The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-06-13


thorizing the bond issue, 1t is just as
well to know where we are In the
matter.
Now. what are the arguments for
ignoring the law?
First and foremost, is that OF the
heavy expenditure entailed on the
county for years to come by the main
tenance of the stone roads built from
this bond issue, under the Shoemaker
Law. While the State pays half the
first cost of these stone roads, when
built according to their plans and
specifications, and under their direc-
ton, after they are built and accepted,
the maintenance of them is left entire
ly to the charge of the county. They
must be properly maintained, or they
speedily become a nuisance, unfit for
travel by man or beast if allowed to
"ravel". The cost of maintenance is
very heavy and the more miles Of this
sort of road we lay down in the
county. the greater of course will be
the expenditure and consequent tax
for their up-keep. Our thoughtful
people are beginning to realize that
of things that is going to become a
very heavy DuluSll lOl tiiC Sooi'tS oiiN
is altogether likely to result in serious
neglect of the dirt roads. Under the
circumstances, it seems to us matter
for general agreement that, even
should the whole law not be repealed,
it should at least be so amended as to
prohibit the county's building any
more stone roads under the state
aid" or Shoemaker system.
This, of course, would mean that the
county would Ego it alone, that is,
would pay the whole cost of the road,
instead of half, but would build its
own kind of roads. We have, in this
county, proved that we can build gra-
vel roads and pay the whole cost of
them ourselves, and still be better off
than if we built stone roads under the
estate laid" system and only paid half
the cost. The only exception to this
experience seems to be the Cherry Hill
Providence gravel road, which cost
about $4,000 per mile. AS rule, how
ever, gravel roads can be built in this
county for from $4,000 to $4,000 per
mile; and this is the type of road,
which both for cost and serviceable-
ness, is commencing itself to our peo-
pie. Now, it would be perfectly rea-
sonable and, we believe, good business
on the part of the county, 10 build
stretch of such road here and there, as
circumstances would indicate to be
wise, and make direct levy for the
same, stopping at once the borrowing
of any further sums under the bond
issue plan. We are not much of a be-
lever in paying somebody interest
for borrowed money, unless the bor-
rowing is necessary, or wise, for bust
ness purposes. In this case it is nei-
Their. We could do this work just as
we'll and just as easily without further
borrowing under the guise of bond
issue. And right here permit us to
say that the bond issue business is
getting to be a badly overworked
scheme in this country. Whenever
people want something for which they
can not, or are not willing to pay,
they say go to, let us, issue bonds,
we will do the improving and let those
that come after us do the paying
a division of things that is likely to be
more agreeable to this generation than
it will be to the next. We understand,
of course, that there are certain kinds
of permanent improvements for which
bond issues are right and just. But
gravel roads cannot be called one of
that kind. Our children will doubt
less have calls for road building quite
as numerous and insistent as our own,
without having to be handicapped by
the burdens we have left them in the
shape of road bonds. If we can regu-
larry improve our roads, a bit at a
time, in a good, serviceable and mod
erately expensive manner, let US do
so and do it squarely and fairly by
direct, specific levy therefor year by
year, cutting out the bond issue bust
ness and the interest burden entailed
thereby We are carrying now big
ger burden in that line than we ought
to carry, and the sooner we stop it,
the better business judgment we will
be displaying.
If this article had not run to such
great length, we would like to say
that we are much inclined to cessa-
ton of the Bond Issue Plan because it
is leading to-abuses, we were about
to say; because it is leading us astray,
let US put it, so as to put it mildly. 1t
is the old story of human nature, the
world over. Here is a fund, which to
many minds has sort of grown on the
DuSneS, Wnlcn Is IN some hinuly ploNl-
dental way dropped into the county
treasury for the use of whoever can
get it. Little thought is given to the
derivation of the fund. No attention
whatever, is being paid to the legal
restrictions which have been imposed
upon its disbursement. 1t is getting
to be simply question Of what dele
cation can be most influential in secur-
ing a slice of the pie. That, of
course, is not showing the high regard
for the whole people for every section
of the county, for the general welfare,
which such trust ought to show.
When signs of the "grah-bag" spirit
begin to show too strongly, it is time
the bag" was eliminated.
These remarks may not commend
themselves to a great many folks, be-
cause (you know a great many folks
have no financial foresight But to
those who think not only of today, but
also of tomorrow, we put this ques-
tion:-Wouldn't it be better for this
county's present and future to ignore
the 100000 Bond Act and to take
hold of the matter Of road improve