The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1907-02-23

miSSlOnerS that, IN our JudS-
ment, it is high time something definite
and decided were being done in the
matter OF provision for road mcndine
when the Spring arrives. The wise
farmer has his work we'll planned in adj
vance, does not wait until the Spring
days are right upon him, before his
coming operations are all mapped out,
his labor secured, his machinery, har-
ness, etc, overhaulcd. In word, all
that can be done during the winter
months IS done, and when the season
for active operations is come, he is
ready to embrace its opportunities.
This, we believe, is the present and i'm
perativc duty of road management If
the reports that come to our ears from
all parts OF the county are a fair index
of our peoples fec mgS (and we think
they arc) then the time for any further
extended talk is past, and ACTION is
now demanded We are not expect
ing, ! imagine, to put our county roads
in perfect condition. People who com
pare them, dcprecatingly, with the bou-
levardS of city suburbs, are thinking
and talking nonsense. To attempt to
compete in road building with sections
where large wealth makes an extremely
high taxable basis, would simply bank
rupt a county which is chiefly an ordi-
nary agricultural community We have
no right, in such a section, to expect
anything more than fairly well kept
COUNTRY roads, with the natural
deficiencies OF such roads We cannot
have anything better, because we can
not afford to pay for anything better
without going utterly beyond the
bounds OF proper and endurabe taxa
ton. But we do want the best and
most intelligent expenditure OF our
road tax, and as good results as can
possibly be achieved with the means
thereby provided. That means lore
sight and foreprovision. BEGIN
NOW. According to the judgment OF
those to whose practical experience we
accord great respect, the time to work
the roads is in the Spring. If road
sections are to be given out to neigh
boring farmers, let the Commissions
ers find out NOW what farmers will
agree to do certain definite work at
THAT TIME. Let the Commission
ers find out now what farmers can be
bound to such an agreement If, after
this information is secured, it be found
that there are certain roads or parts
of roads unprovided for, let the Com
missloners at once make provision for
the supervision and mending OF those
roads at the proper season. Perhaps
am going too infinitely into a system;
perhaps my system does not meet the
approval OF those who are older and
wiser in this sort Of work. But, at any
rate, let there be a SISTEM-no work
is done that is done at haphazard-and
let that system be thought out and
ready to go into active operation so
soon as the fit hour has come. 1t NAV
be that this exhortation is wholly nm
called for. 1t may be that our Com
misisoners have already taken such
steps-or better ones. Ii SO, we offer
our apologies, and bow ourselves out
with reiteration of our exordum-
THAT IT'S NOW TINE FOR AC-
TlON. There has been, in this county
during the present winter, much in
telgent, dispassionate, non-partisan
discussion OF the road questions; there
seems to have been quite a general
agreement that some other and better
SYSTEM is calld for than has hither-
to prevailed. Now, let the Commits
sioners have the courage to adopt that
system-whatever it may be-and then
work it, with the cooperation, coun-
sci and support OF the whole BODY of
citizens, whose commercial, social, |
had almost said moral welfare is so
vitality bound up with road improve
ment; and come to think of it. +
WILL say moral welfare" for many
man has well nigh committed him
sell to the "demnition bow-wows". bv
the affections he has suffered on the
roads