Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-03-12
Recon- mend the Taking Over of
TurnpikeS,

| PAMSSs
Senator Lee, j. Dawson Williams, Pres
ton B. Ray, Edward p. Thomas, Charles +
Kirk and Josiah W. Jones appeared befOr,
the County Commissioners on Tuesday las
and presented petitions signed by abou
three hundred and fifty citizens and tax
payers of Olney, Colesville and Wheaton
districts requesting the commissioners t
recommend to the Good Roads Commits.
| sion the taking over of the Union and
Washington and Ashton and Colesville
| turnpikes as State roads. The commission
ers decided to recommend the proposition
as Submitted, to the Good Roads Commits
sion If the commission accepts the 81 1-2
miles of turnpike. it will be necessary for
the commissioners to call special election
to authorize tffe issuing of bonds for the
payment of the said turnpikes
The commissioners forwarded the follow
ing letter to the Good Roads Commission:
GENTLEMEN: We are in receipt of num-
Der of petitions showing general public
demand for the taking over by us in behalf
of Montgomery county of 81 1-2 miles of
turnpikes in the three eastern and north
eastern election districts of MONTGOMERY
county and Offering the same as a gift
and surrender to your honorable body for
State roads. To do this will require pro-
cedure under local law passed by the
last General Assembly and involving vote
of taxpayers of the said three election dis
tricts on bond issue to purchase the turn
pixies Arrangements have been made for
the purchase of the turnpikes for $37,500
at the rate of $1,000 mile. The stock
holders contend that the stock and bonds
and other evidences of original cost show
that these pixies cost, when construction
was much cheaper than now, about 5000
a mile to build; that they are well main
tanned and pay a rate Of interest indicat-
ing value of more than $1,000 mile.
The stockholders appear willing, under the
circumstances. for public purpose, to con-
cede that $1,000 mile is fair value.
and it is thought that large majority of
taxpayers of the districts will ratify bond
issue for such a purchase under the cir
cumstances.
I'VE are advised that the proposed gift
and surrender of these pixies to you is fully
authorized by the act of the General AS
sembly creating your honorable commits
sion Chapter 141, Acts of 1909, which,
after giving you broad general power pro-
viding for a system of State roads, more
over says: And said commission shall
have full power so to take over and take
possession of any county road or aban-
doned turnpike and to accept by gift or
surrender and to acquire by purchase or
condemnation any and all existing turn
pixies. or any section thereof, or any inter-
est therein
I'VE are also advised that in this manner
this proposed gift and surrender would
not only come under your authority to
maintain continuous thoroughfares be-
tween the more important points in the
State, but would-aso come under your au-
thority to abolish toll-gates, as far as pos
sible, by acquiring amy and all existing
turnpikes.
while your honorable body appears to
be limited as to the miles to be construct
ed by the money available for each county,
there is, very wisely. no limit in your Gre
ating act upon the miles you may take by
way of gift and surrender This judicious
provision of the law tends to encourage
liberal gifts, as mutually advantageous to
both the State and the county making the
Gift.
I'VE know no county where the public
sentiment is stronger than 1t is here for
turnpikes as far as possible.
These toll-roads in this county proposed to
be surrendered to you are admirably To-
Gated to become portion OF State sys-
TEN of roads and are well located for
closely connecting this county with How
ard county and Baltimore city. AS they
are now mainly used, these turnpikes carry
the largest amount of produce into the city
of Washington passing over any road, either
in the State of Maryland or in the State of
Virginia. 1t is to the interest of our peo-
pie, as well as the interest of Howard
county and the city of Baltimore. to bring
these turnpikes under our State system
and to turn the volume Of their traffic as
far as possible in the direction of Balti-
more city.
1T should be realized that the northern
and eastern portion of this county is, for
practical purposes. as near to Baltimore
city as it is to Washington city, and only
the lack of proper extension of the turn
pixies prevents the larger market of Balti-
more city securing great share of the
commerce of this county. A link of only
five miles, constructed out Of some future
appropriation, would also connect these
turnpikes with our county seat and the
whole line of the tentative State road you
have indicated through this county from
Washington city to Frederick.
ave are advised that these turnpikes
are maintained in their present substantial
condition on an annual outlay of about
$50 mile.
"In conclusion, we are advised that your
honorable commission has decided as
General rule not to connect State roads with
turnpikes II this is true, II is practically
impossible to connect Montgomery county
with lines of State roads through Howard
county to Baltimore city without first ac-
ouirint the turnpikes above referred to In
said districts. The present opportunity TO
secure these turnpikes, If accepted, would
-. ,,,oat hanafciaI fu Tn thia calintv How