Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-09-13
Montgomery county's Protest.

Inc state NOauS COMMISSION mas gwen
directions for discontinuance of State
Road construction in this county by the
County Commissioners, acting through the
County Road Engineer M. D. Knight, who
has Quarried and collected the stone and
was ready to begin the construction Of
that section leading from Jamestown to
Jacksonville.
On Tuesday, the County Commissioners
passed the following resolutions, setting
forth grounds of complaint and craving an
opportunity, If need be, to substantiate the
same by proof
Resolved by the Board of County Com
missioners, That they respectfully call the
attention of the State Roads Commission
and of the public interested in road con-
structiOn and repair that the following con-
ditions adverse to road construction and
repair exist in this county, and for which
the State Roads Commission appears to be
responsible
l. That State road construction in this
county has been stopped by order of the
State Roads Commission in the middle of
the working season, and without reasonable
cause.
2. That a competitive and highly in
structive system of State road construction,
authorized by statute of this State and
carried on under the same, has thus been
abrogated without reason.
3. That the machinery purchased out of
the State funds for this county at consid-
cradle expense is thus made idle in the
working season.
a. That the organized force which was
operating this machinery has been dis
banded and that large mass of stone
tod for roa1 hxtn 10
of the State Roads Commission between
Jamestown and Jacksonville. and ready
for immediate crushing and use in road
construction, is lying unused while the
season passes.
5. That plans for grading and width and
other preliminary construction for road
work beyond Cedar Grove, in the direction
OF Damascus, were requested from the State
Roads Commission more than six months
ago and have not yet been furnished.
6. That similar plans for grading, etc,
toward Jacksonville were requested six
months ago and have not been furnished,
all Of which requests have been reiterated
at intervals.
Z. That the stOppage of this work in
Montgomery County was in nowise brought
about by any proper objection to the char
acter of the construction done by the Coun-
ty Commissioners, using this machinery,
through their Road Superintendent, for the
reason that the general character of this
work has been admitted to be substantial
both by the Engineer of the former Com
mission and by the Engineer of the present
Commission.
The small repairs to the State roads re-
Gently specified by the engineers sent out
to inspect them on September 3rd, and
confirmed by the First Division Engineer
on September 9th, are of minor character
and involve in the main only ordinary
maintenance.
1t is to be especially noted that, although
Montgomery County offered to give bond
for the maintenance Of State roads for a
period Of years. when constructed by the
county, this proposition was not accepted
by the State Roads Commission, which
especially and emphatically reserved to
itself the maintenance of State roads in
Montgomery County.
The State roads here requiring the most
to be done to their surfaces have been in
use from year and q half to two years,
and, in the absence of any maintenance
by the State Roads Commission, the small
amount of repair now needed by these
surfaces is in itself great compliment to
their solid construction.
II is to be noted that the engineering
force of the State Roads Commission, in
stating what is to be done, provides for
oiling these surfaces. This oiling is, of
course, maintenance work, and is really
the main thing to be done and should have
been done long before this by the State
Roads Commission as protection from
automobile traffic.
1t is also to be especially noted that this
| Oiling Of surfaces has never yet been in
cluded in construction specifications for the
building Of any water-bOund macadam
roads in this State under State authority
Oiling is clearly maintenance and has been
universally so regarded in this State here
tOfOre. 1t is to be inferred from the di-
rectiOns Of the State Engineer about this
| Oiling that they propose to include II in
| the cost Of construction of Montgomery
County State roads. II true, this is Objec-
tionable for two reasons, as II adds TO the
cost, an item which is not properly con-
structiOn expense. and, by implication
suggests that this Oiling should have been
done at an earlier date-in the course Of
whereas 1t was especially
reserved to the State under the contract
This would also reduce the cOunty's share
OF maintenance fund.
The stone used in this county road con
struction was all weighed and every tor
accounted for, scales being located at every
crushing station. The amount Of stone ant
substantial character Of these roads Is thu
capable Of absolute proof The cost Of
these roads is much less than the average
construction cost throughout the State
notwithstanding the superior solidity and
increased amount Of stone, and in most
cases the cost is greatly under the engineer
estimate, there being but one section the
cost Of which about equals the engineer s
estimate.
With reference to the repair Of State-nid
roads. the details for this repair work were
furnished TO this county mostly in the lat
ter part of July, and it is now being done
| by the county, notwithstanding the fact
that work Of this sort which was done last
summer on State-aid roads. and for which
payment has been several times requested
| by the county, has not yet been paid f0i
by the State Roads Commission. The re.
payment Of these State-aid repairs was
especially promised to be promptly made
at meeting Of the State Roads Commits
sion on August 18th last, but has not yet
been made and no official objection given
This county has sent in a carefully pre-
pared plan for patrolling Of conveniently
located sections Of State. State-aid and
county macadam roads which are grouped
In convenient units and can be ecOnOmi-
cally patr0lled from a central point. The
county has asked for the installation OF
such system. requesting the State 10 agree
to repay its propOrti0nate part. with proper
vouchers as evidence Of work done, but
after the lapse Of two years. have received
no official report regarding this important
proposition OF patr0lling macadam roads.
A copy Of this resolution is directed "a
be forwarded TO the State Roads Commits
sion. and in case Of any Of the statements
Of fact and conclusions. and responsible
ties for delay herein placed upon the State