Smyrna times., 1909-02-03


Every farmer, road driver, auto
mobile owner and traveller in Della
ware is interested in the advanced
good roads bill for Delaware to be
introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatives this week by Representa-
tive Soper. Delaware's public high
ways are now worse than those of any
other Middle or Eastern State and
very little if any better than those Of
the Southern States. A sandy loan
in central Delaware gets in such soft
condition that comfortable travel is
impossible through the winter and
frequently in spring and summer,
while in lower Delaware there are
such loose surfaces of deep sand that
40 blooded horses and no valuable
wagons or motor cars can be kept
there if used on the roads. Twelve
years ago, when Governor Tunnell
signed the general incorporation law,
by which Delaware was to receive a
million dollars every quadrenium from
the granting of industrial franchises,
it was said that this would give the
State a system of good roads to
equal the New Jersey system. These
years have passed, however, and the
money has come into the treasury,
even more than was promised, and it
bss-5een spent-but not upon good
rosds-not much over $50, OOo of it.
The State consists Of three counties.
but while the State has received this
SO, 900, 900 or more of revenue, there
is practically nothing to show for a
cent of it ever having been spent
upon Kent and Sussex counties.
Salaries have been raised and endow-
ments and appropriations to institu-
tiOns and societies have been raised,
but there has been no conscientious
effort to keep pace with the other
States on road improvement.
The new Soper bill now provides:
che State shall pay one third the cost
of . the proposed permanent road
building and the county may issue
bonds for the remainder and is given
corporate powers to do so. That they
shall be genuine macadam or telford
roads, or constructed of gravel or
oyster shells with proper foundations
or of whatever materials shall be
sdjudged by the engineers to be
sufficient to make a solid. firm.
smooth and convenient roadway, con-
venient for travel at all seasons OF
the year. The Levy Court is the unit
for the distribution Of the road build
ing, and the bill provides for petit
tions thereto. When more roads are
applied for than can be constructed
in any one year, the court shall hav {
power and authority to sci ect from
the roads So .etitioned for, having
first regard to the most importan
ones and the distribution of the bene
fits to all parts of the county.
A county supervisor Of publi
roads is to be appointed and to b.
consulted and charged with the exc
cution of its plans by the Lev,
Court. Advertisements containing
the specifications for the work ar
to be printed in two city and at leas
two county newspapers and engineer
ing journals IN New York and Phila
delphia. Successful bidders mus
deposit 81, 900 in cash and give bon
for the full sum of his bid, with ar
proved security, for the faithful pei
formance Of the work. At least
per centum of the contract pric
shall be Withheld from the contractc
for at least one year after the com
pletion of the work, that tn year
test may indicate whether it is goo
or bad job. The cost shall not e