Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-05-24
Major Crosby Resigns.

Major W. W. Crosby, chief engineer of
the State Roads Commission, has resigned
that position, which he has held since the
commission was organized He will 60
into private practice as consulting engi-
neer. specializing on highway and bridge
work. He will open his Office in Baltimore.
Major Crosby will be succeeded by Mr..
Henry G. Shirley. Roads Engineer of Bal
timore county. whom Major Crosby in
dorsed for the position he now holds and
whom he recommended as his successor.
The resignation of Major Crosby was
submitted to Chairman Weller, Of the
Roads Commission, on Tuesday Of last
week. but nothing was said about it in
the hope that it would not become known
until the new members of the Roads Com
mission should be appointed and it could
be laid before them. II was also desired
to have the selection and acceptance of
his successor settled before the announce
ment was made.
The following article is taken from the
Baltimore Evening Sun of the 21st instant,
which makes known the system under
which road building in this State will be
operated in the future:
Back Of the resignation Of Major Walter
W. Crosby as chief engineer Of the State
Roads Commission and the selection of
Henry G. Shirley as his successor is a
change in the States policy Of road build
ing which amounts to sweeping victory
for the ideas which State Senator Blair
Lee has fought to have adopted.
Senator Lee has contended steadily,
since the inception of the road work. for
roads adapted to local needs, free from
fancy features and built Of local material
as far as possible. He has argued that the
financial resources Of the State are too
small to enable the construction of
thorough system Of roads throughout the
State of the standard which Major Crosby
built. Particularly did he object to the
degree to which grading was carried on on
some Of the strictly rural roads, claiming
that it ran the price Of construction be-
yond all reason, considering the amount
available.
Time and again he locked horns with
Major Crosby on these matters. Major
Crosby always argued that the Lee idea
sacrificed the largest ultimate good to tenn
porary expediency. and Senator Lee al
ways argued that the Crosby idea was |
academic Hitherto. Crosby has generally |
won.
1T is understood that the main reason
for Major Crosby's resignation is that the
policy Of the new commission will be that |
by Lee-cheaper roads and more |
Of them-and his devotion to his own
principles rebelled at the
change.
Under the new policy the wishes of the
people in the community will govern largely
as to the character of the roads to be built, |
and this is expected to be self-adjusting
in the matter of cost. il being thought that |
In the richer sections there will be de-
mand for the boulevard-like road. while in
'Coo ptOopCiOuo pditc thC pCOPiC WIN OiOooC |
a cheaper road in order to Get greater
mileage from the apportionment.
THE results Of this policy will be seen
most clearly in Southern Maryland That
section Of the State is almost devoid of |
good roads, except those built by the State. |
And these. owing to poverty Of the sort of
material used in the higher grade construc-
ton and the inaccessibility Of points of
to transportation facilities,
have been usually of relatively greater
cost than elsewhere, causing the mileage
constructed to be small in proportion to
the total contemplated for the section.
1T is expected that roads less than the
standard width Of IA feet maintained by
Crosby will be built where the volume of
traffic is not heavy, and that dirt and
gravel roads will be in greater favor than
in the past.
Mr.. Shirley. the new chief engineer. is
credited with great deal of tact and his
friends say he will inaugurate speedily an
era of good feeling and cooperation among
eood-roads enthusiasts of all shades of
opinion.
Governor Goldsborough and the new
commission to be appointed will undertake
soon a thorough inspection Of the State
system as planned. and following that
work will begin in dead earnest"