The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-02-02
Mr.. Grove Crlticises the Road
Law and Says That Compe-
tent Engineer is Needed.

tent Engineer is Needed.
Mr.. William I. Grove. President of the
NJ |. Grove Lime Company. OF Lime
Kiln. this county, who is thoroughly Ia
miIiar with road building. and one OF the
heaviest taxpayers in this county, Sc
verelv criticiSeS the work OF the county
road supervisors, the mode Of their ap-
poiutment, and has the following TO say
upon the subject;
To the Editors Of the Citizen:
Il have at last received one letter fom
our county, thanking me for my efforts
in irving 10 get uD sentiment TO change
our present road law. ThiS,letter * Pom
not only one of the most intelligent. but
also a working farmer, who has pros.
pered and who has always interested
himself In every move that was for the
common good.
This encourage prompts me 10
write another letter as our County Com
miSSiOnerS are now busy appointing the
road supervisors. and at the rate that
that they are being appointed they will
probably reach FIVE hundred.
TO think OF this vast army OF bosses
TO manage our roads, seems ridiculous.
understand tina, they are allowed a Ger.
tain per diem. while the labOreIs under
them get about half as MUCH.
Il believe that it IS the custom when
making these appointments that the su-
perviSor's political qualifications are hrst
considered, and il he passes, that gener-
ally means that he is well qualified for
the position OF road supervisor. | will
admit that am strict party man, but
have never allowed nv politics 10 stand
in the way Of public improvement, or 10
influence me when | am considering a
business transaction. then as tax PAYERS,
why should We not try TO put some intel
ligence and business in our road work?
Il notice that in some of the districts.
as many as thirIy-tive supervisors have
been appointed. ! am very sure that
some OF them are very good farmers, and
il they are, they will not make good road
supervisors. for They Will not neglect
their farm work TO work on the roads
al the time when il Is needed. Would Il
not be better 10 have a law passed by
which one supervisor could be elected oy
the voters from each election district:
This would mean home rule, and # the
night man was not elected. We could soon
make a change. He could be furnished
with some equipment. and would be ex-
pecieG - give al OF his time to tire work
In the winter he could break stone. keep
the drains open, thus preventing the
water from running down the middle OF
the road washing The road bed away, or
he could 6e opening up the roads that
WEE r.lSd Wltr STOW. ~ : the case now
with ou- much discussed Lime Kiln road.
q = .r-HT ~
ore>er; time and the farmers are now
using nv fields for about one mile in
/ length. which means grea, damage to
Us. but which Ne must stand until the
sun ueh> the snow.
Il hate 10 be constantly alluding 10
our own road 50 much, but is troubles
4: in 50 well 10 show what a poor road
iaw We have a; present, and how difficult
It Is 10 &c; any sort Of relief under our
present system.
Our county al one time owned three
stone cruShers, but the army OF political
road supervisors could not properly man
age them. and as = consequence t1ev are
now out OF commission Now it we had
3 -oad superintendent he could plan and
l4s oul me work for cur district super
viSors. and he could see that they do the
Work 90 an intelligent ana sy>iemauc,
| ard economical manner. this would De 4
step forward in the right direction. /!
;t- question OF expense 5 TO b consid-
cred think that ], would Be economy
ans! III amy would not Sufte- 10 have
three Comfy Commissioners instead OF
6r- and linen pay hem 4 certain salary
and Keep them employed / We are 10
keep 0s-- Wl;h the oiHeC counties. orr
road system must % changed. and AZ
Shrl'd have a competent engineer. and in
f+c' good business methods D. mand that
When We are spending about fifty
thousand dollars yearly upon our
roads ;hat an intelligent expenditure OF
this veSt sum should b made"
Nm !. GRovE.
Lime Kiln, Nd, ian. y, 1912.