Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-29
THE ROAD BILL.
ciltsf Features OF the iateasure 10 he Pre-
NM ssmtad 10 ths Legislature.

4 ~ IL
s,l.tef Features ot the 4iJeasure TO he Pre-
M sentad 10 ths Legislature.
The good roads bill which tho Delhi
ware Division, Il. A. W., viii endravor
to have tho Legislature pass ut the
approaching session, will be ready in y
few days for the supervision CT the
members of the highway committee
ofthe league and Legislative committee
az the Wilmington Bicycle Club, 1t
was drafted by ~ Chaikley Hatton,
engineer in charge Of sewers. and Is
being nut in legalSshape by Christie,
pher l.. Ward, the conimittee's attor
ney. tA
provides for the permanent improve
inent Of highways in the entire Stnte,
by The use OF macsdam, telford. gravel,
oyster shells and other materials, and
that they shall be put u, proper shape
and kept that way SO MS to be smooth
and convenient for travel ut all Seasons
| OF the year.
The governor is 70 appoint COM
| petent engineer with five years OK
| perience as State highway commits
sioner. He is to be appointed in the
j middle of the governors term for four
| wears and is to receive an annual
salary of $4,000. He is to have i'm
mediate charge of the permanent ifii-
proyement of all highways in the State
and also a general oversight over oil
repairs to roads.
The present method Of letting out
sections OF road for repairs, in lien
Of taxes, which prevails In some dis
tficts, Ia to be abolished altogether
and all taxes levied for the purpose OF
repairing or removing roads are to be
4 paid in cash and collected the same as
any sother taxes.
4 The State is to pay one-third, the
county one-third and the hundred one
|, third of NIL permanent Improvement tt
roads, the hundred in which the roat
, is located being required to hear TIL,
proportion referred to. There is NJ
; exemption, however. When u highwa.
ID improved at the request OF owners o
| abutting properties, the State ant
, county will each pay one-third. tn
I hundreI % Ia per cent and propert,
|. |owners along the road 10 per cent.
+ Ii All taxes for road purposes are to b
/ paid TO the connty treasurer and nai'
Q out by him on warrants drawn eithe
+ by the Levy Court or road commits
E sioners, and all. such expenditures mus
/ be- reported to the State auditor &
0 accounts.
! For speoial road work the none
4 is to be paid out by the State an
4 county treasurers on warrants draw
4 by the State commissioner out
y moneys appropriated BY the State an
L taxes collected in the county for tn
g purpose.
e II Is provided in the act that ii
State commissioner shall have authorit
to expend not over $1,000 for a roa
y making plant, which is to he leased
county or hundred officers who ma
g desire 1t. A daily charge is to be mac
for such use, to cover actual runniI
u expenses, and fixed sum is to
y charged for wear and tear. The mnns
10 SO received 10 to be deposited with Il
State treasurer, to be paid out on
!. for the permanent Improvement
~ highways.
P, The minimum width of the vehicul
u portion of highways Is to be 10 fe
ie and the maximum is to be l6 fee
y this to be between cutters.
10 The law was made up from the be
phases of the road laws in Mass
y chusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Islam
~ New York and New Jersey, and
I'd more like the New Jersey law TIL
ru that of any other State. 1t is like
ne that Delaware will be asked to app
4, PIRATE $50, 600 for permanent impyos
ea Inent Of highways during the next t'
or years. The State Of New Jersey pu
ey one-third Of the cost and appropriate
Sl00, 200, which means an annual {
pei,diture of $500, 700. In Rhode Isla
the proportion is fixed by the Leg
tie lature, the annual expenditure by
to State being about $4,000 New Ye
he pays 50 per cent, the county 30 q
ID Che township 30, which condition a
lte prevails in Connecticut. In Mas
9e. chusetts rs per cent is appropria
Ike by the State and % by the oouu
ng Tho appropriation Is usually $685..
IN but s5t0, 900 has been asked for t
ste year.