Middletown transcript., 1901-01-19
mrDD1rrowN, DEL, JANUARY 10, 1901
A NEW ERA

their opportunity Ano 1
broke gray and dismal, but be-
fore noon the skies cleared and
the sun shone bright and warm
as though nature joined IN the
rejoicing that the State was at
last free from the enthrandom
of the Bourbon machine that has
for more than thirty years held
her in bondage.
Governor Hum showed by his
first address that he is mo
mans man. and is not afraid
to speak his convictions. In this
address he lays particular stress
upon the fact that the State
needs better roads. His remarks
cover the case so fully that we
quote in full:
"The report of theState treas
urer shows that the State has
decreased it's liabilities during
the past two years by the pay
ment of a $4,000 loan held by
the Farmers Bank, and has now
a sum in the neighborhood OF
100000 on deposit subject to
the draft of the State treasurer.
The General incorporation
Law" passed by the Legisla-
ture of 1899, is, in large meas
ure, responsible for this improv-
ed financial condition Of the
State, and from the operation Of
the said law thus far we are justl-
fed in stating that the State will
in the future, under normal con-
dition, derive a constantly in
creasing revenue from it. Such
a prospect is most gratifying and
brings with the realm of pos
sibility a desideratum which has
perhaps been the dream OF pub
lic-spirited men of every genera
ton since Delaware has been a
State. I refer to a system of
macadamized roads through the
State. No public work could
confer so great and lasting a
benefit upon the people as such a
system Of roads.
ESPECIALLY would it benefit
the farmers of the State and
persons generally living outside
the towns. 1t would improve
the farms and enhance their
value. It would improve the
stock, increase the profits of
farming by rendering hauling
easier and by saving time. Of
course such complete system
would require years for construc-
ton and large sums of money,
but it could be and should be be-
gun at once, and when each road
or sectionof road is built it would
be permanent and the system
could be gradually extended year
by year. Such a work could not
be successfully accomplished ex-
cept it be placed under the sup
ervision Of some one who, by
education and practical exper-
ience, is throughly competent to
direct it in the most economical
manner. I would suggest that
the General Assembly pass an
act appointing a committee and
making such an appropriation
as it should deem the finances of
the State warrant for the pur-
pose of undertaking this work
under the direct supervision of
the State.
SIN speaking upon the subject
of roads | am reminded of the
very inadequate and inefficient
methods which are in use at
present in several counties of
keeping up and improving the
publicroads of theseveralcounties
Not only does inadequacy and
inefhciency exist, but recent ex-
animation in one county at least
has disclosed gross mismanage-
ment and dereliction of duty on
the part Of those to whom the
supervision of the roads has
been entrusted. I would suggest
that those whose duty it is to
supervise the roads in the var
ous localities be made more di-
bctly responsible to the govern
g bodies of the several counties
the proper expenditure Of
peoples money. Under the
sent systems the large sums
money spent appear to make
Improvement whatever in the
COL ditions of the roads and that
facA itself is strong testimony of
mismanagement in this very i'm
portant work. /"
He asks for an ample appro-
priatAon for the Insane Hospital
and for q liberal provision for
the public schools, and speaks
highly of the Delaware Militia
and recommends themaintenance
of a full regiment. He urges
the abolition Of the Registration
fee, and also that constitutional
provision abolishing the fee sys-
em of Playing county officers be
put into actual operation by ap-
propriatellegislation. AS a sue
cessful business man he sees
the opportunities offered BY the
situation OF the State and thinks
encouragement should be offered
to manufacturing and CONNER
cial enterprises. Finally he
shows that he fully realizes the
possibilities resting upon him
"reverent,y invokes the aid