Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-01-27
Address By H. j. Hunt.


OF Bethesda, Mr.. Henry ]. Hunt Secretary
to the Engineer Of Highways of the Dis
trict OF Columbia and former County Com
missioner of Montgomery county, addressed
a large and interested group of ladies' of
Bethesda district, Montgomery county, at
the home of Miss Gill. at Alta Vista, on |
the subject Of the duties of County Com
missioner. Mr.. Hunt dieressed just enough |
to make his talk on roads especially inter-
esting as well as instructive.
Beginning with the statement that Rock
vile, the county-seat. was, in the early
days known as Williamsburg and that the |
early tax records of the county showed
that tobacco was the leading crop at that
time and that many paid their taxes with
so many pounds of the leaf of this crop,
Mr.. Hunt came down to the present
geographical division of the county into
election and collection districts. 1t was
shown that Bethesda district, the smallest
in area, about 10000 acres, while some
districts contain more than $1,000 acres.
constitutes an area so thickIy settled that
taken with the neighboring district of
Wheaton their combined population is
about one-half that of the entire county.
and a strong plea was made for a better
understanding between the people of these
districts and those of the upper. or aeri
cultural, districts as to the needs of both,
as farming is undoubtedly the leading in
dustry OF the county. 1t was shown that
the total assessed valuation Of real estate
and Improvements in the county were
about S34,000,000. while the holdings Of
persona! property brought the assessable
basis to approximately $4,000. 900.
Through Mr. Hunts personal effort in op-
posing the reassessment proposed by the
State Tax Commission, which would have
increased the tax burdens Of the people
of the county by $4,000 by reason of
the State tax rate being fixed for period
of two years, as shown by his motion be-
fore the board. he saved the people of the
county that amount each year for the past
two years on the differentiation Of the
words assessment and revision" 1t
was also shown that the total bonded in
debtedness of the county for schools. roads
and all other Improvements is only about
$550,000, of which about $4,000 is re-
tired annually. which for the second rich
est county in the State, worth actually
about $50. 100000, is moderate indeed.
Mr.. Hunt defended the elective form Of
selecting County Treasurer by direct
vote of the people rather than an ap-
pointive one by the Board of Commission
ers, not only because the people of the
county should have direct voice in de-
Gliding as to who should handle their money.
but also because it lessened the power of
the Commissioners practically. dual duty
of levying as well as paying out on their
order with practically no check except by an
officer who they. themselves. appoint. As
Mr.. Hunt said, which is entirely true, what
big financial corporation doing nearly
million dollars of business year would
disburse its funds without treasurer as
coordinate officer, and Montgomery
county does transact over half a million
dollars worth of business each year and
is steadily growing.
Mr.. Hunt explained the pension system,
and brought out the former deplorable con
ditions at the Aims House and Jail. which
had recently been vastly improved over
what they formerly were by putting cleo
trio lights and proper heating facilities in
the Jail as well as the competent work
being done by the Board of Trustees of the
Aims House and especially the interest
being taken and good accomplished by the
ladies of the county. notable among which
we're mentioned Mrs. Brewer. trustee of the
home, as well as Mrs. Josiah W. Jones.
Mrs Kirkpatrick Mrs. Finley, Mrs Jimmie
Jones, Mrs. Chandler and other ladies of
the county.
The subject of destitute and unfortunate
girls and their care was ably discussed.
la regard to roads Mr.. Hunt pointed out
the various types of construction. showing
that in Washington there was an accurate
record kept for the past 40 years. and is
still kept. showing the maintenance cost
per square yard of the various types of
no other city in America had such COM
plete record of or were so well paved and
maintained 1t was shown that bitumi-
nous macadam roads may he repaired.
while concrete roads cannot be except
by cutting out an entire section and re-
placing il. but that concrete after it begins
to peal and crack can be preserved for rs
wears by resurfacing with an asphalt cush-
ion. The Maryland State Roads Commits
sion was commended as being one of the
finest in the country. The use Of soft coal
cinders one foot thick and well rolled was
advocated for lightly travelled or lateral
roads as being economical as well as far
superior to our present dirt roads. dusty in
summer and impossible with mud in spring
and fall.
Mr.. Hunt stated that a womans club
could be made and should be a great moral
force in the improvement OF any community.
He commended the DetneSua ciuO ana
especially the work Of Mrs. Stock and the
officers Of her administration and stated
that he was sure that Mrs. Wallace would
wind up her present year as president with
laurels.
In closing Mr. Hunt asked the ladies TO
always remember that all progressive i'm
nrovment is obtained by constructive up
building and not by destructive criticism.
which only tears down. He commended DR..
Perry's work as his successor on the BOARD
of Commissioners and asked that the club
support his successor in the same manner
that they had so courteously shown his
own administration. and to remember that
the man does not live who don't make mis-
takes and that is why they put erasers on
lead pencils.
c. W.