The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-02-17
The New State Aid Road Law
How To Secure Improved
Roads.

The Court Of Appeals having declared
in a decision announced Feb. 9th, that
the Shoemaker Road Law is constitu-
tional, nothing now stands in the way of
the state and counties working shoulder
to shoulder to obtain that greatest of all
boons to rural communities-good roads
The Highway Division of the Maryland
Geological Survey has everything pre-
pared and. in some cases, surveys made
so that there can be no delay in starting
in on the work if the county commits
sioners only do their share, and apply
promptly and before March 1. 1905.
The attracliveness of the law as bus
mess proposition is so selfevident as to
need no elaboration. The examples of
Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and
Connecticut furnish sdata and living ex-
amples of the good that must inevitably
follow improved roads. Progressive COM
munities invariably have good roads or
are attaining that end as rapidly as com
mensurate with good financial manage
ment, aud conversely, good roads invar-
iably indicate progressive communities.
No matter how attractive a county or
section may be otherwise, the wide
awake man i'll locating shuns bad roads
1t is the first thing that appeals TO or
repels visitors, and one of the things that
fixes lasting impressions for good or bad
are the roads of state.
Therefore Maryland, to be classed with
her progressive neighbors TO the north,
must take hold of this Improvement with
vim. Formerly the large expense of
good roads stood in the way-now this
is halved and there is no reason why
every county should not make a start to
raise itself TO meet the demands of pres
ent day progress, and apply for at least
some of its money, enough to build a
mile or two of these roads which will last
years after the present patch system has
been repaired again and again.
For this county to receive its share Of
the great benefit which is conferred by
the Shoemaker Road Law, it is only nee
essary that our board of county commits
sioners fill out the simple FIRMS which
have been sent to them, stating that they
petition for the surveys and estimates of
the cost of building different sections of
road The cost of these surveys is very
shall, only fifty dollars mile, when
compared with the benefits that will re-
suit. The fact that the commissioners
petition for a number of miles does not
necessarily compel them 10 build all Of
these roads at once, for after the com
missioners find what the cost will be it is
optional with them to decide which pf
the roads to build, if it is found that there
is not enough money to build all of them
The Important thing is 10 have the county
co mniissioners petition for the roads.
Eleven counties have siguihed their
intention to petition. and formal petitions
are to be sent in before the first of March
All counties which do not do so before
March Ist will forfeit their share of the
state road fund, which will then become
available for the more progressive Conn
ties which have already petitioned, in
many cases for more than their allotment
1t is. therefore, most important. if this
county is to receive any benefit from its
share Of the taxes which it pays towards
the state fund, that the county commits
sioners take immediate action in this
mater and send their formal petitions TO
the Highway Division of the Maryland
Geological Survey on or before March Ist .
If they do not do this other counties will
reap the benefit that should be in part
ours.
The construction of these roads is 10 be
under the immediate supervision of the
Highway Division of the Maryland Geo
logical Survey, OF which Dr. VIM Bul.
lock Clark is the Superintendent and \
" Johnson Highway engineer. The law
requires that detailed plans and surveys
and estimates of the cost of the work