VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1807. 47

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Gassaway Watkins, of Anne-Arundel county, beg
leave to report, that after examining into the matters therein stated, find, that the said Watkins entered into
the service of his county as a soldier in the revolutionary war, and continued to serve as such to the end there,
of; his conduct during this struggle, placed him high in the opinion of his companions in war, and acquired him
the reputation of a brave and valuable officer. Your committee further find, that his circumstances are much
straitened, and having a large family of children to provide for, an annuity from the state would greatly contri-
bute to render easy his declining days, and give to his children and family a decent though frugal support. Your
committee, in order to bring the subject before you, beg leave to submit the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby directed and required to pay unto
Gassaway Watkins, of Anne-Arundel county, late a captain in the revolutionary war, a sum of money equal
to half pay as a captain, annually, in quarterly payments, during his life, as a reward to those meritorious ser-
vices which he rendered his country in establishing her liberty and independence.

By order, N. MARTIN, Jun. clk,
Which was read.

Mr. Winder, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Evans Willing, beg leave to report, that they have
taken his case into consideration, and are of opinion that from the circumstances attending his claim for remu-
neration, the committee are of opinion he is entitled to the interference of the legislature, and therefore re-
commend the adoption of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the eastern shore pay to Evans Willing the sum of one hundred pounds cur-
rent money of Maryland, as compensation for a negro man named Joe, who was drowned in consequence of a
pursuit to apprehend him as a runaway.

All which is submitted.

By order, W. DIXON, clk.
Which was read.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, A supplement to an act, entitled, An act authorising
Joseph Green, late sheriff and collector of Charles county, to complete his collection. ORDERED, That Mr.
C. Dorsey, Mr. Stone and Mr. Rogerson, be a committee to prepare and bring in the same.

On motion, Leave given to bring in a bill, entitled, A supplement te an act authorising the collection of cer-
tain ground-rents due on lots in the town of Cumberland, in Allegany county. ORDERED, That Mr. Bruce,
Mr. Briscoe and Mr. Tomlinson, be a committee to prepare and bring in the same,

Mr. Bruce, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating a sum of money for the purpose of
opening and improving the road between the Baltimore turnpike terminating at William's-Port, and the great
western road contemplated by the United States, and commencing at Cumberland, beg leave to report, that
after giving to the subject all that consideration its importance merits, they feel fully and deeply impressed with,
the many and great advantages that would follow the state's granting a small sum of money to the attainment
of this end.. From William's-Port to Hancock the road is now in tolerable condition, and as it passes through
a country rather fertile and well peopled, it may not be so necessary immediately to expend any money on it
improvement, and it is also possible individual exertion, or the turnpike company itself, might bring about the)
completion of that particular part; but the road from Hancock to Cumberland possesses none of these advan-
tages or prospects... it passes for the greater length through a country stricken with poverty, and thinly peopled,
and without the interposition of some aid of this kind, can never grow into use, or become of general extensive
utility or convenience. Your committee beg leave to observe, that roads in all countries necessarily become an
object of great national concern, they are of the highest general importance, and in many instances cannot be
perfected without the aid of government, and hence, whenever a nation turns its attention towards internal im-
provement, roads become an object of primary consideration, and in truth no great or valuable improvement
can go on without them. In proportion as your roads are improved, so do others of a different kind start up
and keep pace with them, wealth and commerce spread into the remotest corners, and the most distant parts
feel themselves brought as it were so much the nearer to market, as the ease and convenience of getting there
is increased from the goodness of your roads. The road under consultation becomes particularly interesting in
these points of view, and moreover claims your attention as furnishing a complete line of communication from
the centre of the United States, at Washington city, into the very heart of the western country, and without
this a blank or chasm will be left, that will materially obstruct the trade of the state, and prevent its deriving
those advantages from its intercourse with the United States, which its situation from nature, and its high con-
sequence as a commercial state, so justly entitle it to. Without the improvement we recommend, wagons and
other heavy carriages will be cut off from the benefit they ought to derive from the turnpike of the United
States leading them into Maryland, and must necessarily take a direction either into Pennsylvania or some of
the neighbouring states. Under these opinions your committee beg leave to submit the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the court of Allegany county be and they are hereby authorised and required, to appoint
two or more persons, with authority and directions to examine and locate the road from Hancock to Cumberland,
laying off the same on the nearest, most direct and practicable ground, and return a plot of the same, to be record