The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-06-08
PHYSICAL CONDITION OF BAL
TIMORE PIKE

Philadelphia to Bel Air, the Balti-
more Pike consists of 456 niles of
the narrowest, most tortuous. poorly
paved and hazardous road to be
found on any highway of major i'm
portance in the United States"
That scorching indictment of con-
ditions on U. S. Route No l is con
tanned in a report by William S.
Canning, Engineering Director of
the Keystone Automobile Club of
months has been directing survey
of Maryland highways. Results of
the study of Baltimore Pike are the
first to be announced.
Mr.. Canning's report made public
by Albert e. Buckley, Manager of
the Club, hits principally at the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for
failure adequately to remedy condi-
lions on the Pike in that State. He
of Maryland, and points out that
this state now is making extensive
repairs on the Pike south of Bel Air,
and that relocations eliminating
serious hazards are planned on the
section between Bel Air and the
Pennsylvania line.
Maryland" he said, lis handi-
capped by lack of funds, but this ex-
cuse cannot be advanced for Penn
sylvania, which has an annual in
come from motor vehicle registra-
tions and gasoline taxes in excess of
$50, 900. Pennsylvania has the
money, but is spending it OF roads
of relatively small importance.
In another part of his report, Mr.
Canning declares that this import
ant arterial highway, link in U. S.
1 connecting the North and South
through the thirteen original States,
could and should be made one of the
most delightful in the country" AT
present, due to it's dangerous condi-
ton, he said, the Pike is avoided by
thousands of motorists.
On conditions of the route in
Pennsylvania, the report states:
"Our study of the route shows
there are no less than eight widths
of paving in the fifty-mile stretch of
road from the Philadelphia line to
the Maryland line These vary
from 6 to 40 feet. The wide, re-
located sections only accentuqte the
deficiencies of the rest of the route
1t is almost unbelievable. consider,
ing the Importance of the route and
the volume of daily and Sunday traf-
fic, but the Pike in Pennsylvania
, has 10 miles of paving less than 20
feet in width There are 10 6 miles
of 16-foot and "a miles of 18-foot
paving.
eve have found that virtually
, all of this narrow paving is badly
, broken and patched. The surface is
uneven, causing poor traction for We
hicles, and the where
, they exist are so inadequate as
actually to cause added hazard.
1.-The study further disclosed thai
on the narrow, poorly paved sections
there are 46 sharp curves, many OF
them on steep grades. The combi
nation of narrow road, broken paw
ing, sharp curves and grades makes
the neglected sections of TIE Pike
extremely dangerous, especially fol
drivers who encounter the narrow
roadway after travelling over the
, modernized stretches of the high
way.
, 1--WE believe that no reasonable
person can contend that conditions
such as these should be permitted tt
exist on an important Pennsylvania
highway. The need for Improve
ment is so great that failure of the
Department of Highways to ac
promptly will be considered by the
motoring public in the light OF Grim
inal negligence"
The Canning report deals more
: leniently with the Maryland prob
lem, although it is emphasized thai
conditions on the Pike in this State
are in no wise better than those OF
the Pennsylvania section of the high.
way. 1.-THE difference Canning
said, Lies in the fact that Maryland
actually is engaged in giving relief
as evidenced by the work south Of
Bel Air and the projected reloca
tons in the vicinity of Deer Greek
and Octoraro Creek bridges. Com.
pletion of these two projects will
eliminate some of the most hazard
GUS curves on the Pike in Mary
land"