Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-02-18
indian Head.



Communicated.
The village Of Indian Head had its be-
ginning In the year 1891, just after the
purchase BY the United States Govern
ment Of the site where was at once be-
gun the work upon what is now the
Naval Proving Grounds. Aside from
the Government Works, the nucleus, to
which the village now counting within
its limits and surrounding neighborhoOd
thousand or more in population, owes
its beginning, was established through
through the enterprise Of Mr.. J. NJ. G.
Cox, n9w at Washington, d. c., who
built, and occupied for a time with a
general merchandise business, the little
store. room which, transferred to other
ownership, was soon found growing to
proportions suitable to demands Of the
increasing numbers Of home-seekers at
tracted TO the place by opportunities for
employment offered by the Government.
The 81 asmodic kind Of growth, so often
the case where enterprises Of the mag
nitude developed by the Government at
this place, has at no time been feature
in Indian Heads development. on the
other hand, it has steadily built up, each
new year finding enough Of progressive
ness left over from the old to take up
the work on conservative lines to answer
the needs of the situation as they we're
created. Indian Head, however, is not
without its handicap Of Tetarding cir
cumstaBces to effect In measure the eff
forts Of its people--a combination of
circumstances, it should be said ia fact,
that must be met and gotten rid of be-
fore the habit becomes too strongly fixed
in those responsible for them to admit
Of remedies being effectively applied.
One, only, of these needs mentioning at
this time, and the same is found in the
simple reflection upon the want of
proper conception, on the part OF certain
officials in whose hands rest the vital in
terests Of the County's people, of the Sc
robustness of obligations assumed by
them when subscribing TO their oaths Of
Office. The County Commissioners, the
School Commissioners and the Road
Commissioners have, it may truthfully
be said, the shaping OF the County's af-
fairs to the end of making it, or any
particular section Of it, desirable place
for residence, or otherwise, as their fit
ness for the positions they occupy, or
untitness for the same, is demonstrated
by their official acts. The majority Of
the men filling the positions named in
the past have possessed integrity to the
highest degree, and no one knowing
them would question the motive behind
any acfupon which is found their official
seal. But the ailment affecting them
nearly always, when matters pertaining
to Indian Head were to be passed upon,
was their entire failure to see the justice
of claims from this place for recognition
in the distribution Of the County's
funds.
The road system as viewed ia its APP
plication to the needs of Indian Head,
and in the light of Indifference shown
the numerous appeals from the people,
has furnished sufficient cause for num-
bers TO give up in disgust, after having
determined to locate here, and seek
other places for homes. where conditions
were in better keeping with ideas Of
enlightened management of public af-
fairs. 1t was the continued prodding of
Indian Heads patience to the point Of
desperation, that caused the undertake
ing, by number of citizens, of road
building under the harsh terms laid
down in the Shoemaker Act. And this
at an expense to the County that they
were unwilling, but under the eircum-
stances, compelled, to place upon it, and
at an expense, at this same time. to
themselves impossible to anticipate and
provide for upon any basis of calculation,
not taking into consideration the dila-
tory action of those County officials
whose duty it was to give to the people
here certain rights which the law plain
ly laid down as belonging to them.
Likewise, in obtaining the school build
ing here, individuals were taxed without
regard for educational advantages the
people had right to expect for the ask
ing, upon the showing they were able
to make as to the imperative needs Of
the place. But for the interest of one
member of the School Board, as at the
time composed, who familiarized him
self with conditions here, it is possible
that teacher and children would yet
be atfording amusement for visitors
from more favored sections of the County
by exhibitions of physical contests with
the odds largely on the side Of one of
the worst until recently roads in the
County. The necessities of a situation
taxing the public spirit of Indian Heads
to the limits of endurance,
a situation resulting from continued
neglect, as desc ibed above, will cause
the peop.e here to abandon the chari-
table view they have insisted upon tax
ing of these things, and instead will be
asking why the formality of law to JUS
tify the piltering of one section of the
County for the benefit of another
1t costs something to legislate in this
day of practical politics, as is clearly
by certain happenings
now engaging State wide attention.
Why then are laws enacted, unless to
serve some honest purpose These
questions would probably be considered
distaseful in certain quarte.s, neyerthe-
less there is no gainsaying the fact that
they would be pertinent.
The administration of affairs at the
Naval Proving Grounds and its bearing
upon Indian Heads development will
be subject of some little comment, in
another issue, if favored with space for
the purpose. 49,