Evening journal., 1914-07-07
SYSTEM
FOR COUNTY ROADS
Levy Court Agrees After
County Engineer Makes
Recommendation
MAINTENANCE
BUREAU FAVORED

AT the meeting of Levy Court this
morning communication was received
from County Engineer Wilson suggest
ing the proper method to be followed
in the maintenance and upkeep of the
improved roads in the county. In the
communication Mr.. Wilson stated that
the patrol and ROLLER gang systems
combined are the proper ones for care
of the roads in this county.
Following the reading a resolution was
offered by Commissioner Burris and sec
onded by Commissioner Fouracre, au-
thorizing the county engineer TO put
into effect suitable and practicable
patrol system at once.
Before vote was taken on the reso-
luton Mr.. Smith moved that action be
deferred until another meeting, but Mr.
Fouracre opposed this, stating that the
people of the county demanded instant
action on the question. Mr. Burris alsc
declared that the resolution should b
adopted at once. After some discussion
/ Mr.. Smith withdrew his objections an'
| the resolution was adopted.
The communication from County En-
gineer Wilson, follows;
To the President and Members OF
the New Castle County Levy
Court:
Gentlemen One of the most
difficult problems of the day in
road work. and one Of the most
important, is the proper main
tenance of our new improved
roads. All roads, no mat
matter how well constructed
0eteriorate more or less rapidly.
under our climatic conditions and
diversified traffic, and unless
properly looked after and kept
up will soon be worn out. As
ultimately the road question Will
be reduced to one OF maintenance
and repair. we should go very
slowly in adopting any hard and
fast system of upkeep. and only
after q careful study Of its cost,
! data and efficiency Several sys-
TENS have been tried with varied
success. both abroad and In this
country. The spasmOdic system,
if IT can be called a system. of
patching large holes at long
intervals has given verv poor re-
suits
The contract system. or Civ
ing of sections Of road for re-
pair without specifications or su-
pervision, has also proven unsat-
isfactory. The patrol system
h Of rs.ad flra mn in
charge of permanent and practi-
cal men, a section TO each nan.
has been found very efficient for
many years in Europe and late
" to some extent here. The
gang system, consisting of a
movable corp OF men. has also
been approved.
Tho best system of all for cur
own use would seem to be
combination of the two last, that
is a single patrol system and a
rolling gang, somewhat like that
adopted by our best railroads
Our rolling gangs would gener-
ally consist of our single patrol
men collected into d corps of
workers when needed on long
stretches. or distributing mater
ial, or any extra heavy work.
This system is also elastic and
suitable to the conditions gov
erning our different districts.
Whatever system may be
adopted it is absolutely neces-
sary for the best results that a
proper organization be effected,
with one competent and responsi-
bic person at the head of it, and
the working of the system should
be left 10 that person. as too
many cooks are said TO spoil the
best pudding. so will too much
y interference spoil the best orga-
~ nizatiOn, and destroy its effec-
y tiveness.
= We now have a very good dirt
~ law, in fact. one of the best in eN
70 istence. with a supervisor in each
hundred, who is held responsible in
so far as his hundred is concerned
l have thought that in regard t,
our stone roads somewhat simi
lar system could be adopted an,
IE that. where possible. the same su
| pervisor could look after the pa
trolmen in his hundred and repor
AhNAA AAiiihs ~ AAinfH VIC ANulA uANi
ne interchange our men from the dir
us to the stone roads and also tn
~ other way around. when needed
e. and thus be sure OF our labor, AM
ne work more economically.
ty We should strive to pick out good
ed careful men. intelligent enough {
ar understand instructions, and dill
er gent enough to always find some
an thing to do on the roads. The me
re- 80 employed should be encouraged {
ar look forward TO a permanence j
ng their position and will no douh
of take added interest in their worl
90, There should be established n bu
reau of maintenance and repai
30. either under the highway commi:
of sioner or county engineer, with
OIL competent man in charge Til
man would be in charge of all main
els tenance work. be directly respons
3S BILE for il and make reports to n
els chief. who in turn would be respoI
sible TO the Levy Court
Yours respectfully.
JAMES WILSON.
NJ County Enginee
ms The resolution, which was then adj
- ed bv the court was as follows:
.ho Resolved; That the county eng
neer be. and he is hereby empowers