Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-06-08
MONDAY JUNE 8, 1914
,oSsrRUorION, PATROL AND MAINTENANCE.

CONSTRUCTION, PATROL AND MAlAIENANOE.
IF Delawareans to have the full benefit Of road
4 improvement, construction patrol and maintenance
must go hand in hand. II Is waste of money to build
stone gravel road and then to fail to have it sys-
temacally and ineIigenty patrolled and maintained
Good road experts agree that il and inn
proved to be kept in proper condition for
any length Of time and IL expensive repairs are to be
avoided in the matter general resurfacng, If not
rebuilding. 1t is imperative that comprehensive
tenn Of inspection and maintenance be inaugurated
That has been the experience in other States and other
countries It has been the experience here in only
too many instances
In OF the States the patrol system has been
adopted, but only to a limited extent Under that
system duly-deegated men keep duy-desgnated sec
tons Of improved road under constant inspection and
make repairs as need them is discovered Those
patromen stand in the relation to public roads
tina. the section railroads stand to such trans
portation lines. They make repairs where they are
needed and they needed. The wisdom
Of the system to be unquestoned. That it has
not been adopted generally has been due to the
fact that funds have been lacking in many Of the
States
James Wilson, County Engineer in this county holds
to tho opinion that when the traffic is heavy and the
right secured for patrolmen it probably is
best to adopt the single patrol system Under that sys
TEN each is entrusted with the care Of from
ave 70 six miles OF road and Il is his duty to make all
REPAIRS needed far he individually is able TO
make them and to report those needed which he dis
covers to be beyond his power Of performance. When
the traffic is light and labor scarce the gang patrol
system seems to meet with greater favor.
No matter whether the single patrol the gang pa
troll system be in use, the material for road work
should be deposited at regular intervals along
so as to be easily available when It is needed. The
single patrol could best do his work with a wheel
barrow The gang patrol would need a wagon drawn
by horses.
OF in either instance the best system Of main
tenance is that which permanent and connu-
Gus employment for the patrolmen That encourages
them to take pride in their work. profit by their mis-
takes and become skillfu in their lines OF duty In
repairing stone roads it is good practice to use some
of the artificial binders. as road oils tars and
other preparations Of kindred nature 1t Is difficult
TO hold the new-made patches in position with our
heavy automobile traffic The practice of spreading
loose stone the entire width road when only
patch is needed not only destroys the crown and
shape Of the road but is extravagant and wasteful
When no ever, repairs have to be made on a macad-
am surface alone, all depressions should be cleaned
thoroughly with stiff broom the surface plched nm
and the stones bound with screenings rammed in place
after sprinkng them with water The stone should not
be too large and the screenings should be clean The
use Of all old road sweepngs and organic matter should
be avoided
II the patrolman will 90 over his section Just after
s0olihi OF curing wet weather, he note all
pressons and decide where better drainage is needed
All loose stones should be removed and the shoulders
Of the road kept cleaned away The cutters should be
kept straight and to grade and all weeds cut off the
sides OF the road
In view of the widespread complaint relative 10
the speed ends who nfest the roads in the rural sec
TONS there is another which such road patrol
men might be put That is serve as spoilers against
those who have regard whatever for the speed limit
aw In fact in some instances such patrolmen might
be invested with the power OF county constables NOT
only for service for road parong and the suppression
OF speed hends but also for general peace purposes
the territory paroed That extension of duties would
serve to emphasize the fact that discretion would
have to be exercised in the selection Of the men il
they are to perform those added duties but such dis
erection is exercised in other matters and there is no
valid reason why should not also be exercised in the
matter OF patrolling and policing the improved public
roads even with the policing merely an incident Of the
pasrolng for purposes Of inspection and maintenance
county Engineer Wilson is of the opinion that with
Sacn patrol road might be kept for seven or eight
Se@fs az least before it would any great
Of resurfacng or rebuilding whereas without the ma
uoi It would possess only fraction Of that lasting
quality. ~ ''ssHs