Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-27
LEE ATTACKS SURVEY.
SAYS MEMBERS ARE BETTER POLITICIANS
THAN ROAD BUILDERS.
From the Baltimore Sun

Commission in the following communica.
| ton:
One of the most interesting questions
developed by the road situation in Mary
land is, who are the most accomplished
politicians in the StateS II is to be hoped
that none of the local Democratic or Re-
publican organization people in Baltimore
city will be offended. yet recent develop
ments show such wonderful skill and nerve
on the part of the Geological Survey road
building group in the face of adverse facts
calculated to knock an ordinary politician
down and out, that the gameness and
keenness of the survey gentlemen call for
some public recognition and discriminating
appreciation. Their skill recalls the gen.
eral, who. in a somewhat distant province
Qike the Legislature at Annapolis), was
subjected to a crushing defeat which his
opponents could not Immediately follow
up, leaving the enterprisine gentlemen
time to send messengers to his govern
ment describing a glorious victory and
calling for reinforcements to overwhelm a
retreating foe
The State Roads law passed in 1908
practically required by its terms. and as
the Governor seemed to construe it. that
the State road building should be largely
directed by the Geological Survey group
who had built the Shoemaker roads prior
thereto. Consequently two members of the
survey and Mr.. Shoemaker. in absolute
sympathy with them, were appointed on
the State commission and the engineer Of
the survey was made the chief engineer of
the State Roads Commission.
Throughout the State. however. there
was even then marked reaction in public
sentiment. based on experience, against
the Shoemaker roads. both as to their cost
and their durability, and an engineering
attitude which threatened many miles of
solid old pixies with practical demolition
when the local public thought them worthy
of respectful improvement.
THE Governor was advised Of how the
Shoemaker roads were being built and how
they were breaking through, especially in
Montgomery county. but he preferred to
leave the changes he saw were necessary
to be made after consideration by the Cen
eral Assembly In his message he recon-
mended that the Geological Survey. as
bodybuilding agency. be abolished, and its
work turned over to the State Roads Com
mission. A bill was introduced in the Leg
islature by me to carry out that recommen-
datiOn Of the Governor and also one giving
him power to appoint an additional COM
missioner on the State Roads Commission,
with the express purpose of putting an end
to the control by the survey group of the
policy of the State Roads Commission.
1T might not be apparent to the public
how three members Of the commissioner
control it. but by reference
to the act of 1908 it will be seen that the
law calls expressly for action with the
consent of a majority of the commission -
and that at critical places in the law the
action of the commission must be based
upon recommendation in writing of the
chief engineer, Mr.. Crosby,
"All the legislation to correct this con-
dition which was supported by the Governor
and his friends was actively resisted by Mr..
Shoemaker and Mr.. Crosby and disapproved
of by Dr. Remsen and DR.. Clark. geological
members of the State Roads Commission.
There was hearing before the Finance
Committee Of the Senate and full discus
sion in the legislature itself. and both bills
were passed and approved by the Governor.
IN addition to changes for the Geolog-
ical Surveys road construction there was
also provision in these bills for econOmi-
cally providing the stone and other mate
rails to make roads. the intention of the
Legislature being to use local stone and
other local road building material as far
as possible and also to accumulate such
material at available points for distributing
1t by water to counties where such mate
rial could not be found, the main object Of
providing a system for furnishing material
being to cheaper the cost and to cut down
the freight rates. which had amounted to
about one -fifth Of all the money expended
by the Geological Survey in certain coun-
ties.
AS an illustration, in Montgomery coun-
ty, where am familiar with the figures.
over $40 900 was spent in freight to build
Shoemaker roads out of a total expendi-
ture of about $2l4.000.
After this legislative and Executive dis
approval of their conduct. in the face Of
all the facts and recent history. these
adroit Survey politicians. pending the ar
rival of June I, when the Surveys road
work must be turned over and before the
executive acts can be taken which may be
necessary to carry out the will Of the Leg
stature, are demonstrating 10 the public
their great skill as politicians. contrasted
with their lack Of il as road builders
In fact, the old bodybuilding group
have simply made another double and are
trying to throw the public off their trail
by running around and getting under the
Governor s chair, where they cry out, We've
always been right here and you cant hit
us without hitting him
The members Of the legislative branch
of our State government, advised Of the
Governors disapproval Of Survey methods
and the facts and experience upon which
II is based. should properly wait, with the
general public. for the Governor to carry
into execution the powers which. at his
request. were placed in his hands"
Death OF a Popular Young MatrOn.
Mrs. J. Wallace Fields daughter Of Prof.
Thos. Story, Of GAINESVILLE, died suddenly
at her home. Windsor. near Rockville, Md.
on Wednesday, May 25th. 1910, at $50
A. NJ, of acute indigestion and meningitis,
aged IS years.
A. EfaIda vyaa heloved nv n Iarde circle