The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-08-17
n this road has been near S12. 900.

on this road has been near $12, 900.
The State Roads Commission, under
the Act Of 1903, and Section BIB. re-
curing the State Roads Commission
to select, construct, improve and main
tain such general system of improved
state roads and highways, as can reason
ably be expected to be completed with
the funds provided, IN and through all
the counties of the state, selected
/ POO miles of road as the system to be
improved. One million of the six had
been agreed to be used within the limits
Of Baltimore City, leaving five million
for the work in the counties.
Construction was begun in the sum-
mer of 1909, and to date contracts have
been made, covering 233 miles of road.
Of these, Is contracts, covering 50
miles, have been completed and it is es-
tlmated that 1913 miles (under the out
standing contracts) are nearly so. The
average cost per mile of this work
neglecting the CITY work, which, from
its nature and high cost, it is hardly
fair to consider in this condensed form
of statement-has been around SO, 600.
The variety of the work, including
simply grading and draining oyster
shell, gravel and broken stone macadam
brick, sheet asphalt, and stone block
pavements; small and large bridges lone
| alone cost $50, 000), etc, etc. By one
unfamiliar with such work, the vast
ness of the details is not appreciated
| but a very little study of it will con-
vince almost anyone of the necessity
for proper organization and system
for properly attending to these details.
/ To the uninitiated such a system may
seem to savor.of the generally abhorred
''red-tape,' but the absence of system
can but result in worse confusion and
delay. For instance, take the question
of right of way" 1t is positively
surprising, when even apparently a
/ loud demand for the improvement of a
section of road exists, how, after the
Improvement has been decided on and
| perhaps the contract actually let, OBJ
stacles will be thrown in the way
of proceeding with the actual work.
| For the general benefit. it may be adj
Vlsable to relocate the road for short
| stretch to improve the grade or reduce
| the cost, or 1t NAV be necessary to put
a culvert across the road or to set a
! fence back few feet into a field In
! too many such cases, the individual land
owner viii demand eXorbitant compen-
| sation for the land taken, or, as he fan
cies. injured, and thus retard, if not
block indefinitely, the general benefit.
| 1t frequently happens that this obstruc-
zionist, also, was one of the most inSiS-
/ tent and vociferOus of those clamoring
| tor the improved road. In such cases,
only orderly procedure Is possible for
the Commission with due regard for the
technicalties of the law and much de
| lay in generally unavoidable. The de-
sired results might be FASTENED by a
more liberal attitude on the part of
many individuals and by more co-opera-
/ tive effort on the part of all those in
/ terested. A lack of interest in such
! details after the contract for a desired
| improved is let, is not helpful IN accel-
Grating results. 1t would be most diff
/ cult for any Commission to secure salts
/ factory results in this work, unless the
cooperation Of all interested is given,
/ but by such concurrent effort, the mu-
/ tual advantage will be facilitated and
! increased.
In Garrett county, the route selected
runs from "Redhouse' through Oak
land to the old National Pike, and tax
! ing in the latter from the Pennsylvania
/ me, CCICSS lllC county, 70 IIOSLDuIB III
! Allegany county. The length of this
route is about 50 miles. The allotment
/ for Garrett county will be about $230,-
| 900.
The State Road, twill be seen, brings
Oakland and Mountain Lake Park in
touch by highway with not only the
other counties Of the state, but also
with the outside world, and when com
pleted, should prove of inestimaLi-
value to both these places and to the
county at large.
1t was decided by the Commission %
begin construction as far as practicable
generally at the county seats or larger
centres and accordingly in Garrett coun-
ty, from Oakland northerly. In the
planning of this work, considerable
thought was given to relocating for the
purpose of obtaining better grades and
of saving in expense. Only minor
changes, however, were ordered by the
Commission to be made. The engineers
estimate of the cost, according to the