The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-12-05
WANTS BETTER ROADS.
CaryiI!e D. Benson Would Build Great
ThOrOughfaFes Through the State.


arrived for a strong advance move
ment by the State in the matter
Of good roads, and will introduce
a bill in the Legislature providing
for the construction by the State
of long-distance improved roads
between important terminals, roads
that will constitute the main
arteries of traffic in the State.
My idea" he said this morn
ing, lis to supplement- the Shoe
maker law by providing for the
construction by the State of i'm
proved roads between important
centres, running through several
counties if necessary-a following
up of the precedent established by
the last Legislature in authorizing
the building of the Baltilnore-to-
Washlugton boulevard.
Most of these roads naturally
would have Baltimore as one ter
minus, although l think there
should be one running the whole
length of the Eastern Shore. with
branch roads to various shipping
points on the bay and rivers. One
from Baltimore to Belair naturally
suggests itself, and there are many
others.
Il think the work should be on
the line of acquiring and inprov-
ing toll roads, as far as possible.
A toll road is very expensive
thing. The indirect taxation paid
by users of them is far greater
that the direct taxation would be
if the State acquired these roads
and improved them.
There are at least three roads
within the limits of Baltimore city
on which toll is charged-the
Liberty pike, the Reisterstown
pike and the Frederick pike.
This is rather absurd state of
affairs. 1t is the biggest argu-
mcnt the Annex residents have
against paying full city taxes.
They say, naturally, that they are
paying a heavy tax already in the
tolls levied against them.
Many Of these toll roads are
anything but a profitable invest
ment to the owners, and some of
them have been abandoned. Some
would probably be turned over to
the State for nothing, or they
could be purchased at nominal
figure, They could be used to ad-
vantage in the scheme which
have in mind.
The state should do this work
rather than the counties, as it can
do it more satisfactorily. Under
the Shoemaker law some trouble
has arisen because different dis
trlcts of a county held different
opinions as to the ACCESSIBILITY of
new road construction. In Balti-
more county. for instance, the
people of the First district wanted
Wilkens avenue improved, where
as the people of the Thirteenth
district, through which also the
avenue runs, didn't think it worth
the cost. 1t was finally arranged
only by changing the boundary
line of the district, so as to bring
the avenue altogether within the
First district.
1T might be best also to let the
State pay the full cost ofconstruc-
ticn of these roads, though l am
not certain Of this. If we don't,
we will be up against this PROPOSE
tion-the counties will object to
the improvement. They will
want to do the work themselves
saying they can do it cheaper than
the State. AS matter of fact,
they cannot, except by building
inferior roads. The State Bureau
of Highways is the best organiza-
ton we have to look after these
things.
IF the State pays for the work
it will receive its compensation i'll
the increased development and in
creased taxable basis. But this
end Of tho r,rpbia,,, co,, - :,,..l,4: