The Republican., 1938-05-05

property owners. We, in Maryland,
however, cannot enter upon any mans
land without mis- consent until condem-
nation proceedings have been decided
and the money paid into Court Thus,
one property owner can unreasonably
delay the building OF any road in this
State, which has been our experience.
Face to face with these facts and
handicaps, and in order effectively to
plan for the future, we proceeded to
organize a Highway Planning Survey,
and with the United States Bureau Of
Public Roads, planned along three
general lines: first, financial; second,
inventory; and third, traffic We have
found that the existing laws dealing
with revenue are in need of revision,
as in the financial structure in each
county. We are making complete
check on the physical condition of
every road in the State, which will
furnish a guide for future activities.
We realize that no intelligent plan
for rehabilitation can be made unless
we have reliable information concern
ing volume, weight and intensity of
traffic, and that such information will
be a further guide to us in our long
term building plan for Maryland.
state, without fear of contradiction,
that this work now being done by this
Highway Planning Survey, will be the
most challenging, fact-fnding move
ment in the history of highways.
AS funds have become available to
this administration, we have gone
ahead with improvements on routes
most vitally in need of reconstruction
or complete rebuilding, and the motor
lists of Maryland know of the improve
ment accomplished, and cannot be
misled by partisan criticism uttered
for political advantage. Let me recite
a few:
Baltimore to Havre de Grace:
modern dual highway;
Baltimore to Pine Orchard:
graded for dual highway;
Frederick to Hagerstown: grad
ed for dual highway;
Huyetts to COnococheague:
complete new construction;
Martin Mountain to Naves
Cross Roads: complete new con-
/ struction;
Baltimore to Annapolis: dual
highway, with one lane to be open
for traffic this summer;
Waldorf to Bryantown: COM
plete new construction;
Trappe to Cambridge: complete
new construction;
Baltimore to Carney: complete
new construction.
This administration has completed
and paved 1913 miles of the States
main system, including ten miles OF
/ asphalt streets built in the City of
Baltimore. We have graded and drain
ed, ready for surfacing, 81 miles more
of State roads. We have re-surfaced
existing State roads to the extent of
70 miles. We have stabilized, through
the placing of shoulders on existing
State roads, 225 miles.
We have widened, graded and
drained about 81 miles of county
roads. We have widened, graded and
stabilized 121 miles of county roads.
We have widened, graded, drained and
paved 151 miles of county roads.
We have eliminated, or are in pro-
cess of eliminating railroad grade
crossings at Kensington, Rockville,
Beltsville, Dorsey, Edgewood, Har-
mans, Odenton, Winans, Sabillasville,
Thurmont, Woodmont, Glen Morris
and Winchester.
AS to maintenance, the cost under
this administration has been $492.59
per mile, as compared with $687.16 PEI
mile under the former administra-
ton, reduction and saving to the
people of Maryland of $193.57 per
mile. From maintenance funds many
miles of the State system have been
widened to 60 feet or more, and many
miles of earth shoulders have been
built, creating a sterilization through
durable road material.
1t must not be FORGOTTEN that while
the public thinks that the county roads
are under the jurisdiction Of the State,
this is not quite the situation. The real
facts are that the County Commits
sioners have the power and authority
to determine wha thew roads shall be
constructed, what amount shall be
paid for debt service on county obli-
cations, leaving the remainder for
maintenance. In effect, the law des-
ignates the State Roads Commission
to act only as the agent for the Coun-
ty Commissioners.
We have installed modern book
keeping machines in the accounting
department, which permit us a cur
rent determination of bedgetry con-
troll, cost Of maintaining the roads