The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-24
INSPECTING HIGHWAY
MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
Commissioner Rogers, Of Michigan,
Going Over Roads In State.

Coming to Baltimore for the purpose
of investigating the state highway
maintenance system OF Maryland, State
Highway Commissioner Frank F.
Rogers, of Michigan, is being piloted
over the state roads in Southern Mary
land by Chairman Zouck, Commissioner
Uhl and Chief Engineer Shirley. of the
State Roads Commission. 1t was ex-
pected that the Florida and Illinois Gem
missioner would make the trip also, but
after coming to Baltimore last night
they were forced to leave for home this
morning.
Mr.. Rogers was taken to Southern
Maryland because he is especially in
terested in gravel roads, and most of
the gravel roads built by the commits
sion are located in that part of the
state. However, down in that section
he will be able to see stretches of every
other type of road MARYLAND has
adopted.
Michigan is the only state in the
Union wherein the Highway Commits
sioner is elected by the votes of the
people. In all of the other states such
officials are appointed. Mr.. Rogers
was Deputy Highway Commissioner in
his state for eight years. when the
commissioner was appointed. After the
law making it an appointlve office was
changed he was elected for a four-year
term, which expires next spring.
Thursday morning before starting on
the Southern Maryland trip, which will
not be completed until tomorrow af-
ternoon. Mr.. Rogers said that the pa
troll maintenance system of Maryland is
attracting attention throughout the
country and that he is especially anxious
to familiarize himself with its workings
THE Maryland maintenance system
is unique, said Mr. Rogers, Tin that
so far as | know, it is the only one that
| contemplates continuous building up
| of roads. In other words, you have
put into effect IN this state a system of
perpetual maintenance which means
| that the roads not only are to be kept
IN the condition they were in when COM
pleted. but that they actually are to be
made better. | shall have a good deal
to say about your system when | get
| back home"
And have you seen any of the Mary
land roads YETI"
Yes; with Mr. Shirley | travelled
over the Frederick road yesterday. 1t
is beautiful, magnificent! am highly
pleased with it. If the rest of your
roads are as good as that is, | shall be
| fully prepared to believe everything
have heard about Maryland's state
road system"
Mr.. Rogers says that Michigan has
built 1920 miles of improved roads
within the last II years. About 60 per
cent. of the roads are built of gravel
| 25 per cent. of waterbound macadam
and the remainder of concrete, sand
and clay and a combination of maca-
dam and gravel. All the work is done
under state-aid system and there is no
such thing in Michigan as a state system.
However. larger contributions are made
| toward the building of roads that will
link themselves into system.
The Michigan roadf, Mr.. Rogers said,
cost from 81, 600 mile for gravel con-
struction up to So, 500 or 81, 500 for
macadam, depending entirely upon the
width and type of construction. Grad
| ing, which constitutes an important
item IN the construction of Maryland
roads, costs very little in Michigan,
owing to the level character of the
country.
Some of the Michigan roads are but
9 feet in width, some run as high as Is
or Is feet But inches of stone are
used on macadam roads. In MARYLAND
all macadam roads are inches thick.
This accounts, in part, for the difference
in cost between the Maryland and the
Michigan roads.
ss@,S0Sc"..ssos,s /. zoe