The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-23
[coxMuN1cATED.1.
THE COUNTY AND THE FALLS ROAD.

A curious and abnormal condition in relation
to the means or lack Of means of communica-
ton and transportation exists in one of our COM
munities. Our people boast that the county Ia
the largest in population and extent, the wealth.
lest and most enterprising, and amongst the
most attractive naturally and socially of the
State. Surrounding great commercial city.
with ease of access and facilities of travel every
advantage of progressive people and age ought
to be hers. Yet population of considerable
extent is practically out of modern touch with
the outside world, and it would seem that mar
row public policy or hesitancy to assume respon-
sibility leaves no inconsiderable number of our
citizens without the means of utilizing their
labor, marketing the products of their fields and
factories and enjoying that neighborly inter-
course whose amenities give flavor to life.
The abandoning of the Falls turnpike by it's
corporate owner, after the judicial decree which
required it to be put in order, has left section
Of territory not nominaIly but absolutely with
out opportunities Of reaching its natural and
only market. the owners Of land. of mills and
other industrial establishments being unable to
get their products out. More than one concern
engaged in contracting and heavy hauling is
threatened with the humiliation of its business;
improvements are retarded or abandoned. and
manufacturing plants are at great risk and ex-
pense in marketing their output. There is no
way around-the topography forbidsit. Several
bridges are SO weakened and shaken up as to be
unsafe for ordinary travel, to say nothing of the
extra heavy hauling constituting the bulk of
traffic over them. The stone has washed away
from the road-bed, leaving great ruts and hol-
lows mud holes threaten to enguf every vehi-
Gle attempting their passage, and automobile
drivers, ignorant of their condition, find them
selves compelled daily to hire teams to haul
them out of the mire and distress into which
thew nlnnGa. Such a condition Is reprnach TO
our county-a blow on the civilization of today.
The road ought to be an attractive one; it runs
by direct line into the city it is picturesque,
at points almost romantic, and with many beauti-
full knobs, pure springs and fine timber; seems
as though nature had designed it for series of
beautiful and convenient homes. Roland Park,
one of the most lovely suburban settlements in
this country, the advantages and charms of
which are famous, and whose delightful resi-
dences, lawns and gardens are constantly pic
tured and described, has reached down to this
dilapidated old highway, enhancing values of
the land, zone after zone, as the improvements
extend, SO that with half generous treatment
the whole territory the road traverses promises
ere long to be one continuous modern village,
peopled with contented and happy suburban
population.
Whether the County Commissioners are in
doubt as to their power in the premises, or are
averse to the expenditure of money necessary
to put the road in repair. is not apparent. There
are questions as. to the relative rights of the
electric railway company and the county, but
these ought certainly to be easily and quickly
adjusted. To layment the powers and duties of
the Commissioners seem clear. Article %. Sec
ton 355 of the Code, provides that when any road
is not put in good order within six months after
the date of the order of the court FORGETTING the
right of the corporation to charge tolls, the road
shall be forfeited by the corporation and shall
vest in the County Commissioners, who may
cause the same to be put in good order and col
lect tolls sufficient for that purpose. The con-
dition precedent seems to have been met in this
case, and the may the Court of Appeals in
analogous cases has decided to be mandatory
and to mean ''shall.''
This road, though owned by corporation, has
long been lighted at the expense of the tax
payers; the damaged bridges were posted as
dangerous by the Commissioners. evidencing
that they assumed some of the responsibility of
ownership and protection of the public, and it
is understood that corporation was given
permit to lay water mains under or along the
roadway-a practical acknowledgment, appa-
rently. of the Boards jurisdiction over it.
If any such responsibility does exist on the
part OF the county, Q vigorously pressed lawsuit,
with possible heavy damages, in the event of
loss of life. limb or property, by the collapse of
treacherous and rotten bridge would probably
cost the treasury as much as taking over and re-
pairing the roadway.
Certainly if the Commissioners could bring
themselves to see the wisdom of assuming the
control of this road and putting tin good con-
dition, the early, almost immediate and large in
crease in the taxable value of the lands affected
would soon reimburse the cost and inure to the
convenience, well-being and content of many of
our people.