The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-06-04
An Enthusiastic Reception
rendered Road Commission
Upon The Occasion of Its Visit To Oakland
Yesterday Morning.
CROTHERS MUCH GRATIF1ED
Nearly Quarter Of a Million Dollars for Permanent
Roads Has Been Apporfoned Garrett
By the Commission

One Of the most enthusiastic gather
lngs of the residents Of Garrett county,
and when we say residents we do not
mean those from any particular section
OF the county, but men from every por-
ton Of the county, representing every
walk in life, the professions, agricul-
ture, mercantile and banking, was that
held in the court house yesterday morn
ing at $50 O'Clock, the occasion being
the visit made here by the State High
way Commission Of Maryland, compos-
Of His EXcelency Governor Austin l..
Crothers, John NJ. Tucker, president;
DR.. William Bullock Clark, Francis c.
Hutton, Walter NJ. Crosby, engineer;
and c. NJ. Bowerman, secretary.
The Commission arrived in Oakland at
7:12 O'Clock in the morning and had
breakfast on board private car placed
at the disposal of the gentlemen by the
B. & o. Railroad Company. Immedi-
ately after partaking of their breakfast
the party wa driven to the court house
in an open carriage drawn by four white
horses, the carriage being handsomely
decorated with flags and flowers.
At the court house, which was packed
to the doors, the meeting was called to
order by Mr.. E. H. Sincell, who sug-
gested that Mr.. Scott I. Jones be elect
ed chairman Of the convention, which
was acceded to by unanimous vote.
Mr.. Benz. H. Sincell was elected secre-
tary.
In taking the chair MIR. Jones said:
eve have been honored by Governor
Crothers and the members of the State
Road Commission by this visit to our
county, and we feel gratified that this
large assemblage Of people has gather
ed here to listen to and take part in the
discussion Of the question which has
called US together. 1t has been sugges-
ed that Governor Crothers outline the
plan as laid down in the law creating
this commission and Wharf.-The people of
Garrett county may expect.
Governor Crothers was greeted with
much hand clapping when he assembled
the judges bench to address the people.
He is a man of commanding appearance
and Of pleasant address and seemed at
home when he faced the audience. hav-
ing so recently retired from the bench
himself. :
Governor Crothers said:
Mr.. Chairman and fellow citizens:
! am very much pleased and gratifed,
as have no doubt the other members
of the Road Commission are. to see
such splendid representation of the
citizens of Garrett county at this early
hour of the morning, which is a sure
sign that you are enthusiastic over the
prospect of improved conditions with
respect to your public roads. We all
know that good roads go with advanced
civilization and is true index to the
progressiveness of any people.
eve are here to hear and not to talk,
the object of our visit being to listen to
any suggestion you NAV be pleased to
make as to the location of the road to
be improved by the State. The recent
session of the Legislature of Maryland
appropriated the sum of S., 600, 600 with
which to build a system of highways
throughout the state, connecting every
county therein. OF the amount appro-
priated Baltimore City, which contrib
utes so largely to the taxable basis of
the state receives under the law ST.
600, 600, leaving the sum of S4, OOO. 600
to be the expended in the various coun-
ties according to the road mileage. No
county can get more than it is entitled
to under the system. Of the amount to
be expended in the counties Garrett will
receive the sum of 1928, 900, which is
exceeded by but one other county in the
state. After the road is built is is to
be kept in repair and is absolutely UNI
der the charge of the state, so that the
county people are at no expense what
ever for that particular piece of high
way. The money, therefore, which was
expended under county supervision on
the piece of road taken over by the
state can properly be expended on some
other road, thereby improving and build
ing 1t up with no additional taxes inn
posed.
The road to be improved should be
one to connect with the adjoining county