Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-04-06
aIt Is eatimated that outside OF the munl.

ID GGbAulntou tuot OutohuO Va sA@
clpalities In Maryland there are about 10 wv
miles OF country road. OF these, 1t Is estl.
mated that approximately /, 800 miles should
under State aid, be macadamized-that 10
improved with modern surface OF hard ma,
terisl-within this generation. 1t is hoped
and believed that the existence OF l ,5OO miles
OF properly built and maintained road scat
tered over every part of the State, though
connected In such q way as to form an etec'
tive system of main thoroughfares, will, In
addition to their intrinsic value, have such
an influence on the condition OF the other
less important roads Of the State as Will re-
suit In the material improvement OF the gen
eral condition of these latter, and, further
more, In the reduction of the annual expen.
ditures for maintenance OF all the ROADS OF
the State and in the cost of transportation
over them, and will thus justify, Ia large
measure, from financial reasons alone, the
expenditures.
"This has been one o. the effects OF q State
aid road law in other States, in addition to
the assistance of the Improvements in in
creasing the value of property generally, as
well as It's worth socially and in many other
respects.
Judging by the start made, the prospects
are encouraging so far as this State itself Is
concerned. No other State has yet been In
better financial condition to start such work.
With no debt-rather balance in the Treas
ury-and with ample annual revenue, the
State can we'll afford even more money than
the $500, 900 annually called for by the Shoe
maker law toward the construction OF mod
ern roads. Under this law the counties have
to expend an amount equal to that rec ived
by them from the State. In Massachusetts
the county's share is one-tourth; IN New
Jersey 1t ia two thirds.
"a difficulty which is perhaps the most
apparent ct the prese Mt time in the operation
Of the Shoemaker law Is that experienced BY
the counties in providing their proportion OF
the expenditure. Whether this difficulty 10
real or imaginary remains to be proved by o
year or two's trial.
"Supposing, however, 1t is proved o real
obstacle, and that q solution of the problem
is not to be found in the increase Of the an-
nual taxation for road purposes 10 the coun-
ties nor in securing funds for this work by
reduction Of expenses In other road work,
there are at least two ways IN which the
county might get around the obstacle.
zone would be by the issue of q loan for
this purpose, thus distributing the cost of the
improvements over their life, and only ad-
ding at the utmost to the annual tax levy the
amount necessary for interest and sinking
funds.
at might be that this would not be an in-
crease, owing to the reduction in the cost Of
maintenance of the improved roads under
the cost Of maintaining unimproved roads.
"Another means Of avoiding the cash OBJ
stacle might be in securing the money from
O source outside of the annual levy or the
loan. Frequently interested property holders
are willing to contribute largely toward the
cost Of improved roads in their vicinity
Such was the case in Caroline and Dorches-
ter counties last year. In one instance.
through combinations, Dorchester county
secured half mile Of road, better than any
other road In the county, at a cost to the
county Of less than $500.
1.-THE suggestion has been made that there
10 still another source Of means for road i'm
overwhelmingly, 10 the oyster bottoms.
"a bill is now before the Legislature pro-
viding for the leasing by the STATE Of GER
tain bottoms Of the Chesapeake bay and It's
tributaries for oyster farms, and Ii 10 under
stood that the bill provides that the net rev.
enues from this source shall create fund
which shall be used for the improvement Of
county roads in the State. II the estimates
OF persons who have studied the subject are
correct, eventually there may be sufficient
revenue from this source to enable the State
to adopt a plan Of paying the entire cost OF
thus the counties be relieved from the neces-
sity Of raising their portion of the cost.
"The State of Rhode Island In 1908 had
a net revenue Of $4,000 for the year from
the leasing Of less than 5000 acres Of oyster
bottoms The State OF Virginia in 1905 had
q net revenue of $50, 900 from the leasing Of
1000 acres of oyster bottoms.
"Mr. Hannah estimates that there are at
least 200, 900 acres and possibly 400, 900 acres
of oyster bottoms which could be leased by
the State of Maryland, and that the net rev.
enue from these leases might eventually not
only equal the amount now required from the
counties to meet the State appropriation Of
$500, 900. but exceed both the State appro-
priation and the county contributions.
Should this be the case. and should this rev.
enue annually apply to the improvement of
the roads of the State, undoubtedly even far
better progress could be made in Maryland
than that so satisfactory in New Jersey and
Mass achusetts."