The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-06-03
Senator Lee Pays His Respects
to the Geological Survey.

State Senator Blair Lee. OF Montgom-
cry county, one of the best informed men
in the State on the road question. in the
following communication, paws his re-
spects to the State Roads Commission:
Zone OF the most interesting questions
developed by the road situation in Mary
land is, who are the most accomplished
politicians i'll the State? 1t 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 Sur
vey road building group in the face of
i adverse facts, calculated to knock an or
binary politician down and out, that the
gameness and keenness of the survey
gentlemen call for some public recogni-
ton and discriminating appreciation.
Their skill recalls the general, who, in a
somewhat distant province like the
Legislature at Annapolis). was subjected
to crushing defeat, which his opponents
could not Immediately follow up, leaving
the enterprising gentleman time to send
messengers to his government describing
glorious victory and calling for REIN
forcements to overwhelm 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
decided by the Geological Survey group
who had built the Shoemaker roads prior
thereto. Consequently two members of
the survey and Mr. Shoemaker, in abso-
lutte sympathy with them, were appointed
on the State commission and the engineer
nj 10 IL, &c.
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 engineer
ing attitude which threatened many miles
of solid old pixies with practical demoli-
ton 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, espe-
cially in Montgomery county, but he pre-
ferred to leave the changes he saw were
necessary to be made after consideration
by the General Assembly. In his mes
sage he recommended that the Geologi-
cal Survey, as a road building agency, be
abolished and its work turned over to the
State Roads Commission A bill was
introduced in the Legislature by me to
carry out that recommendation of the
Governor and also one giving him power
to appoint an additional commissioner 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 commission
or half-could practically 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 the recommendation
in writing of the chief engineer, Mr..
Crosby.
"All the legislation to correct this con.
dtion which was supported by the Gov
ernor and his friends was actively resisted
by Mr. Shoemaker and Mr.. Crosby and
disapproved of by DIR. Remsen and Dr.
Clark, geological members of the State
Roads Commission. There was a hear
ing before the Finance Committee of the
Senate and full discussion in the Legis-
lature itself, and both bills were passed
and approved by the Governor.
In addition to changes for the Geologi-
cal Surveys road construction there was
also provision in these bills for economi-
cally providing the stone and other mate
rials 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 distribut-
ing it by water to counties where such
material could not be found, the main
object of providing system for furnish
ing material being to cheaper the cost
and to cut down the freight rates, which
had amounted to about one-ffth of all the
money expended by the Geological Sur
vey in certain counties.
''As an Illustration, in Montgomery
county, where am familiar with the
figures, over $40 600 was spent IN freight
to build Shoemaker roads out of total
expenditure of about $214, 900.
"After this legislative and Executive
disapproval of their conduct, in the face
of all the facts and recent history, these
adroit Survey politicians, pending the
arrival of June |, 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
| Legislature, are demonstrating to the
public their great skill as politicians, con-
trasted with their lack of it as road build
ers.
In fact, the old road building group
have simply made another double and
are trying to throw the public off their
trail by running around and getting under
the Governors chair, where they cry out
We've always been right here and you
can't hit us without hitting him.
The members OF the Legislative branch
of our State government, advised of the
Governors disapproval ofSurvey methods
and the facts and experience upon which
it 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.
Memorial Day Exercises.