The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-13
THE STATE OF MARYLAND
AND HER GOOD ROADS
State Problem As Major W. W.
Crosby Sees 1t.

In an article on Maryland and Good
Roads," Major w. w. Crosby, in the
magazine Better Roads" says:
1.-The advantage to be secured from
the cordial cooperation of the various
interests concerned with highway i'm
prOvement are every day becoming
more evident. MANY hands do. indeed
make light work. when intelligentlv
directed. 1t is not the purpose of this
article to discuss the details of an
organization that should include in its
membership all the varied societies or
classes of citizens which would be
actively interested in the betterment
of our roads, but rather IN view of re-
cent events, to emphasize the immediate
need for actual cooperation between
two classes of the probable members of
such an organlZation-the automoblIlst
and the road authorities in charge of
the construction and maintenance. AS
one of the latter, the writer desires to
present for the attention of the former
one or two points seemingly worth con-
sideration.
The automobile is no longer theory,
but is today fact rapidly increasing in
prominence. 1t is also undoubtedly a
fact that in the rural districts a strong
feeling prejudice, if you wilI-exists
againts the automobile and Its users.
1t may be questionable whether this
feeling is, locally increasing or fading,
and which ever course 1t may be taking
anywhere probably depends mainly on
degree of cooperation existing between
the .automobilist and the authorities
and residents of that particular locality.
The automobile itself, as frequently
asserted is here to stay. We hope the
prejudice against automobiles is not
here to stay. This prejudice is some
times bitter and unreasoning, at other
times it seems partly justifable, and
it. has been quite general in Maryland.
Our State Roads Commission recently
completed series of hearings in each
county town of this State. The writer
accompanied the commission at all of
these hearings and the impression he
retains is that there was not a single
instance where this prejudice of the
farmer against the automobile did not
make its appearance in one form or an
other. We do not think Maryland an
exception among agricultural commu-
mites in this respect.
As to whether the opposition in any
case was reasonable or not, need not
be argued here. The point is that such
opposition exists, and that a certain
amount of opposition to the improve
ment of the roads of the State, because
of the conception that such improve
ment of the roads would be more for
the benefit of the automobiles than
any one else, exists also. 1t is up to
the automobilist to overcome this
prejudice and opposition.
1t is the opinion of the writer that
success in the matter will best be Sc
cured by moral suasion, rather than
by force, even If the latter were pos
slble, for the large majority OF the
of the supporters of the movement for
improvement of roads is not vet COM
posed of automobilists.
For number of years the agitation
for better roads has been carried on
among the country people where the
roads lie and to whom it has been
necessary to present argument for
road Improvement. The people of the
cities generally have approved for some
time of the betterment of the country
roads and have been willing to con-
tribute toward the cost of the work.
The farmer, naturally from his cir
cumstances more conservative, has been
the obstacle to expensive modern high
way work, consequently, the arguments
have had to be such as would appeal to
him and have had to be directed at HIM.
He now views with alarm the advent of
the automobile, and unless the automo-
billst recognizes the facts of the situa-
ton and co-operates with those working
for better roads, and in his cooperation
is willing to submerge his identity in
that of the already recognized road
workers, who have in many instances,
partially, at least, gained the confidence
of the country people, there seems to be
danger of serious setback to the work
of securing modern results on the public
highways.
1t is of little use for the autOmobilist
under present circumstances to demand
his rights. His rights must be subor-
dinate to what the majority of the peo-
pie of the community consider as their
rights. He should be content as long as
he remains IN the minority to accept
what the majority is willing to allow
him and to continually strive forgreater
allowances by either educating the ma
Jority to the automobile or by proving
to the existing majority the safety and
reasonableness of making him further
allowances. The automobilist is every
where enthusiastic for better roads and
as the roads are improved the number
of automobiles increases. If, therefore,
those who at present use automobiles
would work Dersistently, but unobtru-
sivelY for the improvement of the roads,
it is possible that eventually the auto
mobilist will be in the majority and will