Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-03-07
ROAD BILL AMENDED.
Farmers Measure Put in Shape
for Introduction.

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When the Farmers Association of
Frederick County reconvened on Satur-
day afternoon those who objected to GER
tain portions of the bill providing for a
road engineer for Frederick county were
ready with amendments. Those who OBJ
jected to having him hold Office for life
unless removed for incompetency or ne
glect of duty submitted an amendment
providing for his appointment every four
years, the same man being eligible for
reappointment. The county commission
ers must appoint an engineer to fill an
unexpired term if one should be removed
for any reason.
The section providing for the appoint
ment of supervisor for each district,
which read, "the road engineer may ap-
point supervisor for each district, was
amended to read "the board shallappoint
supervisor for each district" A clause
was also inserted providing that the su-
pervisors should receive per diem allow
ance for work on the roads of their re-
spective districts.
One of the sections of the bill provides
for the opening of drains through private
property in case it should be necessary
| for the proper draining of road. When
I this is necessary the county commission
ers are to 60 to the place with the county
road engineer and decide upon what they
consider fair valuation of the land re-
quired for the drain, which sum is to be
paid to the land owner.
Some of the members thought that as
some of the mountainous districts where
work on the roads is most needed do not
have large enough taxable basis to re-
ceive sufficient appropriation for roads,
a section should be added setting mini
mum sum per mile of road. Such Sec
ton was accordingly Incorporated, set
ting the minimum amount at $l2 per
nile.
After all the sections had been consid-
red and passed as amended the bill was
voted upon as whole and passed.
Mr.. W. J. Grove then suggested that
the introducing of the bill in the House
of Delegates and the Senate should be
entrusted to Mr. f. c. Remsburg and
Senator j. P. T. Matthias, respectively.
The suggestion was unanimously agreed
to.
Mr.. Kefauver presented a resolution
endorsing bill to be introduced in the
Legislature requiring that all renewed
fences along public Zig ways shall be of
wire construction. AS wire fences help
materially in preventing the blocking of
roads by snow drifts, the association
adopted the resolution.
Mr.. Cyrus Flock was the author of
resolution requesting the Senator and
Representatives for Frederick county to
vote against bill now before the Legis-
lature requiring the erection of fences
along public highways. Some of the
members expressed themselves very
forcibly about the habit of some farm ers
of pasturing stock along the roads. and
they said that no man ought to be re-
quired to fence his land just so that his
neighbor can pasture his cattle along the
road.
The resolution was passed unanimously.
Mr.. W. j. Grove offered for the en-
dorsement of the association bill pro-
viding for the employment of prisoners
serving short sentences in the county
jail to keep up the roads. In support of
the bill Mr.. Grove said that he thought
the prospect of being put to hard work
would act as strong deterrent to Grim
inals, besides the fact that the county
would in this way receive at least sma II
compensation for the expense of keeping
these prisoners. After having been en-
dorsed by the association this bill was
put in the hands of Mr.. E. C. Remsberg
for introduction in the House of Dele
gates.
A vote of thanks was given the Y. M.
C. A. management for the use of the
room.
The association adjourned to meet on
Saturday, March l6, at o'clock p. m,
for the purpose of voting on the charter
of the association.
Mr. George R. Dennis, Jr., speaking
for the county commissioners Saturday
morn, said that they see no need of pass
ing law creating road engineer for
Frederick county, as the present law
gives them authority to appoint one. He
also emphasized the fact that before
making any new roads the county sur
veyor lays them out.
About half of the turnpikes in the
county have already been bought by the
State and it is probable that more of
them will be bought. The expert knowl-
edge required to keep these stone roads
in repair will then be supplied by the
State engineers.
Under the present road system an an
nual appropriation of $4,000 is devoted
to keeping up the 1900 miles of road in
this county, exclusive of the erection of
the bridges. The proposed law provides
for levy of twenty cents on the hundred
dollars for the roads, which would mean
$5S, 900 for the roads, exclusive of new
bridges.
President Zimmerman, of the Board of
County Commissioners said that he be-
lieves it would be good policy in ap-
pointing road supervisors to give each