Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-03-14
"Shoemaker" Roads.

Under the above heading we desire to
treat the subject of good" roads, and
to make some observations regarding the
working of the law as it is now being
sought to be applied to building, here and
there, piece of model road, under the
direct supervision of the State authori-
ties and the engineer employed by it.
There is now pending in the Court OF
Appeals of this State case wherein the
residents of the village of Kemptown are
seeking to compel the County Commiss-
toner's to build for them piece of said
model road. It's decision is awaited with
interest, for upon that decision much de-
ponds 80 far as our future tax rate is
concerned. If it is held that any number
of individuals in any section of our coun-
ty can compel our Commissioners to build
any number of "model" samples at
great cost of from $4,000 to 900 per
mile then the next Legislature surely
ought to be asked to change the law SO
far as our county is concerned.
This law was introduced and fathered
by gentleman from Baltimore County,
and if judged Alright, it is peculiarly for
that county's benefit, and they are much
interested in having the State help them
build many miles of fine roads for the
suburbs of Baltimore City.
What we want is the State to aid us in
buying up the now existing turnpikes and
then help to keep them in proper condi-
ton in the future. That will be a dis
tinctive benefit to great majority Of our
citizens and taxpayers, while the benefit
to be derived from building mile here
and there, amounts to nil.
Our county could afford to buy up a
number of miles of pike already built
each year without involving the county
finances to any great extent, and the tax
payers would justify such an expenditure.
The pixies as they are now or may here
after be built along similar lines suits our
people and are adapted to every need
that the public requires.
Take for an example the Frederick and
Emmitsburg pike if that would be ac-
CURED by the county and made free, what
an immense benefit that would be to a
great number of our taxpayers.
Then take the pike running from De-
tour through by Ladiesburg, New Mid
way, on to Woodsboro and Frederick, as
we'll as the Liberty and Frederick pike
running.on to townsville and Union Bridge
and then the National Pike from Ridge
vile on through New Market and Fred
erick and Middletown and Boonsboro and
the various other pixies radiating out
from Frederick.
After these have been acquired then
let the county with State aid take all the
principal county roads and pike them as
fast as possible and it will not be many
years until we have county with many
miles of free pixies and the people get
ting the benefit of such free roads.
State roads engineer Crosby, in an adj
dress made in Carroll county few days
ago touched on this very subject OF &C
quiring these toll roads; while this might
not suit Baltimore county, let such other
of the counties as want the Shoemaker
road law, have it, but don't compel us to
take it if we don't want it or if it is not
suited to our needs.
We think if the pixies were acquired
that their being kept up as such should
be compelled as a matter of law, to be
| just as the various charters require the
present pike companies to maintain and
repair their respective roads. 1t should
not be left to lot of supervisors having
so many miles each to spend so much per
mile, for then we would soon have as bad
roads in pixies as we now have, under bad
supervisors, of which we have quite a
number.
Our Senator and representatives to be
elected this Fall should be pledged along
the lines of legislation, such as is above
indicated.