Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-10-04
Thomas Parran, Calvert County.

He outlined the changes that hav,
taken place in the commission, in
Guiding the election Of Frank II
Zoack'as assistant c airman WIZ hs
been PIT in charge II securing til,
rights Of way needed BY the so nini
sim.
He also de.crii,e,l thu new meth
oils which have been nut int, etfre
under t'hsirinan o. L. Wells, vii
succeeded Chairman Tucker. 'rhes.
Included tie establishing Of system
IF handling the payrolis through
paymaster, similar TO that used b,
railroads: the establishing of new
system Of bookkeeping md account
ing, 50 arranged that detailed stat.
ment of costs aud financial operation
BY counties and for the State can b,
taken off each month and tor the
hole period since April so, 1908.
in few hours, and the consolidation
OF the executive and engineering
forces, thus effecting large annua
saving in Office expenses, besides in
creasing the wo, king efficiency OF
the whole force.
Under the new engineer. Harry
G. Shirley, the engineering depart
ment has been reorea'ized. Instead
of having separate construction and
maintenance departments, each COW
ering t. 9 hole State, with assistant
chief engineers and engineer in
spectors for each department, with
Baltimore as a centre, these depart
ments were consolidated and the
State divided into eight geographicai
sections OF two or three counties
each, with resident engineer living
in central point in each $ ction in
charge and responsible for all con-
struction and maintenance. Each 81
these engineers is equipped with q
motorcycle, enabling him to reach
all parts Of his territory quickly and
frequently.
A purchasing department has been
organized, similar to snch depart
ments on railroads, by which all sup
plies and materials are bought on
written requisiiion.
An inventory has been made Of all |
the equipment owned By the State
and the counties, ard storehouse !
will be established at convenient
points throughout the State for this
equipmsnt
A man will be put in charge Of i
this equipment, whose duty it will De I
to check it ug and to see that it is
kept in proper repair. The plan is
begin considered OF having the
Sta te own all the steam rollers and
other equipment and Of renting them
to the counties as needed at a fail |
rental charge, as is done with con
tractors. This will give much more
elasticity to the use Of the machinery |
besides having it better cared for.
In Southern Maryland sand-clay-
gravel roads are being built in a |
of places. While these may
not be regarded as permanent mod
ern highways, they meet local de-
mand and give much larger mile
age in sections where traffic is light
at present.
alt is tact no longer open to con-
troversy,n he continues, shat water
bound macadam roads Of stone, gray
e or oyster shells will ravtl, rut and
deteriorate rapidly under motor traf-
ic. At the same time, no thorough
" demonstrated substitute at rea-
sonable cost is at hand for maeadam.
A large amount Of experimentation
is going on throughout the United
states TO develop a not too expensive
road which will Withstand the wear
and tear of heavy motor traffic with
on excessive reconstruction and
maintenance charges. At this period
it looks as il some form of concrete
road, with a bitumen carpet, would
come nearest an wering the require
ments. Such roads are being tried
out in several Staies aud very extern