Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-02-24
Which IS PREFERRED
AS ASTATE ROAD?
Leading Questions and Facts for
Legislature to Decide As TO
Route Of Economic Con-
Struction.
THE ALL EARTH ROUTE.
Or Route Requiring Drawbridge---
Heavy Tax Payer in Prince Georges
Sends Open Letter TO Con-
pTeSsmeu

writing % various Congressman uf
Maryland relative 20 the important
proposition now before them fo~ con-
siderauon summed e. Riahman pre-
SCENTS the following facts and queries
in regard TO the proposed National De
Tense Highway TO link the cities OF
Annapolis and Washington:
SIR Delegations representing the
different sections Of Prince Georges
end Anne Arundel counties have am
9cared aafore Joint legislative com
uittee otAuuau"lIs and presented their
claim for portion cf the state Roads
funds 2 ana now informed that The
representatives OF these two counties
are unable to decide the question Of
which OF $40 tN1 sections U.s. in ,be
greatest need and has ,he greatest
claim for immediate recognition
That ,hoiah Won have heen selected
by the people as their jury TO decide
questions OF the greatest good to the
greatest uGmH"r your p~lucal reser-
sati0ns 40 not allow YOU TO exercise
tuu discretion of your conscience. AS
q heavy taxpayer, I am now taking
this opportunity 10 submit a few lead
ing questions and facts which ! hope
viii aid YOU in deciding this matter
Which is 10 be preferred for imme-
iiate recognition by the state. the
Old Annapolis stage Road. or the new
route between the two capitals via
Central rae m3 South river. the
direct route, or the route requiring
D. l,F
a mile wide; the route repeatedly rec
canlzcd by the State and its lagisla-
lures. or tho route only recently pro
posed by local interests; the route OF
economic construction, or the route
including q bridge wEic9 must D, CON
structed with the consent and uar
the supervision of the War Depart
ment ard which will cost the State as
much to construct ais the whole of the
other route. The old we,l-w0ru route
the route four miles OF which are yet
to he opened
For military reasons. the route with
solid t0 u.lauous Throughout, or the
route with Ink absolutely wilmer
able to "a single well -directed hostile
oct che route. that though selected as
one OF the State roads, mas. as yet had
NO benefits. or the route already the
recipient Of State Roads funds the
route that serves 80 square miles of
the state, or the route winch lve@
less than 30 square miles the route
that has 80 square miles absolutely
depende Il upon 't as its only means
of travel, on the route that parallels
an cx sing State Road ana is tu,vhorc
over four miles therefrum; the route
that passes through a country that has
absolutely no good roads, or the route
that parallels an existing state Road
with nearly every Cross-road gravel
ed. the route through territory. the
roads of which are absolutely impass-
able for four months of every year, or
the route through a terIitory,on nearly
every road Of which two horses can
pull full load practically every day
of every year; the route through a
country now enormously listed largely
as residents for taxation and there
fore at an enhanced valuation, or
the route through a country listed as
farm property and therefore ut the
lowest basis Of assessment?
The route through country so long
neglected by the State and country
that its once magnificent farms. the
former pride of the State. have decay
ed. or the route through a country
though continually assisted 10y both
State ana county. has not appreciably
increased its taxable basis IN gener-
ations; the route through a country
the potential possibilities of which ag-
riculural social. civic and economic
are untold, or the route through a
country that in spite of every natural
Advantage. and Of advantages thrus.
upon it, has remained commandment