Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-01

The Levy Court Of New Castle
county, in its endeavor to acquaint |
itself with the various phases of county
work, spent yesterday week in Chris
tiana and Mill Creek hundreds. An |
official road book of the whole county is |
in existence at the Court House but no |
records seem existent that disclose the |
location Of the many bridges which are |
charges upon the county, and for the
repairing and renewing of which large |
sums Of money are expended annually. |
The smaller bridges throughout the
rural districts are generally looked
after by the road commissioners, but
as time passes on even these become in
some instances the care of the county,
and the general taxes go towards re-
pairs and improvements that should be
made, as matter of principle, out OF
hundred road money. AS a principle,
also, the road commissioners have
charge Of the hundred roads, but in
the case of causeway over marsh,
or leading to q county bridge it be-
comes the business of the Levy Court.
In the proclivity of road commissioners
to turn over bridges to the county may
be seen the great tendency towards
paternalism in government, exemplified
in the demand upon the Federal govern
ment for appropriations for river and
harbor improvements in localities
which might we'll afford to pay the
expense OF such improvements
But to come back to the subject, the
Levy Court last week continued the
exercise of its policy of getting at the
bottom of its complex duties, by in
specting numerous bridges and some
roads. A finer day for such an ex-
petition could scarcely have been made
to order. 1t was warm, but not too
warm to prevent the keenest enjoyment
of a delightful drive amid beautiful
scenery, over billy roads that were
sometimes bad and sometimes good,
with evidences Of budding spring all
around. Leaving the Court House
about g.. 80 O'Clock in two-horse car
riage, the party took the Pennsylvania
avenue and Kenneth turnpike route.
All the Levy Courtmen were on board,
namely, President Merritt N. Willis
of Middletown, John G. Armstrong of
Odessa, Isaac @. Elliott of Braudywine
hundred, Charles Megginson of New
CASTLE S. Frank Ewart of Hockessin
and Philemma Chandler and John j..
Mesley of Wilmington.
Because one of the horses threw q
shoe, some delay occurred near Green.
vile while new shoe was being put
on; but in good time, the party bore
off to the south of Centreville, passing
the Owls Nest, and reached the firsi
bridge for inspection, which was or
the road to Ashland.
This was the bridge over Burris Run
which stream supplies water to th'
Graves saw mill, Just beyond. Here
one Of the Levy Courtmeh pointed out
what seemed strange sight, an
nouncing that water was coming from
certain rocks, but when it was ex
planned to be the overflow from race
leading to the mill it was seen not tt
be so remarkable The bridge con
tanned legend on stone in its wall
which read IN. G. G. 1885," so tina
the structure has stood there man
years 1t might be termed compost
piece of architecture, for at one poin
the overflow of the stream has bee
provided for by an arch in the stone
and at another, separated from the frs
by filling in of earth, is the bridg
proper, a wooden girder structure wit
a span Of about 80 feet 1t was at th
latter point that the Levy Courtme
paid the most attention, for there wer
holes in the planking, and cracks i
the wing wall, and tendency to under
mining at portion of the abutment
In time of freshet, the stream gel
rather wild and needs strong founds
tions. Being in Mr.. ElliStt distric
the Brandywine hundred man has I'll
care of the bridge. He will probabl
arrange for its replanking and for r,
storing the abutment,
AS the party drove along discussir
county business, something was sal
concerning the appointment of NJ
Ewart to ask John I. Dickey for Il
Hnanniul rannrdc in hi. mn
session, and one of the members r
marked that it was appropriate for M
Ewart to be deputiZed to that tasl
for he was an Addicks Republican al
Mr. Dickey was an Addicks Democra
This suggestion was the ground (
some good Eatured fun.
Commissioners Elliott, who occ
sionally rests from the considerati,
of county affairs to go coon huntin
pointed out some of the scenes of su,
exploits and related incidents ALI
with them.
In time the party reached the R
Clay Creek, where numerous bride
were crossed in a comparatively she
distance. The Baltimore q Ohio trac
we're crossed at Ashland, and the
Commissioner Chandler pointed out
brick house on the hill that was blu
by his ancestor, Abram Gregg in IL
The oauseway and county bridge o,
Red Clay Creek between Ashland a
Yorklyn, were next inspected. H,
Samuel Sharpless joined the LIZ
Courtmen. His recollection for
years was that the road had beef
county charge, and for time he v
allowed few dollars a year for oc
sional repairs to it. The causeway
about third of a mile long and i
sight to behold, much worse drive ov
reminding one of the expression III
by George AIDE, "loolzed like an asph
pavement before they put the asph
down" 1t was even worse than tn
and the Levy Courtmen did not
tempt to drive over it. The trou
with the road is that when the
Clay Creek became a torrent it dasl
over its bank, which makes turn
above the road, and washed all
topsoil from the road, leaving
stones rough and bare. For acres
meadow land had been strewn W
drift Tine problem before the CO
was what to do to remedy the trout
The suggestion which received
most support was to erect u heavy '
between the road and the stream, Sc
to keep the creek from flooding
causeway. Mr.. Ewart will look a
it, A bridge on this road below
Pusey dam is looked after by
Baltimore Il Ohio Railroad Co.,
another structure q few rods ava
under the county care
The visitors continued their d
al pasA