The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-07-21
Road Improvement In Maryland.

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With contracts let and the work begun
upon about sixteen miles Of highway, the
actual construction of State roads in the
various counties of Maryland under the
new State Aid Road Law is now we'll
under way. Plans and estimates for
thirty pieces of road varying in length
from one-half to two miles have been sent
out by the Highway Division of the
Maryland Geological Survey. and of these
all but two or three have been advertised
by the County Commissioners
Within a few months, therefore, there
will be established specimens of modern,
permanent stone roads, to serve as ex-
amples of practical economy and general
satisfaction.
Some criticism has arisen, however, in
certain instances which should be cor
rected and the facts thoroughly examined.
One such criticism has been unfavorable
comment upon the State Geological Sur
vey Commission over the selection OF
pieces of road to be improved, the Com
mission being held accountable for the
particular selections in these instances.
Criticism was further made that numerous
comparatively short pieces of road from
one-half to two miles each) were to be
improved instead of longer stretches. At
the Offices of the State Geological Survey
Commission, however, the following ex-
PLANTATION of the situation was given:
The Commission, whatever its opinion
may be as regards the ACCESSIBILITY of inn
proving certain piece of road. cannot
act in the matter unless the County
authorities first petition the State for aid
on that road. The Commission has veto
power-it can refuse State aid on the
ground that the improvement of road
petitioned for would not be sufficiently
public improvement to justify the expen-
diture of State funds. but this situation
has not yet arisen, and if there is any dis
satisfaction in any part of the State over
the selection of the roads to receive State
aid, the responsibility must be placed on
the County authorities. AS matter of
fact, in Baltimore County State aid has
rot been asked on less than one mile in
any place, and in one district aid has been
applied for on a stretch FIVE miles in
length.
1t is generally held that the interests of
a county will be better served by building
small sections of road in different parts of
the county, rather than one long piece
running through one section, for two
reasons: First, that the general distribu-
ton of pieces of good highway will enable
all sections to share equally in the advsn
tages therefrom; and, second, that the
educational feature Of such distribution,
in illustrating the value of properly built
roads, will be more effective when widely
distributed. Inasmuch as The recent flood
so widely damaged the roads of some
counties, it is believed that the County
Commissioners will now be glad of the
opportunity to build small pieces of road
here and there under the petitions filed
for State aid this year, and by so doing
give all sections an opportunity to profit
| by the State Aid Act.
The recent flood demonstrated very en-
phatically the wise policy and economy of
building bridges of concrete on county
roads, a matter which has been urged by
scientific road builders for some time past.
A striking example of the value of con-
crete bridges in the event of freshets was
given at Sherwood. Baltimore County,
where concrete bridge withstood the
force of the water, although the stream
rose six feet above the bridge and every
thing else within reach was swept away.