applied
for 3 miles in one piece of road, but the
county commissioners have delayed in
the matter and it has been impossible thus
far to furnish the plans and estimates.
Dorchester county applied for ~ miles.
the estimates have been submitted, and
the Highway Commission is waiting to
hear what the commissioners are going to
90.
Among the counties interested, how
ever, number are now we'll on toward
the achievement of the work. Allegany
will take all the state aid which it applied
for and Baltimore county will be glad to