The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-02-09
Southern Maryland Idea.

Southern Maryland Idea.
Tue Haman Oyster bill and the propo-
sitien Of Dr. Richard 8. Hill for the State
to construct a permanent highway be
tween Washington and Baltimore were
both Enthusiastically Endorsed at a meet
ing Of tho Evansville Farmers Club on
Saturday night last al the residence of
Mr.. Charles n. Stanley. in Laurel. Sew
eral members Of the club expressed the
opinion that it would be wise policy for
the State to build macadam road from
SoIomons Island through Calvert and
Anne Arundel counties to Baltimore city,
and a sim liar rood from Point Lockout
through st Mary's, Charles and Prince
Georges counties. Such roads would
greatly increase the value Of the land in
the Southern Maryland counties and
stimulate the building OF good connecting
ture upon the part of the State, it was
urged, would be returned ia few years
in the lar e increase in the assessable
basis in these counties. 1t is estimated
that the distance from SOlemons Island
to Baltimore is between rs and 80 miles,
while from Point Lockout to Washington
it is in The nsighborhood Of 60 miles.
The opinion was expressed that one Of
the main causes for Southern Maryland's
lack of prosperity was the absence OF
good roads and hat the only way to Sc:
cure these roads is through the aid OF the
8 ate
After a discussion favorable to the Ha-
man Oyster bill. the secretary was in
structed to transmit to the Senator and
Representatives in the General Assembly
from this county copies Of tho resolution
passed by the club last June, calling upon
the members TO be elected from this coun-
tv to support this bill This resolution
was the result Of an address made by
Capt Stanley Bryan upon the merits of
the Hannah bill,
DR. Joseph K. Owens. treasurer OF the
Maryland A yricu tursl College and Sec
rotary of the club, introduced the follow
ing resolution, which was unanimously
passed: That the Evansville Farmers
CLUB heartily commends the bill intro
duced in the Legislature by Dr.. Richard
5. Hill for macadam road between
| Washing ton and Baltimore, and earnest
ly hopes that the Senator and Represent
atives in the General Assembly from
Prince Georges county will use all hon.
erabie means to secure its passage by
that body"
1t was ordered that copies OF the reso-
Iu ion be sent to the Senators and MEM
bers from Ammo Arundel and Howard
Counties the construction Of tho road
sffecting these tive counties as well IS
Prince Georpe's and members of the club
being residents of all three counties.
As a result Of a somewhat animated
discussion as to the merits Of the present
road law for Prince Georges county, led
in the main, by Mr.. Charles 81. Stanley,
the following resolution was adopted:
| ut is the sense of the Evansville Farm
ers' Club that It would be to tho best in.
terests Of the taxpayers OF Prince
Georges county to change the present
county road law by abolishing the Offices
of County Road Commissioners and Of
County Road Superintendent and to place
the public roads of the county under the
charge of the County Commissioners; to
divide the county into five road districts
and to plsce each district under the
charge of County Commissioner a.
superintendent Of the same, with power
to act in all matters looking to the repair
| and improvement Of the roads in his dis
trict, subject, Of course. to the approval
of the board; that the paw Of the County
| Commissioners be made commensurate
to the increased duties which will be BY
such law imposed upon them, and that
that County Commissioners shall be EN-.
powered to engage the services OF =
competent civil engineer whenever such
services may be required"
The concensus Of opinion seemed to be
that under the present road law the re-
sponsibility was not clearly fixed upon
anyone as, for instance, the money must
be appropriated by the County Com
missioners, who have no part in the OK
penditure Of the same; that while the
money is turned over to the road COM
mssioners they have no control over its
expenditure, but is allotted to the several
road trustees in each of the election dis
tricts, the road trustees being the real
workers sn~the roads, making the con-
tracts for themselves and with them
selves. The bills are not sworn to, it
was stated, but certified to IS to accuracy
I by the road trustees, who themselves do
I the work. Under the workings Of this
law. it is stated, the road trustees have,
as 4 matter of fact, already exceed the
appropriation for road purposes some
thing over $1,000.
Mr.. John Snowden presided at the
meeting and Dr. ] Joseph K. Owens: was
secretary: The other members present
| were L E. Dorsey, Charles H. Stanley,
| John Bowie. ] "A. Blundon, s. w. Beall,
1