The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-02-05
ROUTES NOT SELECTED
CARROA COUNTY ROADS CONSIDERED,
BUT NOT DECIDED on
ROsd Commission Has Strenuous Day
Over Turnpike h0bIem

routes for State roads In Baltimore,
Carroll, Howard, Frederick, Hartford,
Washington and Montgomery coun-
ties. It was strenuous day for mem
bers OF the commission, and the prob
lem with which they wrestled was un-
questionably the most difficult that
had confronted them since the law
passed.
The solution which they are seek
ing is to select roads that will not
only satisfy the sentiment and meet
the necessities of the counties where
no routes have been chosen, but which
will, at the same time, constitute a
genuine State system, linking county
with county, carrying out the avowed
purpose OF the law and doing 1t in a
way that will leave the least reasons
for regret. When It is realized that
each Of these big counties demands
that its local conditions be consid-
cred and met first and separately.
and when the commission is compell-
ed to consider them as a whole, 80 an
not to lose sight of the system which
II must establish, the knotty nature
of the problem can be imagined.
Another big factor in determining
what is to be done in these counties
Is the turnpike proposition. The toll
roads run through all six Of these
counties. The commission and mos,
Of the people wish to abolish tollgates
OH these roads, and most OF them will
be either taken over by the State or
paralleled. Propositions from all the
turnpike companies are now before
the commission with data as 10 their
assessment. valuation. stock sales and
dividends. Exactly what disposition
will be made Of this turnpike question
In the end Is uncertain. but Il Is the
general conviction that most OF the
'turnpikes will be acquired by the
State.
The commission assembled at 1890
O'Clock. IL adjourned a little before
they had not found the key to the
problem, although progress had been
made. The members OF the commits
sion we're worn out, but were cons
dent that at the next meeting a gen
orally satisfactory determination Will
be reached. This meeting will be held
Thursday, February 1S.
The commission has, Il is under
stood, practically determined to take
over the Liberty road as one of those
in Baltimore county.
Residents along the road raised
$4,000, and f. II. Galloway agreed to
turn the road over TO them for that
amount, which is one-half the sum
he asked for IL.
The owners OF the Reisterstown
road have offered their pike TO the
commission for $4,000 for the 43
miles beyond the city limits. This In
cludes the IL miles from the city lin
its to Reisterstpwn, the IL miles from
Reisterstown to Westminster, ~
miles from Westminster TO the Penn
sylvania line. and miles from Refs
terstown to the Carroll county line.
There are at present $1,000 shares OF
the stock OF thia turnpike company.
It's assessed value 10 s57,732. THE par
value Of the stock was $50 a share,
bait 1t has been reduced TO s6. Tho
last sale was for $3h. and the stock
pays per cent dividend ON es.
The turnpike company takes excep-
ton to the intimation made at the
meeting of the commission some time
ago that that turnpike not only did not
wish 10 sell Its turnpike to the State
and @ouid not give II up, but had CIV
en- warning that there is a court de-
cision by which the State is prohibited
from paraiieling the turnpike and
crossing IL. Thomas A. Murray, sec
fetary OF the company, In statement
made yesterday. declared that this
intimation is not founded on fact and
that the reverse is true. He said:
"The management of the road, in
response to the request OF the com
mission, has furnished a valuation Of
the road beyond the city limits upon
its present revenues, and has offered
to open it's books to the inspection Of
the commission to confirm the valua-
ton. This road was called into exist
ence by the State itself to accomplish
laudable and desirable object which
the State had tried. but failed to ac-
complish. The management did not
desire the commission to understand
that 1t wished to unload upon the
State, out advised the commission that
IL, In its Judgment, this road should
be acquired by the State In the furth-
erance of the general plans of he COM
mission, the management was willing
to acquiesce, in difference to the pub
lie demand for the abolishment OF toll
roads, by turning over Its road to the
State upon receiving such compensa-
tlon as would yield to its stockholders
an equivalent to the present income
derived from the road. without re-
gard TO it's increasing revenues"