The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-23
BETTER ROADS IN MARY
LAND ARE BADLY NEEDED
There is a Strong Sentiment Through
cut the State for Improvement.

III every l)dII vi tiG Cidle Lut4G
Is strong sentiment for the I'M
provement of roads on an extern
sive scale. In various counties
organizations with such an end in
view have already been formed.
Aggressive and progressive men
are leading the movements and
new associations are being plan
ned.
While the immediate purpose of
most Of the organized and unor-
gained activity is to have road
building enterprises carrie d
through by the counties, with the
cooperation of the State under the
provisions of the Shoemaker law,
nearly every man who personally
uses a road is looking forward to
the day when the State shall take
over all of its main roads and re-
locate and improve them until they
are good or even better than those
of Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
New Jersey and other Northern
States, and foreign countries.
Although much is being done
creditably by individuals, the
counties, independently and with
the cooperation Of the Highways
Commission, to give certain neigh
borhoods stretches of a mile or
more of good roads, there is only
one big roadbuilding enterprise
being undertaken by the State
the Baltimore and Washington
road, which has been given the
title Of State road No. I.
Each of the separated strips of
good road that has been built has
increased the value cf the abutting
property, in some cases several
hundred per cent, but even a
greater benefit to be derived by
rebuilding important thorough
fares throughout their whole length
is the securing OF easy intercom-
munication among various points.
1t is we'll known that in the last
10 years, while the subordinate
county roads have been improved,
the main arteries of traffic have
been growing worse, and that IN
less some decisive step is taken by
the Legislature in the next few
years not few of the main roads
will have to be abandoned and
traffic move by roundabout courses.
In several counties drivers with
heavily laden wagons have been
heard to say: Yes, of course, it
is shorter to go by the old road,
but it is in such terrible condition
that we follow the longer route be-
cause it is better than running the
risk of being stalled or breaking
down. Years ago, when the turn
pike company was making money
and we did not have these side
roads, we used to 60 by the old
pike, which was then a good
road.
The situation which exists has
prevailed at times in other States.
The sproblem, in the opinion of
many persons, can be solved in
only one way-the acquisition Of
the main roads by the counties or
State.
The theory of private ownership
of main turnpikes was never ac-
cepted as sound by the pioneers of
Maryland or of the Federal Gov
eminent. In the beginning the
national Government took up the
question of building roads and the
old National pike was so built.
Baltimore county started to build
its own roads, but the money was
not forthcoming, and charters were
granted to private corporations to
do the work. There are at present
about so companies in the State
which collect toll on about 400
/ miles Of roadway. Nearly every
year some of these companies dis
charge their tollgate keepers and
suspend operations, letting the
counties take title to the property
without struggle. Counting the
toll roads, former toll roads and