The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-03-09
MR.. CROSBY ON GOOD ROADS.
The State Engineer Speaks to Carroll
County Audience-He Points Out the
Relation of the Shoemaker Law TO
Toll Roads and Shows Advan-
tages Of New Plan, etc.

w
Crosby, State engineer. delivered an entertain
ing and instructive address on the subject Of
Roads. He said, in part:
II am glad to be able to talk TO an audience
that is SO much interested in better public roads
as am sure you all must be. expect dc
not need to detail to You the advantages OF
good roads. City people may appreciate good
road when they go out into the country, but
u takes farmer to fully understand all that
the improvement of the road means. The
farmer not only uses the roads for convenience
and pleasure, but he uses them because he has
to in many cases. And when the improve
ment of the road results as did the improve
ment of mile of the road between Bladens-
burg and Washington, the farmer fully realizes
the value of not only this particular improve
ment, but what would be the value to him of
more such. The instance l refer to is the
statement by farmer living near Bladens-
Durg to DIR. r. s. Hill, member of the last
General Assembly from Prince Georges coun-
". The farmer said: Up to two years ago
the mile in question used TO be the worst be-
tween my place and the city. Now, when l
send load to town [ send one horse home as
soon as the team strikes the new road, and you
can Imagine what that means to me-.
| You all appreciate the value to each of you
OF the turnpikes in winter, even though you
OBJECT to the toll. But there are probably
many instances in the experience of each of
| you when the payment of the toll was pre-
ferred to the use of the free roads.
J. And this brings up point I wish to mem
| ZION at this opportunity-the relation of the
present State aid law to the turnpike. The
shoemaker law was not designed primarily to
aHect or injure the turnpike companies. If in
It's operation by force of the example of the
results secured under it, an improvement in
sthe condition of some of our pixies is secured,
I we shall all be grateful. But the opposition
expressed in some localities by those interested
| inthe pixies to the law is unwarranted. 1
| oil holt hot fho doxy ~ TOLL
MARYLAND is past; but I do not believe in TAX
ing Eivate property for public use without
! just compensation. | think that the State and
the counties, acting together, should take over
the plies, paying their owners fair price for
them, and make them all free roads.
ut wpuld be impracticahle to do this, prob
| ably, Immediately. In the meantime would
suggest bat the counties, with the aid of the
| State, improve the main feeders of the pixies
and such other main roads as are needed to
meet the public demands not satisfied by the
| location ofthe pixies themselves.
THE general demand of the travelling public
| could thusAe most quickly and satisfactorily
| met, and not only not iniure the pixies, but
| actually inclease their value to the public and
the pike-owaers themselves. Were the en-
frances and exits to the pixies in better shape
| generally, undoubtedly the amount of travel
on the pixies would increase. and also the
, general public be benefited in many ways
| Then, after this work of improving the main
roads feeding the pixies, or taking travel from
| them to the railroads, were well under way,
the question of abolishing the tolls would
naturally be in order. These questions are
bound to demand settlement at no distant
day. Those interested in the pixies would
better accept this fact and do all in their power
by, for instance, aiding the State and the
counties to improve the pike feeders. to make
their property as valuable as possible in the
meantime, rather than obstruct or hinder in
the slightest the movement for better roads
now under way for their own interests, if for
no other reasons.
ut is entirely reasonable for the State and
county togetherin those places where no pixies
have been built to meet the existing demands
of the residents to improve system of main
roads, including main stem,' as it might be
called. And in those localities where the de-
velopment may have occurred in a totally new
or different direction from that anticipated by
the turnpike builders to improve main roads
that may, to some exent, even injure the ex-
isting pixies. The injury now, in these latter
cases. though, would generally be slight, as the
development away from the pike has already
done the pike almost the greatest injury
possible.
Better roads have come to stay all over the
country and Maryland, am sure, will not be
found in the rear. The people are demanding
them all over the State and puZzling their
county officials to satisfy these demands. The
sincerity of the requests is most strongly proved
by the offers of the petitioners in almost every
case to contribute from 10 to 30 per cent. of
the cash needed, leaving the country at large
to pay but from 20 to 40 per cent.
Some counties, realizing fully the value of
the investment, have actually borrowed the
money needed. Others are talking seriously
of doing So Carroll county, out of its limited
annual resources, has built two pieces of
modern road, and, so far as know, they have
been entirely satisfactory, although the second
0neis not yet quite completed. AT any rate,
s&e neighborhoods are demanding the extern
sion this year of each piece. Applications are
in for similar roads in other sections of the
county. and undoubtedly the county officials
will deal as fairly and as literally in each case
as their Judgment and resources permit. l can
only wish you may all be fully satisfied"
Maryland Day in Public Schools Mary
land Day will be celebrated in the public schools
of this State on Monday, March 25th. A neat
booklet dealing with the day, its history and
observance has been issued to the teachers and
officers by DR.. M. Bates Stephens, State Sup
erintendent of Education. The following ex-
tracts from an article in the booklet by John
Wilbur Jenkins gives sketch in brief of the
day; eoa r.. A. CIT. poo.s
of Education, is not holiday, but day of
intensive history study, in the schools Each
year one important event in Maryland history
is to be selected and this topic is to be thorough
ly presented in every public school in the
State Patriotic and historic societies are ex-
pected to lend their aid to make the observance
complete success. Thus, by concentrating
these forces ofintelligence upon single event
each year, that occurrence will be so deeply
impressed on the public mind thatit will never
be forgotten.
This must excite greater interest in this
study and result in historic renaissance that
| should bring with it wave of patriotism and
| state pride that will be of even more value
| than any mere knowledge that may be given
| to man."
The topic announced for the celebration this
| year is: Beginning of Popular Government
| in Maryland" Dr. Stephens presents the
following suggestive program for the day: De-
| votional exercises; song; appropriate quota
| lions; stories of George and Cecilius Calvert !;
the manor; the Maryland flag; the chapter
| of the Province of Maryland; King Williams
| School; trinity of powers of government
and a refuge for the oppressed; song; Mary
| land flag drill; presentation of picture; songs
and Rotations; address on the topic; closing
| exercises
The following subjects are also treated of in
| the booklet, so arranged as to be of assistance
to the teachers in preparing the program
"The Star Spangled Banner" the Maryland
| flag. list of Governors, beginnings of popular
government in Maryland, retrospect of early
colonial legislation.
R.F. D. Route Re-established.-A few
days ago delegation composed of Messrs. NJ
I G Paine, Fl. Warner Charles Marshall and
David Mclean, representing the patrons Of
R. F. D. Route No. l. at Owings' Mills. went
TO Washington to have the service on that
route reestablished. Those whose service has
been discontinued reside on the side of the pike
traversed by the electric railway and the car
rer was obliged to dismount in order to reach
the mail boxes.
The committee was accompanied to the Post
office Department by Congressman ]. F. G
Talbot, who introduced the members to Chic
Spillman, of the rural delivery service. The
difficulty in locating the mail-boxes so as tC
comply strictly with the regulations of the de
partment was explained to Mr.. Spillman, who
issued an order that the mail should be deliver
ed as formerly pending an investigation. HI
also promised that no final action would bt
taken without giving hearing to the patrons
should it be decided that it is best for the ser
vice not to require the carrier to dismount anC
deposit the mail in the boxes on the far side O
the railroad tracks.
Since the interview the former service hal
been restored, and an inspector has been in
vestigating the situation. Nearly thirty fam
lilies were affected by the ruling.
Damage Suits Instituted.-Mr. John 7
O'Ferrall, attorney for Amman H. and Ida G
Thoumaian, has filed a suit in the Circuit
| w Esr6nnan claim