Evening journal., 1907-04-03
ROAD DELEGATES
SUBMIT REPORT
MeSSTS. Price, LOgue and
Scott Tell Of PittSbure
Convention
HIGHWAY WORK DISCUSSED

Some interesting information is en-
bodied in the report submitted to the
Levy Court yesterday by Levy Court
men James Logue and William A. Scott
and Highway Commissioner Francis A. |
Price. who attended the National Road
makers Convention in Fittsburg as
delegates recently. Their report also
has been submitted to Governor Lea. !
In It the delegates say:
We, the delegates appointed to rep
resent the Levy Court OF New Castle
County, attended the Fourth Annual
Convention Of the American Road Max
ers' Association, held IN Carnegie Hall
at pittsburg, Pa, March 18th and 18th,
of the present year.
The convention was largely attended,
there being between eleven and twelve
hundred delegates present. representing
30 states of the Unlon-some OF the
delegates coming from as far as New
Mexico. It was composed OF men thor
oughly interested with tho subject OF
good roads.
This subject has made great pro-
of the most important subjects for the
consideration OF the taxpayers Of the
different states.
The State of New York has adopt
ed a constitutional amendment allow
ing the State TO be bonded to the ex-
tent Of $4,000 600 for road purposes.
while Pennsylvania is considering the
expenditure of S25.O00O0O for the same
purpose. Several other states are con-
sidering the subject OF amending their
constitutions In order that the State
may assist IN the building and MAIN
tenance Of good roads.
This shows the general trend Of pub
lie opinion and there Is no doubt but
that the good roads fever was largely
il not wholly brought about by the agi-
tation Of the bicycle and automobile
riders.
The convention was full Of arguments
for good roads the way and manner
OF building them was not so much dis
cussed, the trend OF the argument being
that we should build road to satisfy
the requirements Of its particular Sec
tion, both as to material used and the
kind Of travel to which II will'be sub
jected.
In the address plade by Hon. James
II. Macdonald, State Highway Com
missioner of Connecticut, ne practically
said. build your roads Of the most
available material. II It will provide a
surface lasting enough to carry the
traffic that viii pass over II. Use the
material that is near at hand. II suit
able. for we must remember that the
first cost is not the principal cost OF
the road. we must consider the cost OF
maintenance. and the nearer the source
of supply Of the material used In re-
| pairing, the less the cost OF caring for
the road.
The subject Of the amount Of travel
on roads was referred TO by A. ~.
johnson. State Highway Engineer of
| Illinois They have been taking a sys-
tematic census OF road travel in that
state. and he mentioned the difference
I'm travel. on certain day. between
two roads leading to the same town;
one a mud road and in bad condition
and the other a good road. on the
bad road there were 40 vehicles passed
over It, and on the good road 300.
whereas apparently under the same
conditions both roads should have had
the same amount Of travel; showing
that a large part OF those dependent
on the poor road were deprived OF the
opportunity to travel and transact
whatever business they may have had
In hand.
The census also shows that as the
| roads approach the towns the travel
Increases in number and i'm the weight
OF the traffic, which would indicate
that the greatest good to the greatest
number can be effected Oy first build
ing those roads leading out from the
center OF the business district and
pushing out from It 10 the more sparse
ly settled portions. and as the roads
recede from the center they may be
made narrower and OF lighter con-
struction.
In New York, the county has the right
to put in bids on any roads that are
advertised, which right no doubt has
a tendency bo prevent combination
OF contractors for the purpose Of keep
ing up the cost OF building the roads.
This state also assists in the main
tenance and repair OF the common
roads
No one with whom we conversed
would advance an opinion that any
particular kind Of road would be the
best road for all sections, but the gen.
eial opinion was that the kind Of road
to be built depended on local condi-
tions. AS to materials. everybody agreed
that when roads are improved, the
necessary sequence is their mainten-
ance. and Il seems to be the concensus
of opinion that in making appropria-
lions for highways. that Tore should
be appropriated for maintenance than
for new work This Of course applies
to a locality whore they have made
considerable progress In constructing
a system Of good roads. 1t is said that
3 France. where there is a fine system
OF good roads, does not appropriate a
dollar for building but does appropriate
four million dollars for the mainten-
I ance Of her highways. This should be
am object lesson for us in Delaware;
we see that our improved highways
{ are constantly demanding our atten-
{ tion and must expect them TO be a
D constant cost TO us il they are % be
j kept in good condition.
AS to the location of the roads to be
] built. we believe that they should be
, built I'm different sections of the
county; in doing this, more people viii
| use them and see the advantage OF
having a good road on wh,cL % travel
|, Each section of good road will be an
+ object lesson to its particular locality
and the people Of the whole county
win come into contact with them, an,
a demand for more good roads will