The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-01-18
THE PUBLIC ROAD QUESTION DISCUSSED.
WHE January meeting of the
/" v Cecil Farmers club was held

with the following members and
visitors present: Prest. r. I.
Cameron, Vice. Prest. r. K. Raw
ings, Treas. Jas. FL. Maxwell, Cor.
Sec. M. G. Reeder, Rec. Sec. Cecil
E. Ewing, G. Ross Biles, j. P.
Wilson, Elwood Balderston, Jas. S.
Scarborough. Wayne Reynolds, A.
B. McVey, Jas. T. Grove. Visitors
Jos. S. Smith, of Iowa; Prof. FL
o. Sampson, 7. 7. Reynolds, e.
Wilmer McVey, Nevin McVey,
VIM. Grove, DR.. Miller.
The minutes of the previous
meeting were read and approved.
The first topic for discussion was
fall and spring blowing and while
several stated they had received
best results from former, authorities
were quoted showing that spring
blowing was better, as it was waste
full to have the bare soil exposed
through the winter, thereby allow
ing crop producing properties to
escape.
Mr.. Smith said the farmers in
Iowa always plowed in the fall be
cause their large acreage was pro
hibitive to getting it done in time
in the spring.
Mr.. Maxwell asked if it was
better to spread manure in fall or
spring and was told that in order
to get full value of manure it should
be spread early, although if spread
late part of its value would show
the following year.
Elwood Balderston advocated
spring spreading if the manure
could be kept we'll protected in
barn yard and allowed to thorough
ly rot without going to waste.
Prof. Sampson asked the worth
of manure per ton and was told
81 90, or $500 after spread.
Mr.. Rawlings thought September
best time for spreading.
The committee appointed to cor
respond with State authorities re
garding most practical method for
exterminating San Jose scale re
ported that they had not yet had
an opportunity to meet and would
report next month.
The committee appointed to
confer with the County Commits
sioners on the road question stated
they had submitted the following
suggestions to the Commissioners :
The natural gravel beds of the county
should be utilized for permanent work
All such permanent roads should be
graded and underdrained, where needed,
under State supervision.
Main roads should be completed to
North East, the natural center of the
county, withsfeeders to the local stations
and towns.
With North East as a center, radius
of six miles will include Elkton, Cherry
He'll, Blue Ball, Zion, College Green,
Principle, Principle Furnace, Charles
town and Elk Neck.
Eight-mle radius includes Elk Mills,
Fair Hill. Calvert, Pennington, Wood
lawn, Perryville and Chesapeake City.
Ten.mile radius includes Rising Sum-
Colora, Liberty Grove, Port Deposit,
Turkey Point and St. Augustine.
Outside the ten mile radius is Rowland
vile, Conowingo, lakewood, Ceciltou
and Earlville.
A four-mile radius from gravel pit at
Marshalls Hill, near Woodlawn, would
include Port Deposit, Principle, College
Green, Pennington. Rising Sun, Harris
vile, Porters Bridge, Rowlandville and
other villages.
A similar radius from pit near Bay
View would include Calvert, Zion, Blue
Ball, Leeds, Mechanics Valley, North
East.
Feeder roads should be built out from
the pits to the main roads aud then a
team can readily draw two tons con-
tractor with sufficient men to load a
wagon every ten minutes would keep
twelve teams busy, hauling on an average
of three miles, each team making four
loads day, which would move nearly
one huSdred tons of gravel, at an expense
for hauling not exceeding fifty cents per
ton.
Experience might justify using screen
at the pit and make bed of coarse
gravel, covering with fine, leaving super.
,fuous soil behind. The steam roller and
sprinkler could be used to surface it.
The State would pay one half the cost,
the county should pay three-fourths Of
the remainder and the district in which
the road is situated should pay the bal.
ance. Every district which will sub.
scribe one eighth should have the support
of the county aud state for the remainder