Smyrna times., 1904-08-10

About two years ago, when the ques
ton of good roads in Delaware was
under serious consideration, but be-
fore any practical steps towards secur-
ing them had been taken, DIR. John
J. Black, of New Castle, in a letter to
EVery E'Uening, suggested that a road
building fund of about 100000 be
raised by an issue of State bonds, and
a good road constructed the entire
length of the State. His argument, if
we remember Alright, was that good
road from one end of the State to the
other was the prime necessity, and
that lateral roads, traversing the width
of the State, and those extending to
other desired localities, would come in
good time, as a matter of course.
Now that New Castle county has en-
tered practically upon the work of
building good roads, it is possible to
consider the question from the very
important viewpoint Of cost and re-
suits. The first bids for new roads in
this county were regarded as very
high-reaching $11, 200 mile in some
instances. And these figures have not
been extensively reduced in the work
already done. The Elsmere road, about
three miles in length, cost $29, S05.54,
of which the contract price was
-$26, 9O2. II, and the balance extras. The
contract just awarded for the con-
struction of a macadam road between
MiddletowG and Odessa, a distance of
. 2 4 Il piles, was at bid of $50, 500, or
very close to $4,000 a mile. If any
extra expenditures shall be required
for this piece of work. the final cost
may not be far from $11 900 per mile.
But the figures showing the cost of
the improved roads already constructed
plainly indicate that the average cost
of building good roads in Delaware
will be about $4,000 per mile.
At this rate, the construction of a
good road over the entire length of
the State, from Claymont to Delmar,
distance of about 1906 miles, would
be not less than $1,000, 900. OF this
amount, the State, under the existing
system, would pay $500, 900. while the
other half of the cost would devolve
upon the counties The latter would
also be called upon to provide for half
the cost of constructing the lateral and
other roads.
Can the State of Delaware afford to
expend $500, 900 upon good roads, aud
the three counties another $500, 900?
This is the general question to be
considered in connection with the sub
ject of a complete system of practical
roadbuilding in Delaware.
At first thought, it would appear
that the burden is too great for the
counties of Kent and Sussex, whose
resources would be strained to say the
least, by an expenditure of a quarter
of a million dollars apiece for good
roads. But might not the State in
crease the proportion of the burden to
be assumed by it for this important
purpose?
tits fact that so far as financial
ability is concerned, the State coult
easily take upon itself the entire cos
OF building a good road from one end
of its territory to the other, at cos
of $1,000,OOO. According to the las
financial report, the States assets
interest bearing eeurities-amount Il
81, 400, ,36s.1 it's liabilities, bonded
and otherwise, to S644, $50. Here is {
clear margin of $685., ,618.12. With tn
State in such an excellent fnancia
condition, there would be no troubl
in raising the million dollars tina
would be required to construct q first
class road from our northern to ou
southern line.
We are not prepared at this time t
urge that the State shall enter upo
this work. But we submit that as th
work of practical roadbuilding hs
been fairly started; as the necessity fc
improved roads is generally recognize
as the benefits attendant upon ther
are undisputed, and as we now hav
definite information of what it cos
to build such roads, it is both timel
and proper to lay the question befol
the people and invite their serior
consideration Of the matter of wa,
and means.