Evening journal., 1911-09-05
TUESDAY. SEPT. 5. IeH
NEW CASTLE COUNTY.

A RIDE through New Castle county. in many
"A ways, tends to make a resident feel rather
proud of his home 1t is good thing to stimulate
faith in the county, in Wilmington, and in the re-
mainder OF Delaware.
New Castle county has considerably improved of
late. Of course the good roads have had much to
do with it,
1t is surprising TO note what diversity of land
and landscape there is in the county. New Castle
is really larger than most people think. The APP
pearance of the country entirely different in the
northern part from the appearance of the southern
part. How different is Blackbird hundred from
Brandywine hundred. But the land in Backbird
hundred is good, and the land of Brandywine hun
dred is Of course good and beautiful Good roads
make it all appear better.
Good highways almost change the appearance
of the country through which a traveller passes No
one who takes day to travel over the county can
fail to be impressed with the progress making in
good roads, and the county should continue that
progress.
The road making, however is marred by patches
OF bad road, which come between long stretches
OF good road One Of the worst patches of bad
road-if we except the disgraceful stretch above
Caymont just before the Pennsylvania line i
reached-iS the road from Blackbird to the fine
highway that extends from Duck Greek for several
miles north When money used for road build
ing in the hundred several years ago, some miles
were constructed down the neck 1t should have
been put on the very much used state road and
had that been done, there would have been con
tinuous good road from the Kent line TO Middle
town and to Odessa.
Theroad from Middlctown on to Glasgow should
be improved and so should the road from Odessa to
ST. Georges These are all highways much used
1t would be we'll for the county authorities to
find out where the DUPONT boulevard will go in New
Castle county as soon as possible. The boulevard
may be along the old Kings Highway from Odessa
10 St Georges, and if So the county would not have
10 improve that part.
The important thing is to have a good highway
from one end of the county to the other.
1t would also be a good idea for the county to
place sign posts at all the important intersections
Such an improvement would cost very little, but it
would be the same having the streets in a city
marked. Strangers who have not carefully studied
the roads in the county spend considerable time
IN nquirng where this road or that road leads TO-
In some states they have neat signs in blue and
white signs easily read, telling to what points the
roads lead They arc not the shabby looking signs,
such as they have in many parts of Pennsylvania,
but legible pretty finger boards. They are really
an ornament Then in New York they have signs
warning drivers not TO track the roads"
Some may think this is a small matter, but il is of
much more importance than appears at first
thought. Many persons comment upon the absence
Of road signs in the county and it is strange that
biO Levy Oouil uOtS not attcnQ TO this matter.
People in Official positions should be alert but how
often 1t happens that after everybody else is talk
ing about suggestion and urging it, officials fin
ally take II up. The officials ought to lead
IN all work of county improvement
Many of the dirt roads in the county show that
considerable careful work has been done. The dirt
road from St Georges TO Odessa has been greatly
improved, and the road authorities are deserving
of praise for the Improvement. There is plenty OF
evidence that they have done the best they could
But the Blackbird Hundred road looks as If no in.
teigent effort TO improve it had been made
The dirt road above Middletown going towards
Glasgow is hard, but full of bumps and small holes
1t is uneven 1t looks if some one had tried
TO make good dirt road and didn't know how tC
do it. Just below Glasgow the dirt road is pool
as II has been for some years. but it is not yer,
muddy, and this is remarkable considering the re
cent heavy rains.
Altogether, however, we feel that New Castl,
county is being fairly we'll taken care Of Even on
dirt roads appear TO be better than similar road
in Chester county, Pa.
Whether New Castle county is getting a
much for the amount of money il is expending a
it should get may be question. The one thin
that should be kept in mind is that the care of tn
county roads and of all other matters pertaining
the county shouIf be matter of rigid bushes:
And that, we might add, is the problem that con
fronts the people Of Delaware 1t is the problem