Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-24


pending before the General Assembly
is receiving serious consideration on
the part oil some OF the most SUBJ
stantial citizens of the community, as
many are Of the opinion that such a
law would be good thing to have,
not only because 1t would insure better
roads but also from an economic stand
point, as they believe money would be-
saved In the long run and there would
be something to show on the roads for
the money which is raised for road
Improvement and repairs.
1t differs from the bill which WINS
before the Legislature at its last
session In several important points.
Under the original bill, the State high.
way issioner, who was to be ap-
pointed, was to make all tho plans for
roads all over the State and do the
WORK at his office in Dover: also to
appointall assistants with headquarters
at Dover The hill now under CON
slderation provides that the Levy Court
OF each county shall appoint a county
supervisor, who shall be an engineer Of
at least five. years experience at a
salary to be fixed by the court. The
state commissioner. who is to be APP
pointed oy the governor, subject to the
athatph WI tno DbuhlBs luuHI DG an
engineer OF at least 10 years. ex
perienoe. He Is to receive an annual
salary OF 50, 600 and receive 81, 500 for
oiiice expenses and $500 for travelling
expenses. The county supervisors must
be approved by the State comm issi oner,
and they are to act AS his assistants on
al roads receiving State aid and at
other times are to be the engineers Of
the Levy Courts to do whatever road
work the Levy Courts shall require.
On all roads receiving State aid the
State pays one-third, the county one
third and the hundred one-third Of the
cost, and it Is the intention to have
such roads extend ultimately all over
the county. As soon as they are built
with State aid, as indicated above,
they are to he turned over to the
county In which they are located and
the Levy Court is to care for them and
keep them in repair.
When new road or the rebuilding
OF an old one with State aid, ia under
consideration the matter is brought to
the Levy Court of the county, and if
the Levy Court should pass a reso-
lutien requesting that the road be
built the matter Is placed in the hands
of the county engineer, who draws
plans, which are submitted to the
State highway commissioner, and IL
That Official deems the road Of sufficient
Importance fof the State to assist in
building ii he gives his approval
Otherwise he disapproves and the Dad,
II built at all, must be built at county
or hundred expense. HIS Judgment Is
hnal in 80 far az receiving aid from
the State Is concerned.
Who're rad Is petitioned for,by the
owners OF majority Of the property
along II, the Levy Court directs the
county engineer to make plans, which
are submitted to the State highway
con missioner, as stated above, and II
ne should give bis approval, the road
ID built and the property owners pay
one-tenth OF the cost, which, In the
case Of a 12,foot road, would be about
five cents per foot front. This goes to
the credit OF the hundred. sH'
In all cases Of Improvement Of roads,
with State aid, the State highway
commissioner has one vote ia the Levy
Court, Just as II be were member
thereof This State commissioner Is
judge of the necessity OF any small
road OF not more than q mile in length
to connect two other roads built with
State aid, and this connecting road is
TO be built in the same manner as the
other roads.
Bya vote Of two. thirds OF the mem
beers, the Levy Court can bond the
county for road improvement for a sum
not exceeding ons-fourth of l per cent
OF the value Of the real estate and rer-
sonal property in the county. The
two.third estimated cost must rot ex.
coed ono half OF per cent of the real
and personal value in any one year and
nc no time must the county debt ex-
coed per cent OF the assessment. In
some other States the bonded indebted
ness reaches and per cent The bill
makes provision for bonds at rate not
exceeding A per cent and they must not
be sold for less than the Ear value.
While 1t Is understood that under the
present law, the Levy Court has
nothing TO do with keeping up the
roads. 1t is necessary to make some
branch OF the government responsible,
and the Levy Court has been selected,
as the highways referred to 10 the bill
mean not only the roads but also the
bridges. Tho road commissioners
duties are NIT to be taken from them,
however.
An objection has been offered that as
the governor and two OF the three Levy
Courts in the State are Republican in
politics, three of the four engineers
would be Republicans. This is true,
but politics should not enter into the
matter. The fitness of the men for the
Ilaces should be the only thing Con-
sidered. The engineers are to be APP
pointed for four-year terms.
Under the bill all roads must be
contracted for by the Levy Court and
State highway commissioner, and
they have the right to reject all bids.
They are prohibited, however, from
farming out the road repair work, as
has been the custom for long time.
And all road taxes must be paid in
money and collected the same as any
other taxes and the county treasurer,
who Is to receive the money, is 10 keep
q separate account OF the road money.
u money is to be paid by warrants
signed by the county super isors, the
State commissioner and the Levy
Court. Where an extraordinary ex-
penditure Is incurred for some special
reason 1t must be cancelled the follow
ing year. When material IL required
for repairs the Levy Court is directed
TO purchase all such material from
fltate or county penal institutions, go
Tar as the Institutions can supply the
material, and the cost is not greater
than the same material can be proouie cd
from other sources.
In cases where roads are to be built
without State aid the State commits
aioner 10 to give free use OF his plans
and also his services.
n