Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1907-05-09


MoaeANrows. W. Va, April 80.
DEAR EpiroR AS ! am Interest.
ed 10 Public Highways, I shall On.
deaxor 10 criticise Mr.. W. P. Pow
ellis letter on good roads and offer !
lev suggestions which might be Of
some interest 10 the people Of ST.
Mary's.
In the FIRST place. Mr.. Powell has
offered many valuable suggestions
a. 10 improving the roads IL The
epuaty Whether you need good
read of aot. neeas 10 ouession bns
how 70 Ret them. sh. there's the
rub.
10 building roads the first and
most important question which pre-.
senss itself is How much money
have you IL The treasury. or how
may money be raised 10 bnild good
roads 2 Mr.. Powell suggests bond
ing tho county for $50. 900. and, Tor
further revenue. tax the dogs 10.
crease the license on whisky shops.
fit Is necessary Increase the coun-
" tax. since poll tax cannot be
levied according TO Arl. Ia al the
Bill Of Rights.
The taxpayers Of ST. Marys will
30 doubt seriously object ID having
tho county tax-rate Increased. bus
II they will consider Tor . moment
theereas benefits thai would b. az
rived from such improvements do
not see how they could justly com.
plain. could give ii least sIlty
sources from which every farmer.
doctor. and everyone that uses the
public highways could be financial.
" benefited. but time and space
will not allow.
There ara several methods Of get.
Ting good roads. any one Of which
may be resorted 70 With good re-
suits. Roads may be built,
by the abusing property own.
era.
Q by districts
. nv The County.
~ AZ = G6~4.
~ d combination nl The above.
nssss *ssssss.s !
II adopted hi dilisruat States III ihN
UpIcn. lf sh0nld ba asked which
IL The methods ! thoughs bess. !
must confess I could not say. One
that Ii suitable il West Virginia
might not work as All 10 Maryland,
The question must be settled 10 tbs
State OF county IN which II is 70 b
used.
So much for paying for the roads.
The next question that presents IL
self IL what kind Of roads shall b
buIlt2 DO You want Macadarn. o.
shell or gravel or dirt roads
To be frank. really believe thai
Maradnm Is entirely outoi she qnes
ton owing 70 tho cost 81 roads bull
81 this material. and. | dare say,
Iit Ii not mach better than roads
properly constructed Or gravel aud
| indeed II Is much inferior 10 . shel
roed. Macadam would have 10 b
imported. which would DO very ex
penslve, while shell and gravel are
found 10 any quantity 10 seveFa
parts Of the county Gravel Ii
cheap and win maks excellent roads
that will last with little expense
or course, a road made Of gravel o.
any material for that matter mus
be properly made not By 3 lot 0
men sent oui, as Mr. Powell states
with spade and pitchiork. Tharl
Is needed proper tools. men with
muscle 70 work them. and. above all
40 engineer or experienced man
who will look after the work and b.
responsible FOR the same.
The next question IL How shall
lhe roads be- built9 All have i
say III answer 10 this Ii, ID leave 1
with the engineer b. The mar
Fin charge whose duty Il vii
be ID Egure tho best and most econo
micaI way oi CARRYING on the work
] heartily agree With Mr.. Powell
| when he says Begin road in
proyement right; repeal the oil
laws, Unnecessary enact new Laws
! widening and strengthening oul
highways. Strengthening the high
ways may not be en- easy task bu
| think ii very importantnnd shouls
DO looked after in building Root
roads. Remember, the old lheoren
lin Geometry. that the shortest dis
lance between two points Ii