The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-02-03
WILL LOOK INTO ROAD
COMMISSIONS RECORD

In fulhlment of the pledges made by
himself and his party in the late COM
paign, Governor Goldsborough, on Thurs
day of last week. at meeting of the
Good Roads Commission, introduced re-
solutions which look to a thorough inves-
tigation Of the work and record of the
Commission. The resolutions are as fol-
iows:-
Resolved. that Messrs. Shoemaker.
Clark and Lloyd are hereby appointed q
committee to prepare at once a detailed
report of the operation of the States
Road Commission since its organization,
which report shall be submitted at the
earliest possible date to the Commission.
Resolved, further, That the said COM
nittee shall employ an auditing COM
pany to audit the accounts of the Com
mission, said audit to show the cost of
right of way Gncluding turnpikes), grad
ing, snrfacing, culverts and bridges, sur
veying and planning, and inspection on
each piece of work. the cost of machin-
cry, tools and other equipment, together
with the proper distribution Of these out
lays, and the general expenses of engi-
neering and administration.
Resolved. further That said commit
tee shall report on how much has al
ready been spent on behalf of each
county and Baltimore city, what claims
are outstanding, and what further
amounts must be paid out for each of
said counties and city, under the existing
act, and also what further contracts
have been made on behalf of said coun-
ties and city.
"Resolved, further, That the commit
tee shall include in It's report a state.
ment regarding the relative cost and
character Of the work carried on under
the several methods of construction viz:
by contract by county force, or by spec
ial arrangement, and such other facts as
will show clearly the work OF this COM
mission.
"Resolved, further. THAT this report
when completed by this committee and
approved by this Commission shall be
printed and transmitted to the General
Assembly as the official report of the
Commission.
The Committee, consisting of Messrs
Shoemaker, Clark and Lloyd, are now at
work on the examination of the Com
missions accounts.
fuckers REPORT.
In the meantime Governor Goldsbor-
ough called upon Chairman Tucker for
his annual report as provided by law
After several days of delay and silence.
Mr.. Tucker transmitted a report to the
Governor, of pretty much the same char
acter as the one he had sent to Governor
Crothers Commenting on this report,
of Chairman Tucker, Governor Goldsbor-
ough said:
Il have received what appears to be an
audit of the accounts of the Commission
from October to December 81, This 10
not a complete audit, such as Ia pro-
vided fer in the resolution l presented to
the Commission last week. There are al
80 some other papers which are balance
sheets of the accounts, but still not a
complete audit.
The new audit that has been ordered
Will go back to the very beginning of
the work. ] have no criticism to make
OF Mr. Tucker, al shall have nothing to
say till the audit mat Is now being made
is completed"
TIL report is in such general terms as
to be of little use for the purpose get
ting at the definite and accurate infor-
nation which the Governor desires and
which the Legislature desires, If one
may Judge from the many expressions on
the subject heard at Annapolis
IN CECIL COUNTY.
Th report states that, in Cecil county,
while 1892 miles of road have been "let''
for building, only 927 miles have been
actually constructed. This Is exactly
the Wings contention of some weeks
ago, when Governor Crothers published
his long message on the work of the
Road Commission. Commenting on the
fact that Cecil's share of the road fund
had been exhausted las the Commission
claimed) the Whig pointed out that II
exhausted 1t had been exhausted in build
ing only about 8 1-2 miles OF road II
Cecips share has been exhausted in
building 1-2 miles of road then the
average cost of these roads in this
county must have been something like
$4,000 per mile.
The Commission reports having spent
S4,,O44,9 4,9S4.2O up to December 81, 1911, and
that the average cost per mile of the
trap rock roads has been $10,9OO Is 1t
any wonder the people are protesting
against the extravagant cost of these
roads and dreading the condition into
which they will plunge the State inan-