The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-01-17
SHOULD MARYLAND BOR-
ROW MONEY TO MAKE
ROADS.

The House of Delegates was quick
to take notice of the suggestion made
by Governor Crothers in his inaug-
ural address, that the State govern
ment should undertake the improve
ment of the public highways, says
the Baltimore Sum-. Mr.. Benson
of Baltimore county, and Mr.. Will
liams, of Montgomery, urged the.
adoption of a resolution calling upon
the Governor for a specific statement
of his plan and views on this sub.
ject. This resolution was adopted
by a practically unanimous vote,
showing the keen interest OF the
Legislature in the matter. PERHAPS
the Governor will meet the desjF@ al
the House of Delegates by sending
q message making such recomme4~~
alton as he may deem expedienr.
In an interview with "The Sum- the
Governor said that he was in favor
of a comprehensive plan of road I'M
provement throughout the State and
that he will advocate bond issue
for a considerable sum to raise
money to use for this improvement.
He is of the opinion that it can be
done without imposing any consid-
cradle burden on the taxpayers.
There can be no doubt that the
State of Maryland stands more in
need of good roads than of any other
physical improvement. The Federal
census shows that in those States
where the roads have been improved
the increase in the value of farm
property has been most marked
The roads in Maryland are in bad
condition, and nothing would more
surely attract people who can pnr.
chase real estate than to have good
roads. A large amount of money Is
levied each year by the counties for
roads. But it is spent, as rule, by
persons who have no knowledge OF
roadmaking and is wasted. In
point of fact, the roads in some of
the counties are merely used. as a
pretense to justify the imposition Of
taxes to aid and encourage men who
have been or are expected to be use
full at the primary meetings or
around the polls on election day.
Six hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars is collected from the taxpayers
OF the State every year and squan-
dered without producing any notice
able result.
Fortunately for the State, if there
is any serious purpose to engage in
road improvement, Maryland has
already organized an admirable and
competent agency for doing the
work. The highways division of the
State Geological Survey is equipped
with skilled road engineers, with ex.
pert knowledge, some machinery and
surveys of the roads. If the money
is supplied and authority conferIed
the work can be done by this agency.
If the State is to supply the money,
then it should be insisted that it
shall be expended under the super
vision of this tried and proved
board.
The people must not delude them,
selves about the cost of making goa
roads. The total mileage of puh,'c
roads in the State in 1888, inc,u,.-
ing 500 miles of turnpike roai.
which are mainly in the three coat
ties of Baltimore, Frederick and
Washington Exclusive of the toll
roads, there are in the State 2,02l
miles that are classed by the Geo..
logical Survey reports as main
roads, and it is these main roads
which the State would undertake TO
improve. To improve 5000 miles
of road-that is, to make fairly good
stone roads of them-would cost not
less than $40, 100000, and possibly
more. But there is within a mile
of these roads more than 1000, 900
acres of land, and that good roads
would add $40 to the value OF each
acre, or the average acre, does not
seem to be an extravagant esti.
mate.
But how is the $l0,OO0,OO0 to be
raised2 That is the point, perhaps
upon which the Legislature desires
to hear from the Governor. The
Constitution requires that whenever
q debt is created tax shall be i'm
posed sufficient to provide interest
and a sinking fund that will extin-
guish the debt in Is years. If
money were borrowed at, say, per
cent. tax of about l / cents on the
500 for each million dollars would
be necessary. 1t would, perhaps,
not be contemplated to expend more
than 81 100000 a year. But when
the 1O-year period had been reached
there would be a considerable addi-
ton to the State tax. Possibly it
might be better for the Legislature
to adoDt road Improvement by the