The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-04-23
The New Roads And Their Cost.

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The question of the cost Of the proposed
new State roads is one that is giving the
State Commission great deal of worry
and careful consideration, it being the
desire Of the Commission to give the
people of the State 1.-The most for their
money!" The Baltimore Sun comments
editorially on this phase of the question,
the following being extracts from the
editorial:
Zone Of the questions which must
shortly be decided by the State Road
Commission. it is said, is the character
aud cost OF the roads that they will make.
This question the commission will prob.
ably decide according to the teachings of
experience aud common sense, When a
company is organized to build railroad
the character Of the road to be built is
determined entirely by circumstances.
If the road is designed for great trunk
line, over which an endless professions
of trains will be run, then no expense Is
spared in the construction. i.
But If the road to be built is for local traf
fic merely, and;through sparsely settled
country, the expectation being that only
some half dozen light trains will be run
each way in whole day, the type of
road which would be built is entirely
different. This same rule illdoubtless
be applied by the State Road Commission
in fixing upon the class of highways
to be built.
s'If the value of land is enhanced IS
per acre by good road. the wealth
of the State is increased $4,000.
But suppose that, instead of building 10
miles of cheaper road, the State builds
five miles only of more costly road
only about 500 acres. instead of $4,000,
would receive a benefit, and the increase
IN the wealth Of the State at IS per acre
would be only So. 500.
The roads constructed by the high
ways division of the State Geological Sur
vey under the Shoemaker law are beauti-
ful roads, and it would be splendid
achievement for the. State if such roads
could-be built for the entire system. But
the cost Of these fine roads makes it out
of the question, for the present at least.
There is mn assurance that the State will
issue another loan for roads. and this
present loan should be made to 60 as far
as possible. The Shoemaker road made
2 in Baltimore county cost on an average
about s. 600 mile; those in Allegany.
10000; Caroline. about $1,000; Fred
erick. $1,000; Hartford, 10000 Mont
gomery, 1880, and Worcester. about
$1,000. The average cost in all the
counties has been estimated at $500.
These figures are. perhaps. somewhat
higher than they would be under gen.
eral system of improvement, as the roads
selected for improvement under the Shoe
maker law have ordinarily been bad
roads, with many bridges and culverts.
There are in the State 1878 miles of
public roads. 1t Isl OF course, desirable
that as many miles as possible be i'm
proved out of the $4,000, 900 loan, for it
may be the last. If the roads are to cost
$4,000 mile, only Gas miles can be
made. If they are to cost $4,000 mile,
1880 miles can be made. The sentiment
of the State seems to be in favor of 1880
miles Of road as good as the Washington
and Frederick Counties turnpikes, rather
than for only Gas miles of scientific
roads,"