Evening journal., 1914-10-16
country
ROADS IN CONDITION
Levy COurtmen Report Much
Accomplished Before Bad
Weather Sets In
ENGINEER TALKS
OF THE CONDITIONS

State Highway Commissioner James
Wilson feels that one ~ the grave
questions confronting those in favor
OF good roads In New Castle County
at present is the kind Of help to be
obtained, as well as the appropriation
for maintenance. Mr. Wilson also
spoke in glowing terms OF the road
work done by the prisoners from the
workhouse
During the summer the prisoners
built piece Of road from Greenbank
TO Marshallton finished with water
bound macadam and the road is
standing up well. Another piece of
road, about half a mile, built at a
cost of Sl,500, is that from Greenbank
bridge over to Prices Corner road,
making a short cut to Newport.
Levy Court Commissioner B. A.
Groves has had a busy year In his
district He has used a binder pre-
paratlon on several miles OF stone
roads. With the patrol system the
road from Elsmere to Prices Corner
has been rcsurfaced with three in
ches of stone and from Prices Corner
TO Marshallton bridge the three quar-
ters of mile of road has been re-
surfaced by the prisoners Now there
is splendid road to st. James
church
The short stretch Of road towards
Roseville is again being resurfaced
and gotten into condition with an oil
top surface similar to the asphaltum
surface just placed on the road from
the city line to st. James church,
through Elsmere to Prices Corner.
This piece OF road" said Highway
Commissioner Wilson today, "was in
bad condition on account of numer-
Gus holes. The road had been given
considerable care in repairing and
resurfacing by the workhouse people.
But persons who have used the road
should now go over Il and they will
appreciate the work dore by Com
missioner Groves. There is hardly
hole to be seen and the patrol system
will keep the road in trim
1T must be remembered, however"
continued Mr.. Wilson, that the road
leading from Union street by way of
Prices Corner, Marshallton, to New
ark, is the most travelled road in
the county, the Kennett pike excep-
led. The wear and tear on the road
is exceedingly nedNy.
Regarding the work now being
done through the county, Engineer
Wilson said that Commissioner Hol-
lingsworth and Commissioner Smith
have had considerable work done in
their districts. But" sale Mr.. Will
son, "the dirt roads IN Commissioner
Fouracre's district and same IN Com
missioner SCOTS district are in such
condition that | am not afraid to
compare them with any roads in the
United States
"In his district, Mr.. Fouracre has
been economical with his money, and
persistent with his work. The road
drags are kept in use at the proper
time and special attention is paid TO
the drainage. His district in general
is credit to New Castle County and
while farmers pay 40 cents road tax
they save money on the wear and
tear of their teams by having cham
pion roads,"
Work In One District.
Commissioner Fouracre has had 70
miles Of water bound macadam road
built, 10 miles of road resurfaced and
IL miles surfaced with the prepara-
ton. "Ugite." Nine miles of gravel
roads were built in ST. Georges hun
dred. St. Georges hundred is the
only hundred in which road drags
are used on all the roads, after rain.
Road drags in that hundred stand for
economy of the taxpayers money, Mr..
Wilson said.
In Pencader hundred 10 miles of
dirt road have been rounded and five
concrete bridges built Because of
the heavy auto trucks the old wooden
bridges have been replaced by con-
crete ones.
! Arrangements have now been made
/ TO build two miles OF Stag road I'm
| Pencaoer hundred. AS the district
has uptodate machinery the Stag is
| expected TO make a fine road. especi-
ally as The hauling will not be
heavy. The Stag when properly wet
and rolled becomes like concrete and
does not absorbe rain.
In Appointments and Blackhrd
hundred, Commissioner Scott is doine
! considerable work. Where the road
is sandy. clay is being added ant
where the clay is dead sand Is used
In this way life is given the dirt roaC
and at the same time a proper mix
/ ture is created.
In all the Levy Court districts il
the county the bitches are beinl
cleaned. the culverts and pipes open
ed and preparation made for winter.