Evening star., 1909-03-10
WANT TURNP|kES ACCEPTED
TAXPAYERS OF MARYLAND DIS
TRICTs FILE PETITIONS.
Ask County Commissioners to Re
quest Good Roads Commission
to Take the Gifts.
al Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md. March 10. 1909.
State Senator Blair Lee appeared before
the county commissioners here yesterday
and presented number of petitions.
signed by many of the taxpayers or
Wheaton, Colesville and Olney districts.
asking the commissioners to formally re-
quest the good roads commission to ac-
cept as gifts the Union turnpike and the
Washington. Colesville and Ashton turn
pike. in the eastern section Of the county,
make them free roads and improve ana
maintain them at state expense.
The two turnpikes. which aggregate
Biz miles In length. cost about $3oo
mile to build Arrangements have ave oeen zen
made for the purchase of the pixies ior
$:'7.J 800 or $1,000 mile, and to raise the
necessary money bonds will have to be
issued. If the good roads commission
agrees to accept the pikes-and that II
will there is said to be not the slightest
doubt-the county commissioners will
call special election to allow the tax
payers of Wheaton. Colesville and Olney
districts. in which districts the pixies
lie. to decide If they are willing for the
bond issue. 1t is stated that the PROPOSE
ton to issue bonds would carry by an
overwhelming ma ajorty. To gradually re-
deem the bonds and TO pay the Interest
a special tax of 6 or : cents will have to
three districts.
Offer of Turnpikes.
In their letter offering the turnpikes to
the good roads commission the commits
SionerS state:
I'VE know of TO county where public
sentiment is stronger than it is here for
abolishing toll pixies as far as possible
These toll roads proposed to be sur
rendered to YOU are admira bly, located TO
become a portion of a state system OF
roads and are we'll located for closely
connecting this county with Howard
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 in
terest of our people as we'll as TO the IN
terest of Howard county and the city Of
! Baltimore to bring these turnpikes under
our state system.
"A link of only five miles. constructed
out of some future appropriation. would
| connect these turnpikes with our county
| seat and the whole line of the state road
| you will build through this county from
! Washington city to Frederick. These
pixies, they now exist, are not luxuri-
Gus automobile roads for machines NOV
| ing at high rate of speed. but they
| are valuable for motor vehicles going
| statute of his state.
Substantial Thoroughfares.
| They are. however. substantial thor
ouehfares and at this season of the
year four and six horse wagons, hauling
| as much as four tons Of farm produce.
| in addition to the weight of the wagon.
are passing over these pixies. and with
! out any serious breaking through or in
| jury to the macadam surface OF The
roads.
THE public sentiment of this county, i'm
desiring to l.a more closely connected
with the city of Baltimore for aSricul-
tural and commercial purposes, does not
suggest any radical change In the grade
or Instruction of these turnpikes, but
in order that the toll gates may be abol-
ished and that stone road connections
with Baltimore should be soon given. is
desirous that you should take over and
maintain these pixies substantially as
they now are with regard to grades.
drainage and general conformation max
ing such immediate and gradual improve
ment as might be implied by the eXpendi-
ture of not more than $4,000 of the fund
availabl for this county.
Abolition of Toll Gates.
In forwarding TO you this suggestion
of the surrender of thrty-seven and one
half miles of pike we feel safe in say
ing that no other country has thus far
proposed to respond in the same sub
stantial manner for the abolition of toll
gates and the Improvement of highways
IF it is true that your commission has
decided as rule not to connect state
roa Is with turnpikes. it is practically
impossible to connect Mont eomery county
with lines OF state roads through Howard
county to Baltimore city without first
acquiring tie turnpikes referred to. The
|
pixies would If accepted, result most bene-
ticially to this county, Howard county
and Baltimore city.