Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-03-18
ROUGH GOING AHEAD
FOR ROAD BUILDING
County Lawmakers Are Bucking
Administrations Program
For Highways
SAY IT PLACES BURDEN

During The closing days of the ses-
sion OF the General Assembly and
only a little more than two weeks
now remain, widespread interest will
center in the question of roads and
highways of the State. and particu-
larry the administration road build
ing program. as embraced in a bill
drawn by ogle Marbury. and approx
ed by Governor Richie The bill has
heen in committee for some time. and
indications are that it will precipi-
tate a bitter fight when it comes on
the floor of either the Senate or
House. And in addition. a large num-
ber of road bills affecting the various
counties of the State. also are pend
ing.
The counties, it appears. are buck
ing the administration program.
largely because of the burden OF ex-
pense that will he thrown upon them.
There has been a general hearing on
the measure. and esides every phase
Of the situation has been discussed at
committee hearings. That part of the
Governors program which makes ii
mandatory upon the counties to match
the Federal and the State allotmen;s
for lateral roads, being the chief bone
Of contention Anne Arundel county
is among those whose officials have
definitely taken a stand against the
mandatory feature, the action having
been taken at recent meeting of
The Board of County Commissioners
Governors Plan Outlined
The Governors attitude in the
premises is better reflected in the fol-
lowing extract from his inaugural ad-
dress:
with respect TO lateral roads,
have found more or less prevailing
belief in the counties that an equal
division of the cost between the state
and the counties would be fair On
this basis. my tentative suggestion
would lie that the state appropriate
S750,000 annually for lateral roads.
and that the counties contribute
like amount. This would provide ST.,
100000 each year for lateral roads.
IF these tentative suggestions were
adopted, Ghen the total amounts avail
able for road building each year
would be:
State ..........,........s. 81 ,600OOO
Federal Government ...... $4,000
Counties ........ 100000
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. So ,2OOOO0
"This. at 100000 per mile. would
build 100 miles of road each year,
and, of course, this mileage would he.
increased in proportion to any de-
crease in cost"
But it appears that the original
program of legislation on roads now
stands in danger of collapse. The adj
ministration bill, was so drawn that
its entire usefulness it is felt will
rest upon the acceptance or rejec-
ton by the members of the legisla-
ture of the compulsory construction
provision; which it imposes upon the
counties. The county members will
not take this. and for this reason il
seems the bill has been held in com
mittee since it was introduced on
February 25~
Onother feature of the tangled sit
uation involves the crying need for
immediate bridge loans. 1t is un-
derstood that advisors of Governor
Ritchie are urging him to hold the
sum of this loan to not more than
half a million This sum, in the opin-
ion of experts who know what the
costs will be. will not begin to be
enough. 1t will not take care of any
of the construction of bigger bridges,
which are necessities.