Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11

Castle county farmers was held in
Of Delaware College at Newark Monday
week for the purpose of discussing
The proposition TO devise some plan for
the permanent improvement of the
public roads. There we're several in
beresting addresses and a resolution
was offered and discussed providing for
,etting aside % per cent of the road
money for permanent improvement, but
bottom was deferred uptil the various
grsnges in the county have an opportu-
}ity to express themselves on the sub
]cct
The meeting was attended by all of
>he members of the State Board of
Agriculture; its secretary, Wesley Webb
s{ Dover; six of the members of the
levy Court of this county, representa-
Dives Of the Brandywine, Hockessin,
Union, Mermaid, Newark, Bear and
Niddletown oranges and many other
people, chiefly farmers. Between 100
hnd l50 people were in attendance.
Three sessions were held, in the morn
ing, afternoon and evening. In the
morning Francis M. Walker, the we'll
known attorney, of Mill Creek hun
drpd, made an interesting address on
road laws. In the afternoon speeches
were made by Henry L Budd, commits
sionsr of public roads in the State of
New Jersey, and John o. Crozier of
Michigan, both Of which were interest
ing. In the evening, Maurice o. Ed
ridge, assistant director of the Office of
public road inquiries, United States De-
partment of Agriculture, at Washing
ton, made an illustrated address, which
was decidedly helpful and much en-
joyed.
There was every indication the good
= seed MAS sown at the meeting. While
no definite action was taken, there was
an expression of opinion that was sig
nificant and showed plainly that the
people of New Castle county want good
roads. 1t is not proposed to act in the
matter until the subordinate oranges
can be heard from. The good roads
sentiment is spreading and already ar
engagements are being made for public
meetings at Brandywine Grange,
Hockessin Grange and Middletown
Grange. 1t is expected to have the
meetings this month, so as to give time
sor drafting a bill before the Legisla-
ture meets. 1t is likely that the meas
ure will be modification of the New
Jersey road law, although this has not
becn decided. A committee will prob
ably be appointed to consider the sub
iect
F. NJ. WALKER DISCUSSES ROAD LAWS.
Mondays meeting was decidedly
encouraging. Arnold Naudain presided.
Mr.. Walker, in his address, reviewed
the history of road laws in Delaware.
He said the State is practically work
ing under the original road law, which
was passed in 1903, with some amend
lnents which have been made since.
He pointed out that as an evidence of
the fact that this law was Inadequate
tho following turnpike companies were
Incorporated between 1908 and 1913 :
One to build road from Wilmington
to Newport, New Castle & Frenchtown,
Wilmington & Kenneth, Wilmington q
Great Valley, New Castle d Clark IS
Corner, New Castle d Newark, and
Wilmington & Philadelphia. In order
to show the purpose of these turnpikes
he referred to the preamble to one of
the charters, which is to the effect that
.he public roads had "become i'm
passable in rainy seasons, by which the
number of beasts Of buyden have been
greatly increased, to csr.y d scanty
supply of such articles as the farmers
must sell, and which are indispensably
necessary unto mechanics, and often,
whereby the expenses 0t every citizen
are much increased. q better roads
are wanted to put the laarm in a propsI
state of cultivation, and to promote
the extension of manufactures, which
Is daily depressed, that the intercourse
between Wilmington and the Great
Valley, has suffered for many years
and, at present languishes so much az
10 become deeply Injurious, and sensi
i bly, felt by the prblic,' &C.
Mr.. Walker was of the opinion tha
IL IN, NJ A..
taking last year as basis, would nav,
given the county, at the average cos
of such roads in New Jersey, seven o
eight miles of macadam roads year
The county is spending over $40, 600
year on the roads, with no permenen
Improvement.
Referring to the receipts from tn
General Corporation law, Mr.. Wake
said that was an uncertain quantit
and very little calculation could b
made in advance concerning it. In vie,
of the fuctuating condition OF thi
source of revenue, he thought tn
money could not be applied to bette
advantage than in permanent roa
building. He thought it proper for tn
city of Wilmington to pay its proper
tionate share of road Improvement il
the county, as the city, as we'll as tn
farmers. will derive great benefit there
from, good roads enabling farmers t
get their produce to market cbeape
than on bad roads.
Mr.. Walker gave the following com
parisons:
Road taxes received from July Isl
1901, to july 1st, 19O2-Appoquinimin
hundred, 52,675. So; Blackbird, s2,
= pl9.O5; Brandywine, IS, 420.41; Chris
| tiana, g, 936. ~; Mill Greek, s5, s0l. O6
) New Castle, SO, 500. 45; Pencader, So,
Is. Of Red Lion, 81, 279. sS; ST. Georges
s5,S62 %; White Clay, s2, 44o So; total
s43, 233 g.
Indebtedness of the hundreds-Appc
quinimink, g, 556.54; Brandywine
S5,944.97; Mill Creek, s., 1856; New Ca
tie, s6,69e. "a: Pencader, 81, 665; St
Georges bonded }, $40, 600; White Cla
Creek, 81, 0I6. 13; total, S3S, 721 %.
Uncoliected taxes : AppoquiniminA
s42a o4; Blackbird, s6lS.25 BRANDY
wine, 81, l,796. 0S; Mill Creek. s7lI. al
New Castle, Sc 500. 80; Pencader, S264, OF
Red Lion, 563. Go; St Georges, S435. So
Waite Clay Creek, s4,046.0Si total
Mr.. Walkers address was followe
by q discussion, which was partici
pated in by Levy Court Commissioner
Willis and Ewart and others present.
A resolution was offered to the effec
that it be the sense of the meetin
that 20 per cent of the road none
should be set aside each year for perma
uens road building This was unde
~ cussion when the noon recess va
iatsn.
The resolution was taken up again a
sn0 Afternoon session, but owing to th
1atsness Of the hous. action was dl