The Democratic advocate., 1908-01-03
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 8. 1907
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
STATE TURNPIKE ASSOCIATION
Fourth Annual Meeting in the West
minister HoteI-Large Attendance
Decide to Hold Next Meeting In
This City-Address by Douglass n.
haraott.

The Maryland State Turnpike Association
held its fourth annual meeting in the parors
of the Westminster Hotel, last Friday, DIR. j..
Howell Billingslea, president, presiding
Those present, representing the various cor
porations named, were Mr.. B. Claude Dutrow,
representing the Adamstown Turnpike Com
pany: Charles W. SIagle, Jr.. the Baltimore
& Frederick; DR.. j. Howell Billingslea, DIR.
J, w. Herring and Thomas A. Murray, Esq,
the Baltimore & Reisterstown; Messrs P. N.
Hammaker, G. s. Shook, and Col. j. r.
Rouzer, the Frederick & Emmitsburg; Messrs.
D. II. Hargett and O. C. Warehime, the
Frederick & Jefferson; Messrs. J. R. Bausman
and A. L. Towson, the Hagerstown Smith
burg; Messrs Thos Reisler, Ma Englar, Dan.
iel Wolf and Josiah Englar, the Liberty Il
Pipe Creek: Messrs. Alex. Pearre, A. R.
Dudderar, E. j. Stouffer and A. P. Snader,
the Liberty & New Windsor; George K. Den.
mis-, Esq, the Monocacy l& Urbana; Mr..
Geo. W. Albangh, the Washington n West
minister; Mr.. j. Il. Saxton. the Woodsboro &
Creagerstown; Mr.. E. D. Shriner, the Woods
boro & Frederick; and Mr.. Samuel Roop, the
Westminster & Meadow Branch. There are
% turnpike companies in the association, and
IA of them were represented at the meeting on
Friday.
At the morning session, routine business
was transacted and officers elected. The
elections resulted in the reelection of DR.. j.
Howell Billingslea, president. Mr.. George w.
Albaugh, vice president Mr.. 0. c. Warehime,
secretary treasurer, George r. Dennis, ESQ.,,
counsel. The executive committee named,
with county representation, as follows: Carroll,
Messrs A. P. Snader, and Samuel Roop;
Washington. Messrs. William Fl. Armstrong
and A. L. Towson; Howard, Messrs. E. j.
Selby, Chas. W. Slagle. Jr.; Frederick, Messrs.
E. D. Shriner and G. S. Shook.
pointed: DR.. J. Howell Billingsea, ex-officio,
lessrs. VIM. b. Armstrong, Alexander
Armstrong, E. G. Selby, Peter N. Hammaker
and Thos. A Murray, Esq.
Between the morning and afternoon sessions,
the members of the association with Mr.. W.
w. Crosby, Chief Engineer of the Maryland
Geological Survey, and representatives of the
ADVOCATE and Sentinel, enjoyed splendid
dinner, spread by "mine host' Briscoe, in the
private dining rooms of the hotel.
At the afternoon session, Mr.. D. 81. Hargett
read a very interesting paper on "Roads," Of
such value that it is reproduced in another
column of the ADVOCATE. Chief Engineer
Crosby's address was heard by the members
of the association with deep interest,". and
during its delivery he was frequently inter
fuQlcu Will QuCotiOuo DCdhiuS upOu thC ouDJCSto
discussed. In the course of his address, he
spoke in detail of the present road laws,
suggested legislation, and methods of road
building, and all were impressed by his
thorough. familiarity with his theme.
Messrs. Shook, Bausman and Hammaker,
committee, reported series of resolutions in
memory of Samuel Streit, of Hagerstown, and
Jacob T. Towson, of Smthburg, which were
adopted and spread upon the minutes
1t was decided TO hold the next meeting of
the association in this city.
Following is the address delivered by
Douglass 81. Hargett, of Frederick City, be-
fore the Association
"There are few persons at least when
they have thought and worked long and weary
years upon a subject think perhaps they have
fully exhausted it, and what they may recon.
mend for action for result and good, should be
carried out at once. l trust, however, no one
will think that selfish vanity exists to this ex.
tent in me, that what only have to say must
be adopted post haste, for l have witnessed
the same subject to which | have given ex-
tended thought, analyzed and studied by
others. When thought there was no chance
for improvement, and yet vast improvement
has demonstrated to my mind most concu.
sively, that some minds can only think so far
on a subject, other minds taking up the same
subject evovle far better results. Other minds
get still further and better results until l am
persuaded to believe and arrange all of my
thinking under the head of graduated think.
ing or graduated intelligence. So gentlemen,
assume that the State Turnpike Association
of Maryland, also recognizing this fact, have
come together to discuss the various matters |
pertaining to good roads and to see in their
management and control that exact Justice to |
all interests are considered and not sacrificed |
whether under one system of road making or |
another, the object of all good citizens being |
the best system giving the best roads. the
least cost of the tax payer of the county and |
the State is the system to be desired.
whenever a road is made better than be. |
fore the distances to which itleads are lessened,
the maker and helper on such road are |
benefactors. The minds that have harnessed |
the lightning, that have given us rapid trans.
portation, those persons who ignoring wind |
and weather and all road system have taken
in their path aerial fight with the clouds,
have brought distances closer together, and |
therefore are considered benefactors; but
none more so among those have mentioned |
than the boys throwing the brush and stone
from the pioneer pastors footpath to the little
log church in the woods. These boys were
primary benefactors of the ages in which
they lived and ultimately ofthe men, our fore.
fathers, who gave evidence of that first higher
and advanced civilization of broader and bet
ter roads which finally developed into the toll
roads OF this State and other States. brain.
Drawn and money expended under corpo.
rate law and the income restricted under leg
isstive enactment.
"A great human cry is now raised against
restricted laws governing trusts and monopo.
lies. Men engaged in monopolies who be.
come criminally rich cry against the honest
appeal of the public, louder and louder as
their crime grows greater, that their sacred
rights are being evaded, and ruin is about
TO come to all. Why gentlemen do you know
that your own State Law restricts your earn.
ing on all toll roads to eight per cent. per
annum, and to show your want of avarice.
You have contended to serve as benefactors
he management of these roads with an income
n some instances of nothing at all and in
,thers, one and half, two and half and
hree per cent per annum of your investments.
Ibis restricted law we have made no protest
gainst in these long years. We believe it to
ave been wise provision. Its application
D ali branches of the government, State and
National, where the public are interested
hould be enacted into law, giving to our
itizens another higher notch Of graduated
loughi and intelligent contentment believe
,e toll roads are the most equitable, because
le traveller on the road passing the gate, pays
le tax levied at the gate. The property |
older along such road is the biggest traveller,
3 pays the most but is compensated by the
,hancement of abutting property or the
roximity of his property to the road But
10 cry Of the public, whether, for better or
orse, whether wise or foolish, now is for
ee pixies, free everything, we would be either
saf or foolish if we did not apprehend the .
ming danger and needing the cry, stop, look
ID listen.
ssThe Shoemaker roads are good roads, but :
ey are more expensive in my judgment
an the needs require in many instances.
;cept on great public thoroughfares, and the
neral tax that has to be borne by all works 9
hardship and injustice to many Of the coun- 4
9 of the State.
''Take my own county of Frederick, where
cd pixies, toll roads, radiate in all direct
ls from the county seat. Patrons Of these ,
Ids not only pay the toll tax, but must assist
aally in building mile or two of the road
ny year in some far of section of the county
4 be never has any opportunity of travelling.
X L.