The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-06
GOVERNOR GOLDSB0ROuGH
SAW IMMENSE PROGRESS
Insight Into States Resources and
Advance Gained During His Journey
Through the Heart Of Maryland

Through the Heart Of Maryland
Il was truly amazed as well as graft
fled, to see the many evidences of prog
ress in Western Maryland, said Gov
ernor Goldsborough at Annapolis as he
reviewed his trip in automobiles through
the heart of the state on an inspection
of roads already improved and those
which ought to be improved.
From Oakland, where our journey
began" continued the Governor, ito
Thurmont, Frederick county, where we
stepped from automobiles into West
ern Maryland train, and thence to Bal
timore, every industry was awake and
alive. While | have visited every sec
ton of Western Maryland and severa
sections several times, this was my first
journey devoted as much as the limited
time would permit to a study of the
resources of the state and to existing
conditions. AS much as l learned, my
appetite to learn more was sharpened,
and as soon as can spare time | shall
go to Western Maryland again and learn
more, for there is much yet to be
learned. l stand ready to do all within
my power to keep the wheels of prog
ress moving, and if possible, to make
them go faster.
of course, Western Maryland chief
industry, in addition to coal mining in
AlleganY county, is agriculture. The
green fields, the neat farmhouses, the
substantial barns, the well-tended
fences, the fat cattle, the weil-groomed
horses. aside from the well-dressed
farmers, their wives and children, all
plainly and eloquently told the story of
farm prosperity. | take it that our
agricultural industry has been aided be-
yond computation by the building of
good roads. observed that farms on
these roads, which have been built for
two or three years, have new appear
ance. That is, they look as if they had
taken on new leases on life. They
contrasted with farms on unimproved
ROADS. The latter will respond to the
touch as soon as the roads are i'm
proved.
eff any further evidence of the bene-
fits resulting from good roads were
needed, it is only necessary to point to
the increase in real estate values. | was
Informed that these have doubled in
many instances in two years. When |
recall the rough roads over which we
travelled, the pressing need of the re-
pair of these roads, and of the substan-
tial benefits to follow their improve
ment, cannot but help expressing deep
regret that the legislature did not pro-
vide larger proportion in order that
this work might be pushed and that the
people may more quickly derive the adj
vantage. Still, with the practice of
economy, with the elimination of the
expensive policies of the former COM
mission and with the introduction of
new methods, we must strive for more
substantial roads and for more mileage
rather than for beautiful roads that are
not, perhaps, more enduring. We hope
by these means to be able to solve, in
greater part at least, the problems
which Immediately confront US, trusting
that by larger stock Issue and by an
increase in the state S financial resources
by an improved system of taxation and
by finding new sources of revenues, the
whole state may be made the beneficiary
Of good roads.
During his journey of two days the
Governor was informed of specific cases
of progress which bestt told the story
of general progress in the Western
counties.
At Oakland, where he and the Road
Commissioners began their journey, new
banks and new industries were pointed
out as marking the progress of the
country.
Give US a continuous good road from
Oakland to Baltimore and Washington, "
said Mr.. n. U. Bond of Oakland, land
the number of our summer visitors will
be trebled. If we had good roads all the
way to Baltimore and Washington peo-
pie of those cities could come to Oak
land in one day in their automobiles.
The fact must not be overlooked that
this is an age of automobiles. They are
here to stay and.will increase in general
use. Tourists would come through the
prettiest country on which the sun
shines. There is a variety of scenery,
a succession of mountains and valleys.
| am thoroughly convinced that the
roads ought to be improved at once,
that one link should not be worn out
before another is started. | believe
that all the people should have the same