The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-02-07
rHEPROPOSED ROAD LOAN
AND THE REVENUES
FROM OYSTER
CULTURE.

The following is from the "Baltl'
more Sun:
1.-THE Sun has heretofore taken
occasion to call attention to the In
innate relation Of the road question
and the oyster question in this State
Now is the time for the Legislature
to have regard to that relationship
and treat the two subjects accord
ingly. 1t will be remembered 'na'
the Oyster Culture act OF 1906 de-
votes all the surplus revenues from
the rentals of oyster grounds to the
Improvement of the public roads
Now that there seems fair prosper
that the Legislature will. at the
earnest suggestion of the Governor
inaugurate broad and liberal sys-
tenn of highway improvement by the
State, everything possible should be
done to stimulate oyster culture SO
that road fund from the rentals
win grow to large proportions. The
large revenues may be expected
from the barren bottoms OF the bay
which now produce neither oysters
nor revenue, is not a matter OF idle
sneculation. Such revenues are re-
ceived in other States where the
physical conditions are not nearly
40 favorable as they are in the Cnes
apeake, and it is matter that nsa
been demonstrated that Maryland
will receive revenues a. soon as the
laws are adjusted and. in operation
This Legislature should be careful
to strengthen the existing planting
law wherever it needs strengthening
in order to build up the industry
The cultivation of oysters will en-
gage a great number Of people in the
Industry as soon as they can be a''
sured of the protection oftheir rights
and of a reasonable degree of stAoli',
ty and permanence. In framing the
road law some attention might We'll
be paid to the part that the oyster
revenues are to take in the improve
ments. There seems to be strong
sentiment in the Legislature in favor
If loan for a most extended system
Of highway improvement. This
money it is proposed TO expend' sc
cordinp to the present purpose o.
leading and influential officials IN
der the supervision of the State 0e'
illogical Survey, OF which two mem
bers are elected by the people, the
Governor being the president OF the
hoard. The State is most fortunate
in having at the outset OF the high.
way Improvement a we'll organized
and thoroughly equipped agency Tor
doing the work, and it Is taken 1or
granted that the work will be com
mitted to this agency. If bonds are
to be issued, they will only be issued
"a thew are needed, and it may be
that before. all of them are sold the
revenues from the oyster beds will
he suffioien. for the work, and so q
part of the debt may be avoided and
a sinking fund provided for the
bonds that are out, which will speed
ily make it possible to repeal the
tax. If the road fund Is to be pro-
vided by direct tax, then, if the
Legislature pays proper attention to
building up the oyster industry, that
direct tax should, after few years
become unnecessary.
"These two subjects should engage
the most careful consideration OF the
General Assembly at this session
In the past an undue proportion Of
the time of the Legislatures has been
given to political matters and toe
little to the improvement OF the con-
ditien of the people and the increase
of the wealth of the State. Ii the
same amount of labor had in the past
ben bestowed upon improving the
roads, upon building up an oyster
industry, upon promoting commerce
and manufactures, as has been de-
voted to amending election laws and
tobacco inspection laws and to office
seeking, Maryland would be far
richer and more prosperous State
than it is today.