Middletown transcript., 1907-02-16
PUBLIC ROAD LEGISLATION
Considered at a Meeting of Farmers
Held In Wilmington Saturday

Considered at q meeting OF fafmeg
Held In Wilmington Saturday
/ A meeting of the Farmers Institute wa
held Saturday morning at the Irish-Amel
ican Hall, 608 French street, Whining
ton, for the purpose of discussing matter
pertaining TO good roads. The meetin
was largely attended. William P. Peacl
presided and John Nivin acted as secre
tary.
Among those present were Matthew
Roser, John Mitchell, J. Atwood Weldin
William P. Peach, John Nivin, Thoma
T. Weldin, Horace Dilworth, Represen
tative Darlington Finn, Isaac Richards
James 7. SllaIlcroes, j. Wilkins Cooch
Daniel w. Corbit, Arnold Naudsin, S
Frank Ewxrt, DR.. T. R. Nolk, DR.. A. T
Neale, Philip Pierson, Charles Megginson
George G. Kerr, John Peach, John Wor
rail-, Clayton White, John 0'Neil, Levy
CourtiDsn G. Candy Hopkins, Highway
Commissioner Francis A. Price, Thomas
+. Bayard, II. Ii. Ward.
The proposed act to abolish the road
commissioners, which was approved by
the Levy Court several days ago, was
read by Thomas F. Bayard, who, with
H. H. Ward, is counsel for the Farmers
Institute. It was considered by sections.
Richard G. Buckingham said he did
not favor the section because it would
legislate out Of Office all the present road
commissioners, who were only recently
elected. He did not think this should
be done so suddenly. Horace Dilworth
also objected, but thought the system
should be established gradually. Isaac
I. Richards, member of the Legislature,
thought the section should be amended.
On motion of Mr.. BayaTd, the section
was amended SO that the road commits
sioners will be removed gradually and
some of them will remain in Office until
1909.
Section 2, providing that all the public
roads, bridges and causeways he placed
under the control Of the Levy Court, Was
next taken up. S. Frank Ewsrt, for
mer member Of the Levy Court, made
objections. He said he was opposed to
giving any additional power to the Levy
Court, and would advocate that all the
appointire powers OF the Levy Court be
removed instead of additional powers
given. 1t was explained to Mr.. Ewart
by MIR. Ward that the section did not
provide for any appointments and the
section was then adopted.
Section 8, which provides for the ap-
pointment Of road engineer at salary
of $500 q year and defines his duties
was objected to by some on the ground
that there might be highway commis-
sioner At $500 year and another sngi-
neer at 81, 500 year. H. H. Ward stated
that in case this bill, which was prepared
with the assistance of COMMITTEES OF ten
appointed by the institute, does not suit
the institute, hewould tisn advise aban-
doning this bill and appointing q new
committee to prepare q new bill. He
said there was no use trying to pass bill
prepared by the COMMITTEES unlezs the
institute would get behind is; He con-
tended that the Law is of no avail without
the engineer. The section was adopted
by a vote of q to 10.
Section a providing for the appoints
ment OF hundred supervisors, was dis
cussed and finally adopted.
Section S, placing the bridges, roads
aud causeways under the supervision oi
the county engineer and giving him con-
troll Of the subordinate supervisors, was
unanimously adopted.
The meeting also adopted section 8,
which defines the duties OF the hundred
supervisors and their power in employing
workmen subject to the approval Of the
engineer aud the Levy Court.
Section 2, defining the duties of the
Levy Court 10 raising money for use 10
road work, to be collected in the same
manner as ut present, was adopted.
Section 8, stating how the wages Of the
road supervisors shall be paid, was
adopted.
The Levy Court in section 9, is given
the authority to buy the tools, ETC.,
needed aud it was adopted.
Section 10, provides for the road com
missioners TO give an account TO the Levy
Court of their expenditures, etc.
Section IL. provides for the raising o.
money for extraordinary purposes, such q
the removal Of snow. Botb, ions wert
adopted.
Sections IL, l3. "A and 10, were adopted
without discussion, and the entire bill
was then adopted as amended.
On motion OF DR.. NeaIe, the committe,
that assisted in preparing the bill wa
thanked and instructed to make arrange
ments for getting it before the Legislature
and work for it's passage.
The matter of the proposed bill to bons
the county in the amount Of $500, 600 TO
the purpose Of building roads was dis
cussed aud finally approved.
|