Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-01-07

There is probably no portion of our
State where any deeper interest is ia
ken in the work of the Maryland State
Roads Commission than is manifested
by the counties in the lower portion Of
the Eastern Shore. OF these, it is safe
to say that Worcester has certainly done
its share to further the work of this
great State movement.
The sand roads of our county are prob
ably as heavy as any in this section, our
clay roads as bad in wet season as can
be found anywhere, and the entire abb
sence of any gravelly loan makes the
problem of earth road building serious
one.
Under the Estate Aid Roads Act" the
county has been very successful, eight
miles of limestone macadam having
been finished. All Of these roads were
built at very low figures. when we con-
slider the newness of the work. IL
most serious drawbacks to the work
the great distance from the stone gu
ries. and the excessive freight rates,
it being necessary to bring all of our
stone by rail.
Acting upon the experience obtained
from building the State Aid roads, the
County Commissioners refused to con.
slider the exorbitant bids of the contrac-
tors. They were the first in the State
to ask permission of the Commission to
handle the work in their county, the
roads to be built at actual cost.
Permission being granted, the County
Commissioners purchased an extra ten
ton roller, and with what equipment
they had on hand, commenced work in
September, 1909. By December 18th,
1909, the first mile of work had been
completed. This was built on what was
probably one of the sandiest stretches
of road in the county, but notwithstand-
ing this drawback. the cost of this mile,
including cost of tools, excluding Road
Roller, was about $500. The securing
of reduced freight rate was probably the
biggest factor in making this possible,
it being the cheapest mile built in the
State during the season.
In March. 1910, the work opened for
the Spring, and at the present time, as
the work is being closed for { &c w''iter,
the county has complete in c'ery detail
about nine 90 miles of goo macadam
highway.
Five miles of the Snow Hill section,
from Wesley Station to Newark, have
been completely relocated, the old road
having been abandoned entirely. For
those interested we wish to say that
from Basket Switch to Newark the road
will be built on the left hand side of the
railroad going towards Berlin. This
will make perfectly straight stretch
of two miles, and will eliminate two
track crossings entirely, the only cross
ing being at Newark. AT the Berlin
end a little Strengthening has also been
done, but the greater part Of this i'm
provement will come in the next year S
work.
Much praise is accorded the prop
erty owners across whom the new
lines run, for their cooperation and per-
feet willingness in giving up the right
of way across their lands. The immense
improvement thus accomplished must
be seen to be fully appreciated. Besides
the actual mileage saved, the advantage
of an ideal location for such perma-
nent Improvement is too great to be
fully explained.
The State Roads of this county are
twelve feet in width, it being the inten-
ton of the county authorities to get as
many miles under the State apportion-
ment as is possible. For the average
traffic on our roads this width is regard
ed sufficient, and the increase in length
over the fourteen-foot roads is big
item. A short section of this fourteen
foot macadam has been laid in Newark,
on account of the larger amount Of
traffic.
The road is built of an excellent quail
ity of limestone to the easy grades that
this level country makes possible. All
culverts are of cast iron pipe, the larger
streams being spanned by bridges and
box culverts. These are built of rein
forced concrete masonry, that can be
depended upon to last forever and one
day after.
At the present writing the final costs
of this road have not been made up by
the Engineering Department. but the
costs in no case will run over $1,000 to
81, 200 per mile. The scarcity of labor
and teams has been the most serious
drawback to the work. We have never
at any time been able to keep one-half
1 IL