The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-03-01

a Colora on Wednesday, February
"a. The following members were present:
Elwood Balderston, c Ross Biles, Frank
Cherry, Joseph Grove, James M. Max
we'll, Harry Maxwell, Alfred McVey,
Aaron Kitchener, R. K. Rawlings,
Wayne Reynolds, Maurice Reeder, jos.
Scarborough. Martin Thompson, John P.
Wilson. Joseph.I. France.
Visitors-Messrs LLOYD Balderston,
Geo. Balderston, John Balderston, c.
Balderstou, State Engineer of Roads and
Highways, Crosby.
In the absence of the President the
meeting was called to order by the Vice
President R K Rawlings. and ]. /
France was elected secretary pro. TEN. in
the absence of the Clubs secretary, Mr.
Ewing.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and approx d, and letter from MT
BENJAMIN of the Board of County Com
missiouers was read and was most favor
ably received by the Club 1t complI
~
better roads for the county
Mr. Elwood Balderstou then made
motion that the regular order of bust
ness he suspended in order to give M
Crosby more time in which to address this
Club on the subject of Good Roads I"
The motion was carried Elwood Bladder
ston then introduced Mr.. Crosby as
follows:
at gives me much pleasure to present to you
today Engineer w. W. Crosby. of the Maryland
Geological Survey, who W i'll be able to tell you
better than eau, the most economical way to
utilize our natural gravel beds for permanent
road Improvement That we have these gravel
deposits in unlimited quantities goes without
saving but that these may be utilized in making
the very best kind of permanent roads at very
reasonable expense, has not been fully realized
by the puplic at large, and it is for this reason
that we wish to ascertain from reliable authority
the very best and most economical way to APP
proprste this gravel
it has been suggested that this gravel be
screened at the pits and thus graded into the
quality wanted and the correct proportion OF each
grade hauled for its specific purpose.
This would make the roadsbed uniform in COIL
struction with neither too much nor too little
clay admixture that it would obviate hauling
ciay from the pits when there may be plenty ut
the roadsides
By utilizing machinery for screening the pro-
ducts could be elevated into bins or cutes so that
the wagons could be loaded Instantly thus
econonizing the full capacity OF the teams
We shall also learn the importance OF thoroush
under draining where there Is need OF IT, ana
also of the Importance OF grazing ana many
other points of Importance, ana ABOVE all the
minimum cost at-which this material VIII cost pr
mile. II gives me pleasure to present to you MIR
Crosby who will now speak to you."
Mr. Crosby said in substance as follows: II
affords me much pleasure to be with you mere
today and my only regret is that DR. VIM.
Clark the distinguished head OF the Maryland
Geological Survey, who has done as much IN de-
veloping knowledge If the mineral resources OF
Maryland and has taken such helpful interest
in the improvement OF our state ROADS ana High
wavs could not be with us also, and he has asked
me to express to you his regrets
have not come tn you today to make fGrma
speech but rather to make few general remarks
upon this mostimporlant suhjecto OF the improve
ment of our r. ads and Highways what has been
done in this state and what we hope to do and
if any remarks lead to general discussion OF the
subject 1t may prove of value to us all.
In the first place | would mention the present
State law under which we are working, and
can say that it seems to be most excellent one
and its operations proving to be in high
degree satisfactory and on the whole it is working
very we'll. The law was designed on the theory
that if the State would materially help the
county by giving it a certain amount of cash
annually, toward The building Of permanent
roads on the main highways, that these roads
bailt by state aid wauid serve models ana
would also demonstrate the greater economy
resulting from roads permanently constructed
according to modern methods over our present
wasteiu methods of road repair and that this
having been demonstrated the county would be
led to make further investment for the improve
ment of all of the roads within its'0orders.