Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-07-23

nouncement by Chairman Mackail, OF
the Roads Commission, that p. NJ.
Womble. Of the Severn River I'M
provement Association, is TO confer
with the united Short Line and Wash
ington, Baltimore and Annapolis Off
Gals with the idea of consolidating
public and railroad interest in the
new bridge over the Severn river at
Annapolis
IF it is meant by this move that the
people of Maryland are not 10 have a
bridge at all except by consent of the
railroad people, then let's have this
understood at once. so that people
who really want bridge may organ
ize and guard the public interest
lagainst another failure, such as re-
! suited in 1910 from the very same
sort of a proposition.
I'm 1910 the Legislature appro-
priaied sufficient money to build a
concrete bridge on plans prepared by
Mr.. Shirley. and have about $4,000
left over for incidentals Native timid
ity seems to have shuddered al the
idea of a great State like Maryland
spending money for a bridge with
out wishing some of the cost on some
one, so it was proposed that the rail-
road people and the Federal Govern
ment be asked to share the cost. From
this position il was easy to run into
procrastination, which ran into the
war period.
Il wish to say that the difference
between the cost of a bridge then
when the money was available, and
now, when il is harder to got, is a
dead loss of half million dollars, and
that il was caused by just the same
sort of safety and inaction that may
grow out of the present raising of the
old ghost.
. II happen to have been the organ
izer of q citizens committee that
camo into being recently to demand
new bridge, not by some ones con-.
sent, but. because of an imperative
need and imminent danger of the old
one falling into 80 feet of water at
any moment Our statement that the
bridge had been pledged by the act of
1910 and that this pledge was still
alive, and our presentation -of the facts
to Governor Richie brought about the
inclusion of an amount in his budget
which, together, with the left over
from 1910, was sufficient TO assure a
bridge without needless delay
IF there is the slightest danger of
the present move obfuscating the is
sue as Henry Mencken would say
then think any proposition to the
railroad people should be frowned
| upon as unworthy the dignity of the
great State of Maryland. Since when
has Maryland had to pass the hat for
public improvements vital to the hap
piness and safety of its people? How
does il happen, and since when, that
the great State of Maryland has to
| depend for a portion of its existence
upon the good will of commercial
enterprise. however helpful that good
will might be?
1.-THE business of the State of Mary
land is to so ahead and arrange for
ihe building of that bridge Just the
same as if the railroad people didn't
exist If the railroad people want to
ride on il, and in consideration are
willing TO pay for its construction to
the extent of their benefit, then let
The proposition come from the rail-
road people to the State authorities
But the spectacle of the State stand
ing on the street corner with grind
organ. holding ont its hat for funds
and appealing TO any corporate inter-
est whatsoever for such funds. is hu-
initiating and shameful to any citi-
zen who has pride and self-respect
TO build the bridge is Maryland's
duty, and, in earnest of this obliga-
tion the money has been appropriated.
III an additional appropriation is re-
quired, let's go ahead and depend
upon the next Legislature for it. But
10 delay a business so vital to every
interest. and possibly to lose every
benefit hoped for because railroad
corporation won't chip into the pot, l
is to make the State ridiculous and
its responsible officers grossly neg
ligent.
Il am writing this note as an indi-
vidual. without consulting any MEM
her of the citizens committee and
without presuming to speak for that
body. Let's stop shutting cards and
deal hand For 10 years there has
been a whole lot of talk about bridges,
and there have been many PROPOSE
tons that Maryland may build a
bridge If some one else will pay for
a lions share of it. But that sort
OF talk hasn't put a single inch of
concrete across the river.
LET the railroad people fish quick
" if they want to. otherwise let them
cut bait and go where they choose.
We want that bridge with or without
tae railroad. hut we want it now. And
we don't want any railroad company
IN have the final vofe on nuhlic i'm /