Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-11-29
Monday, November 20. 1909
GOOD ROADS IN SUSSEX.

a THOUGH the lower counties NAV not be
doing very much towards improving the
county roads, there is great deal of discussion
OF the subject, and this will result sooner or
later in definite action. Ever since the appoint
ment of Mr.. Hope in Kent county to be Com
missioner of Roads, the interest in the matter
IN that county has been considerable. Sussex
county, too, IS alive with consideration of plans
for improving the county highways Really
campaign of education is on and it is certain to
bring results.
The Sussex Journal recently had a very peril
nent article referring to the good roads problem,
and it has travelled the rounds of other Sussex
papers, The Journal says it is not a waste of
time to prove the benefits of good roads to a
community, for but few people of Sussex county
have seen the actual benefit proved to them as
they have few good roads in that county AS
the Journal says, if doubling Thomases should
investigate in other communities, they would be
convinced of the benefit to the entire community
of good highways. Such roads are expensive
and taxes may be higher, but as a community
advances It should secure improvements even
though taxes are increased And we NAV re-
mark. we have often DONE that taxes would
not be very much increased If the money were
wisely expended and if assessments were equit-
able. People would not object much to pay
ing higher taxes If they saw the goods" deliv-
ered-that is if they could see what was done
with the money, that it was not frittered away
and squandered. In one of the Western cities
recently this very question was debated and it
argued that in these days the tax payers
wish TO see the goods delivered"-that is that
high taxes should make good" in real improve
ments, 10 use a common expression
The Sussex Journal calls attention to the fact
that the state of Maryland has decided to spend
rive millions for road Improvement exclusive of
the sums expended in the counties. The road
map OF the peninsula, according TO the Journal,
shows net work of improved roads extending
along through the Eastern Shore counties with
scarcely single line indicating an improved road
on the Delaware side of the peninsula. AS the
Journal remarks, these good roads mean among
other things that the deserted farms of Maryland
arc being sold to people from the more congested
districts, realizing period Of thrift and much
activity. Surely what the Eastern Shore coun-
ties can afford the counties of Delaware car
afford
The Georgetown paper discusses entertainingy
the condition of farm lands in Sussex and points
out that in a territory comprising almost one
half of the state there is a population of only
forty thousand. There is clearly much land that
should be taken up and improved by settlers. II
was doubtless this fact of so small population
in so large territory that prompted the Penn
syvania Railroad Company to select Sussex
for its experimental farm.
What we want is more smaller farms and
more farmers" says the Journal. True, this IS
for the problem of labor in most parts of the
state if nothing else is making it clear to far
ners that small farms arc desirable.
The road system should be placed under 4
skilled head and good management, saws the
Journal And that is the crux of the matter
II would be folly for any county or community to
spend its money for good roads II the work oi
road Improvement is not TO be taken out of the
domain of practical potics-if the work is not
10 be done in business like manner by expert
cnccd engineers.