Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-01-12
THURSDAY, JANUARY IL. 1922.
sTATE.AID FOR CITY STREETS

STATE-AlD FOR CITY SIhEEIs
Among the various problems
waiting to be solved by the Leg
islature at this session, that OF adj
justing the responsibility for the
construction and maintenance OF
streets through Incorporated
cities and towns, where these
streets are links in the State Road
System, will be of particular in
terest to Annapolis.
Under the present laws the
State Roads Commission. when
building the various main and
lateral roads throughout the
State, stop their construction at
the limits of all incorporated
places, leaving the care OF the
street through the town in the
hands of the local authorities. In
cases where these streets form
connecting links in the State sys-
tenn, as1m example in Annapolis.
where King George. College Ave
nue., Church Circle and West
streets br1n the connecting links
between both the Baltimore and
Washington Boulevards and be
tween the Eastern Shore system
and Baltimore or Washington,
this is manifestly unfair to the
town or city concerned and not
particularly to the advantage OF
the State Roads Commission.
It's unfairness lies in the fact that
with the completion of an inn
proved road to a community, the
traffic from outside the locality
increasss tremendously thus add
ing a3fslement of wear which
greatlyI%hrtails the life of the
streets.sFIt is unsatisfactory be-
cause the State cannot reuire a
town or city to repair or pave its
streets and we often have a mis-
cradle stretch of street connect
ing two perfect roads
These generally unsatisfactory
conditions caused the various
towns of the State to appoint a
committee, of one representative
of each. to wait upon the Cover
nor and the State Roads Com
mission to try to adjust matters
to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned. SO far, however, the
committee has been unable to
make any substantial progress
along this line. In fact, there has
developed a rather sharp conflict
of opinion as to the procedure to
be adopted in maintaining these
streets, and as to the extent of the
jurisdiction of the municipality
and the State. respectively. An
incidental problem involved is
that pertaining to such details as
control OF permits for openings
in the streets for water pipes,
sewers. etc.
One plan that has been sug-
geSted. and that is well worth con-
sidering. would be to have the
State Roads Commission allocate
funds to the various communities
based upon the yardage of the
streets used by it. these funds TO
be used only in repair work upon
these streets. under specifications
drawn up by the State Roads
Commission. In this manner the
city would still have absolute
control of its stretched. be re-
imbursed for the additional wear
and tear on its streets and at the
same time the Road Commission
would be assured of a good. we'll
kept connecting link through the
city.
The need of some adjustment
along this line has been recogniz-
ed by both the major political
parties and in their platforms they
included pledge to rectify CON
ditions. Therefore. it is more than
probable that this Legislature
will take the necessary steps TO
pass the legislation needed to
bring about the desired changes.