The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1956-08-23
Letter To The Editor

Editor, The Republican,:
Your Editorial last week was an
attempt to justify the spending OF
public roads funds to develop pri-
vate property But there is no justi-
fication.
County officials in any other
county in this State would be
booted out of office if they were
to be caught spending public roads
money for the admitted purpose
Of making speculative real-estate
more saleable
Neither will YOU likely succeed
in making our people believe that
/ it is to their advantage to have their
roads money Squandered on an IS
f. hard surfaced road to enable
bulk land spectators to sell lots
for more money. while they are
compelled to drive over rutted dirt
county roads that are neglected be-
cause Of such policies
Last year. before the road was
started. the owners of bulk lands
We're selling lots at approximately
100000 each This year, they are
trying to sell lots at 100000 each
Some Of the present lot owners are
opposed to this hard surfaced wide
road They wanted only a semi
private dirt and gravel road so that
their children would be safe 1t was
not the lot owners who asked for
the road, but the people who own
land and wanted to sell lots.
In all other counties the County
Commissioners require the owners
of development projects to grade
their own roads to certain specifi-
cations, and to put lime stone chips
on to required thickness. If this
is done, then. after there are sew
eral houses to the mile, the county
will take the road over and main
tain it at the county expense. ONLY
AFTER THE OWNER DEVELOPS
HIS PROPERTY. AND HOMES
ARE ESTABLISHED. OUGHT THE
COUNTY TAKE OVER THE
ROADS. After the owner of the
project has pioneered his own
roads if he has followed specifica-
tions, is it then right and proper for
the county to take the roads into
the county system. The trouble
here is that the roads are being
built ahead of the homes. and be-
fore there is any one to use them.
except the land owners who are
selling lots.
The County Commissioners can
not claim that they we're petitioned
by home owners to build the road.
nI-f h III ~ ID1c4 r. L,
road running through the woods,
as it does, is necessary for the pub
lie travel.
Private investors should be en-
cOuraged to pioneer their own
roads until the lots are sold and
homes built upon them If let alone
these land owners will develop
their own property, or they will
sell to some body else who will
develop it. 1t is silly to argue that
the public roads money should be
used to do it for them.
1t is short sighted to encourage
our public officials to indulge in
this kind of practice. Once it is
started it is difficult to control it.
Already there are plans afoot TO
use the public roads money to con-
struct another drive way extending
several miles down the other side
OF the lake. It is short sighted, be-
cause under such system the in
dlVldual with the greatest influ-
ence, or the man who is temporari-
ly in power will feel free to grab
the public receipts and use them
for his own benefit. Under such a
policy as you are defending, only
the man with power or influence
will get anything, while the honest
citizen who stays home and works
will be robbed of his proper bene-
fits from the public roads funds.
This is favoritism, graft, and cor
ruption.
The average private investor
doesn't want favoritism. He wants
only a fair and equal opportunity
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