The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1909-02-20
Hot Shot On
Road Question

Port DEPOSIT Md, Feb. 10th, 1909.
Editor OF the CECIL. WING:
For several days the inhabitants Of
Hartford and Cecil counties have had
their attention called To an organized
news item appearing in the several
county and daily papers, that would
appear 10 have some influence IN
moulding public opinion as to the loca-
ton OF the good roads in said counties.
The article referred to was headed "a
Road to the North" The slogan was
sounded by Mr. Samuel {. Rowland.
In referring to the article il will be
noticed the road crossed the old aban-
doncd Pennsylvania K. r. bridge, which
has been political plaything for the
politicians Tor a number Of years. Mr..
Rowland i one OF the ncorporators OF
the Havrc de Grace bridge Co, which
was chartered by the last Legislature
and generally conceded in this vicinity
- an unloading company, and which
aims To- relieve the Railroad Company
81 the expense ui removing the old
abandoned bridge. and get relief from
its charter obligations to stop trains
and give free transportation to the
travelling public across the river, etc.
The attempt to unload this old bridge
on the taN payers OF Hartford and Cecil
counties during the passage OF the
bridge bill at Annapolis is well known
by the people OF this vicinity. The
next attempt was 10 secure the en-
dorScmcnt ui the National Government
To- the transfer. \ hearing was held on
June -. 1908. by K l.. Hoxic. Col
Corps ri Engineers. L. s. 4, in Balti-
more, and the facts in the case fully
ventilated in plain Language and the
records arc on file in that office. I'm.
der date Of July y. 1908. Gen. Robert
Shaw Oliver. Asst. Secretary OF War.
mailed the Departments answer 10 Mr..
Murray Nandivcr, president OF the
Bridge Company and among other
things said; the question arises as
to what effect favorable action will
have in the matter OF responsibility for
the removal OF the bridge should it
prove financial failure, and be aban.
doncd by your company The Depart
mcnt is oi the opinion that the appli-
cation for approval OF the plans in
question should come from the Penn
Sylvania Railroad Company. etc. etc.
Now comes the good road to the
North, backed by the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association OF Balti-
more city. to tell Hartford and Cecil
county as how the roads should go and
the bridge that will carry them over
Jordan. Ordinarily the county people
people of this section do not interfere
with the selection and improvements
oi the highways in Baltimore city.
They don't pretend To say what streets
shall be widcncd or what approaches
shall be made or on what highways
they will spend the million dollars given
them by the Good Roads Commits.
sion OF the State OF Maryland; nor do
they Interfere with their Warren deals,
ar with the amendment to the Susdue-
hanna Power Co. charter passed by
the late Maryland Legislature. prohi-
biting electric energy manufactured by
that company to be delivered within the
limits of Baltimore city, and which was
backed by the electric combine OF that
city The Merchants and Manuiactur-
ers Association will, We think, best
serve Baltimore city by looking after
these deals, than by interfering with
people who arcf ully able to attend TO
their own affairs
There is no objection to motor cars
passing this way, providing they obey
the laws regulating speed, and do not
run down the local residents who
travel in slow vehicles Rut we do nh
jet to the county's portion OF the
Good Road funds being spent for un-
loading the abandoned railroad bridge
and diverting the road to suit foreign
rich motor car owners. | do not think
the President Of the United States in
sending special message to Congress,
asking for the bettcrment OF water
ways. intends that railroad companies
shall give away old abandoned bridges