The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-02-06
PUBLIC ROADS.

The Legislature of Maryland is at
last awaking to the necessity of a pub
tic roads system for the state, and to
this end it is proposed to make bond
issue of $5,000,000 to be available in
allotments, and to be spent through
several years. 1t is estimated that
1000 miles of good roads can be con-
structen with this sum. 1t is proposed
to insert in the law a clause providing
for condemnation proceedings, by which
it will be possible for the state to
acquire the turnpikes, thus making
them free. A few days ago Governor
Crothers held conference with a Joint
committee of the Legislature at which
there was more definite indication of
details concerning the Governors pre-
viously indicated scheme to provide for
"a..system of good,roads ramifying uni
formly through every section of the
state" Commenting upon this scheme
the Baltimore American Of Saturday
said editorially:"
Though plans are understood to be
as yet tentative, there seemed to be a
general concurrence in the suggestion
that large road fund should be Great
ed by !bonded loan, the aggregate sum
Of S., 900 being indicated as the
amount which should be made available
for bodybuilding purposes. The plans,
as outlined, contemplate state COM
mission to control and direct the road
building enterprises. Thei new road
system which is being evolved is eX-
pected to be "a state system entirely;
that is, the roads. that are to be built
under the new scheme will be state en-
terprises purely and not undertakings
in which each county will have a part
nership with the state in the construc-
ton of roads in each particular county.
The proposed new plan is not expected
to supersede or to interfere with the
existing road law, generally known as
the Shoemaker law. The method of
distributing the proposed road fund
among the counties seems to be prob
lem that has notsyet been worked out.
1T is by no means certain that even
so large sum as $5.000,O0O will be ad-
equate to the construction of what NAV
be termed the trunk-lne roads pertain.
ing to the twenty-three counties a
Maryland. The State Geological SUI
vey has estimated that there are 2,
miles of these main arteries Of tr@sf&
1t does not seem probable judging f
the figures indicating road-buildin&
now Of record, that durable, 81
and solid roads can be built in this St.
at much lower average cost d
$4,000 per mile. In sections where I'd
is not close at hand they would probas
cost considerably more than this. Il
construction of 1900 miles Of rd
would involve total outlay of abd
$14,000,0O0. If So, 0OO,O were equal
distributed among the twenty-thrj
counties, there would be sufficient
build lat an average cost of 81, coo I'd
mile) about thirty-one miles of road
each county. But, of course, the laS
ger counties will demand distribution
according to area, taxable basis, pop
ulation or some other method thai
wouldirecognize the difference between
big and.little. When it comes to divid
ing up So, 600, 600 fund some counties II
the state probably will come out will
an allotment of ten OF twelve miles O
road as their assignments.
THE present Maryland Road Law
embodies the system under which gooC
bodybuilding is being directed il
practically every state that has thu
far undertaken road construction as ;
state enterprise. 1t is system which
compels each county to raise by loca
taxation an amount equal to that allot
ted to the county from the state fund