The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-08-03
GOVERNMENT MAY TAKE A
HAND IN COUNTY ROAD
IMPROVEMENT.
A washington pres dispatch SAY

A Washington press dispatch says:
"Postotfice Department Officials are
of the opiuiOn that in rural free dellv-
FRY, which has now spread to every
part of the country and which is con-
ceded To be one If thu greatest boons
ever recelv, d by the farming cOmmun-
tiles at the hands of the government,
il the solution of the problem of better
public roads. Much has already been
accomplished along this line, and 1t is
believed that a plan Of CO operation
which has rere tly been inaugurated
between the Postoffi"e Department,
the Department If Agriculture and the
various State highway officials will rem
der great additional assist ance in tie
ge eral movement looking 10 the I'M
provenent of the public highways.
A number of states, through their
officials, have expressed their willing
ness to join in the cooperative move
ment. The plan includes forwarding
to State Rod commissioners reports
from rural carriers concerning the con-
diti0n of roads on rural routes, also
that po,tmasters sh II ascertain the
condition of roads in the vicinity of
their postoffices and forward reports
directly TO the State officials"
This is all very we'll as faras it go s,
but the question is, will it accomplish
results? AS is well known the road
question is like iaxts, ductd hard to
get on satisfactory tass, and each
year we hear of new ideas and plans
to settle the vexing problem. TIL re is
only one way and that is the right
way. Until tine county adopts a satis-
factory system of road building and
repairing to show for the enormous
sums that are levied for the purpose,
and an produce evidence thai every
cent that is expended go,s nestIy to
the purpose for which it ; intended,
there will be the same conditions eX-
isting in Frederick County at least, as
Al present.
There is no quest on but that tue
automobile extension is e,pon>ible for
the clamOr for go d roads and further
more that it Will have 2r, at intue; &c
in bringing ALTO 1t tie desi ed result
Not all Of the lurapkes have roadheds
suitable to automobiles travelling, yet
the toll charges are leviei Just tie
sane. T. err should be justice r all,
and if automobiles are c,Iargei full
lric there shonld certainly te value
I, ived. The rapid extension of the
rural free delivery has brought the
question of good roads to the fore with
no feeble enphasi~, and it will GER
tainly be a bie,si s ii someth NJ good
in the way of road Improvement does
come out of it. 1t may be that tie
pat ons along the rural delivery routes
will waken up an! reLder some assist
a zee in the matter Of keeping the roads
in good shape. The letter the roads
the quicker wi the delivery of the
mail be made, and sometimes the re-
ceipt of an important letter on time
will more than pay fer any time en-
pended on the roads. AS suggested in
the Washington dispatch evaporation
between the State and county author
itits and the government may bring
about general betterment in the con-
dition Of the county roats. This could
be done in practical mnnuer Ivy the
appropriation OF the cost of one battle
ship divided between the States which
have rural free delivery mail routes.
That would II can a sum exceeding
that which is now expended under the
Shoemak' Law in Mary land, and de-
voted to the comfy roads would give
intinilively greater results.