The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-12-30
GOVERNORS REMARKS
ON ROAD COMMISSION

In response to a very general demand
throughout the State for some definite
and detailed report on the work of the
Good Roads Commission, Governor Gro
theirs occupies, in a late edition Of the
Baltimore Sun, about a page of that
paper in reviewing the work of the Com
mission. The review Is very superficial
and unsatisfactory and those looking for
real information, as to the Commission 8
road building work in quantity, quality
or cost, will find it difficult to get much
comfort out of all the Governors long
discourse. The report on the mileage
and disbursements in Cecil has set some
folks to figuring. This county is report
ed as having 1910 miles under contract.
This cannot be we'll understood, unless
II is meant to count in the six miles of
road from Elkton to Chesapeake City. 1t
is hardly conceivable that the upper half
of this road (three miles, is regarded as
UNDER CONTRACT. To be sure, it WAS
contracted for year ago last November,
but the general unders landing is that
the contract has been cancelled, as no
work has been done thereon, and as the
report is given out at the Road Commits
sion office that Cecil's allotment from
the road fund has been exhausted.
The report, in it's table, credits Cecil
with disbursement of $143, ,040.91, with a
mileage built at the most liberal allow
ance Of II miles, or about $4,000 per
mile. This enormous cost is amazing
the people, and making them wonder
h0w fa tat affnrd a
such work at such expense (The average
cost of the roads per mile in Caroline,
for example, has been $12, ,350.O0.) The
report states that the whole number of
miles of road built or under contract"
throughout the State, is $685. g. This is
about one-fourth of the total mileage
adopted for improvement, which If built
at the present cost rate, would mean the
expenditure of some twenty millions of
dollars. With this enormous expendi-
ture there would be built in the entire
State about 1900 miles of road (This is
making no allowance for maintenance,
which will in a little while become one
of the heaviest items of expense if the
roads are to be worth anything for
traveD. All these questions are giving
this road building proposition, and their
representatives in the coming legisla-
turs will be expected to carefully con-
slider the whole matter before any def
aite action Is taken as to another road
Joan bill.
Another question being asked in this
county Is as to the method used in max
Ing appropriations from the fund to the
various counties. The Governors report,
FOR example, shows that S155, 500 rs was
allotted to Cecil, while Caroline with a
very much smaller taxable basis) was
allotted $l76,O97.96 end even this has
peen exceeded so that the Commission
mas already spent $685. while it
has spent only s143 O,91 in Cecil. Our
peopls are wondering nu what principle
the fund is appertiened, 50 that $4,000
more can, for instance, be spent in Caro-
line than in Cecil.
A further cause for wanderment is why
the report cannot and does not tell ex-
actiy how many miles have been built in
the county and at what cost. This
roads built ana under contract" is too
Sague to be satisfying We have, for
instance, used above the report itself
that 1910 miles are built or under con-
tract thus getting the average of about
$4,000 per mills. Many we'll informed
citizens declars that only seven and one
naif miles have been built which would
bring the average cost nearer to $50 900
than $4,000 per mile. We have it on
the highest authority that one road in
this county cost s32, 900 with no bridges
on it. This seems to be incredible but
is strongly avouched by our informant.
These facts ought net to be left in doubt
This business is the peoples business,
and the people are entitled to the fullest
information in regard thereto.
Another matter that has caused a good
deal of questioning in this county, is
why the hoad Commission should have
paid $SS,oOO for the Conowingo bridge
The report states that the accounts of
the Commission have been properly
audited which auditing Of course
amounts to little, SO far as the real
matters at issue are concerned The
audit simply means mechanical eXami-
hatien and att&station of the mechanical
Keeping of accounts and has little or no
value in getting at the real question of
the Commissions work and it's value to
the State.
The Governor advocates a further ap-
propriatiGn in ths form of a road loan,
OF seven and oHe-haif millions.