Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-27
|NT[R-C|TY HIGHWAY
Plans for the New Baltimore
Washington Road.
TO BAR CONVICT LABORERS
Problem Confronting the State Geo
logical Survey.
HISTORY OF THE OLD PIKE
Work Progressing Rapidly on the
New Electric Railway to Connect
Annapolis With Baltimore.

Automobiles and those who draw tight
reins over the backs of fast trotters in this
city are much interested in the plans of the
state of Maryland for new highway be-
tween Washington and Baltimore. The
Maryland geological survey, which is charg-
ed with the execution of the enterprise, Is
meeting some delay through the opposition
Of labor organizations and others who OBJ
ject to the employment of convica labor in
the construction of the road.
An act was passed by the Maryland leg
islature at its last session known as the
Hill law, providing for the early construc-
ton of a trap rock road. free from tolls,
between the two cities. In the Hill law the
proposed highway is designated as State
road No. L." and it is provided that the
expense of construction shall be borne by
the state and convict labor employed in the
work. The sum of $4,000 is appropriated
to pay the expense of survey and supervi-
sion. The law provides that the road shall
begin at the city: limits of Baltimore, at the
terminus of Columbia avenue, and follow
as far as practicable the lines of the old
Washington pike, special provision being
made for going around towns that will not
grant easement of streets through their linn
it's. The road will extend through parts of
Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and
Prince George counties to Washington, en-
tering the capital over the Bladensburg
road.
Asked Legal Advice.
The questions raised by the labor organi-
cations have been submitted to the state s
attorney for opinion as to the duty of
the geological survey under the statute. The
survey asks whether at its discretion, 1t
can refrain from the direct employment of
convicts and let the work of construction
to contractors. to whom the convcts may
be farmed out laborers. A second in
quiry relates to the manner in which the
appropriation of 10000 shall be spent. and
whether the survey has power to depart
from the lines of the old turnpike to
straghten curves and relieve grades.
The roadway provided for in the Hill law
is to be of trap rock. with a stone surface
sixteen feet wide, the entire width of the
highway being twenty-four feet, provision
| being made for drainage and easy grades
| Those specially interested in the construc-
| ton of the road fear that if the appropria-
| ton of $4,000 made to start the enterprise
| is used to line the pockets of contractors
State road No. l. will not extend far from
| the limits of the Monumental city before
| the legislature meett again and makes a
| larger appropriation. For this reason
| Washington and Baltimore automobiles
are waiting Attorney General Bryans opin-
| ion with interest.
| The Hill law was framed In some of its
| features after the state road laws of a cen.
| fury ago, which gave to Maryland some oil
the finest highways In the United States
| Those early laws required banks. as a con.
| diton of their charters to subscribe certain
| sums to the stock of turnpike companies
| The state took other shares. the county
| governments subscribed and the roads were
| built under state supervision.
In the Old Days
| In this way the created part of the road tc
| Cumberland and the Ohio river was financed
|
road" owing to the liberal subscriptions
made by banks in Frederick Washington
and Allegany counties. The Cumberland
pike constructed under the supervision
of engineers of the United States army and
was built well. From 1906 to the advent OF
the railroad it was one of the greatest high
| ways in North America Over it went the
| full tide OF emigration to the west. and
| backward rolled an endless tide of stage
coaches, Conestoga wagons and herds OF
| stock from the frontiers in Ohio Indiana and
| Kentucky. The splendor of that highway OF
| travel. the hospitality of It's taverns the
| gatherings of eminent men in the bar rooms
and OF equally eminent women in the par
| lors, ninger among the most delightful ira
! ditions of the early history of the nation
Grading and track laying upon the new
Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis cleo
trio railway is progressing rapidly and the
owners of the road are looking forward to
its operation within one year. One of the
centers of construction Is at Odenton, Nd
where material is delivered and distributed
along the route by work trains. The con-
tract for the steel bridge work has been
awarded to the Interstate Engineering Com
pany of Bedford, Ohio, and this portion of
the work is expected to be completed be-
fore next winter. The officials of the COM
pany have now under consideration the
type of cars to be used on the line and a
contract for the cars will be placed within
a few weeks.