Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-02-23
Road Too Expensive.
To the Hon. Blair Lee and members Of the
House of Delegates from Montgomery
nouutu Marvland

To the Hon. Blair Lee and members Of the
House of Delegates from Montgomery
county, Maryland.
Gentlemen IL refer to the bill introduced
in the House OF Delegates by DR.. Hill, of
Prince Georges county, proposing the con-
struction of what he terms State Road No. /,
between Baltimore and Washington.
The suggested road has the approval OF
some letter writers, notably Mr.. W. B. Lord,
of Elkridge, Md, 10 the San Of January 20,
who, in his unqualified endorsement, calls
on all Automobile owners in Baltimore and
everywhere else to come forward" presum-
ably in the interest of their automobiles,
and properly terming the proposed road a
boulevard" and Gigantic scheme"
This bill provides for road mot less
than 80 nor more than go feet wide, it car
ries with 1t the power TO condemn rights
OF way, quarries and gravel pits, to build
bridges OF permanent and modern cOnstruc-
ton masonry and iron), to build culverts
and pipe lines for sub-grade drainage, to
purchase machinery, teams and other equip
ment. Should incorporated towns refuse an
easement for this road, the Commissioners
are directed to divert the road around such
towns.
1t appropriates from State funds, fiscal
years, 1905, $4,000; 1907, $4,000; 1908,
$26 600; provides for the use Of 100 inmates
from the House OF Correction and carries
with it the power to do such other neces-
sary things for the purpose desired.
Without reference to maximum grades
and curvatures, what more power Ia re-
quired to build railroad to the point of
track layingS
Upon what premises, as to ultimate expen.
diture does it restS
What railroad company or association OF
business men would go this far In authoriz
ing expenditures even after preliminary To-
cation and lines OF rectification, without esti-
mates of final cOstsg
1t is true the Highway Division of the
State Survey, who have charge of this con-
struction, have estimates under the Shoe.
maker law on three miles OF this road-one
south OF Baltimore, one at Laurel and one
adjacent TO Hyattsville, the average cost OF
ing $6,333, based on road bed of IA feet.
Accepting $1,000 as the average cost per
mile on 14.foot road bed land it is too lit
tie for the type OF road proposed, with the
right to condemn land, &c J, increasing that
cost by the proposed width there will be
found a mileage cost OF not less than $16 900
on the entire road of 40 miles, a total of
100000.
The proposed labor from the House Of
Correction Will offset this probably Az per
cent. but the failure TO do the work by con-
tract will, in the sum OF parts OF construc-
ton, nutralize that Offset fully 90 per cent.
Railroads find differences In the cost of con-
struction between company and contract
work, and the State will learn in that same
dear neutrality-suspicious.
We farmers endorse good roads of eco
nomic construction reaching centers Of pro-
auctions, providing outlets for our heavy
freight and convenient lines of travel for
ourselves, but not such expensive roads as
that proposed by the gentleman from Prince
Georges county.
The Shoemaker law and its co defendant,
the Highway Division, are on trial before
the people. Let US wait the decision.
Gentlemen, you will find the concensus
of opinion against this measure, and hope
the tax payers will 80 request your votes.
BEVERLY r. CoDwIsE.
Washington Grove, Md, Feb. 81, 1905.