Middletown transcript., 1914-06-20
THE PATROL SYSTEM
County Engineer Wilson Sends
Communication to Levy Court
RECOMMENDS PATROL SYSTEM

At the meeting of the Levy Cour
Tuesday afternoon, a communication
was received from County Engineel
Wilson in which he stated the amour
needed for maintaing roads in New
Castle county. He also called attention
to the need Of a more efficient system
of repairing and maintaining the roads
Following the reading of the communi
cation it was ordered filed and the fol
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the county engineer
be, and he is hereby authorized anC
directed to devise a suitable and prac
teal patrol system for the repair
and maintenance of the improved
roads in New Castle county and submit
to the Levy Court at its next meeting
thereof for approval such plan or sys
TEN as he shall recommend" "
The communication which was re-
ceived from the county engineer gave
the number of miles of improved roads
in the county and the apportionate
miles to each hundred, for which &
sufficient maintenance fund will have
to be provided, eff we are to keep eul
roads from further deterioration. =
There are now constructed and subject
to upkeep by the Levy Court before
the end of the fiscal year 1866 miles,
which at the rate of $500 per mile, will
require $49, 9O8; or in rouud figures $50,
600. Next year there will be 1856. Al
miles. On several of the most Travelled
roads especially on those roads leading
into Wilmington, the engineer suggests
it may be the best practice to resur-
face the present macadam roads with
some good bituminous wearing surface,
and as this class of repair can be done
at the same rate as ordinary mainten-
ance he hopes the Levy Court will add
at least $4,000 to the above estimate
for maintenance.
'"The objection may be- raised that
the tax rate must be increased so much
money be apportioned fer roads," Mr..
Wilson says, ''While it may not be
within my province to argue this point,
l might remark that if we are unable
to keep up the roads we have already
constructed, it is folly to build more
until we can, but I believe the people
want good roads and more of them,
and are willing and able to bear a
slight increase to keep our roads in
good condition, provided they are Sc
kept. AS a general rule when the peo-
pie get good thing they are willing
to pay for it.
While on this subject wish to briefly
call your attention to the need of some
more efficient system of repairing and
maintaining our roads, than we have.
In most Of the foreign countries that
have improved roads and in some OF
our States to limited extent, the con-
tinuous maintenance system has been
adopted, whether with single patrol
method or the rolling gang method OF
a combination of both; which of these
methods would be best for US, OF
whether in one part of the county one
method should be adopted and in
another section another will depend on
conditions and circumstances, but some
continuous system we should have; and
for the efficiency of the work the men
so employed should be assured of a
permanent job, as men so employed
profit by their own mistakes, become
experts in this line and soon take q
pride in their work"
The Levy Court thereupon adopted
the following:
Resolved, that the county engineer
be and he is hereby empowered and
directed to devise and put into opera
ton a suitable and practical patrol
system for the maintenance of all i'm
proved road IN New Castle county, and
Resolved, Further. that the sale
county engineer be, and he is hereby
vested with the same duties and auth
ority in reference to said improved
roads as he now has in reference tC
all other roads in said county by virtue
Of Chapter 156, Of volume "a, of the
Laws of Delaware.