Evening journal., 1915-05-25
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER
WILSON RECOMMENDS OIL
SURFACE FOR MANY ROADS

Wilson. at the meeting OF the Levy |
/ Court today. presented a report of |
the condition of the improved or
macadam roads of New Castle county, |
showing the necessity for repairs to
some Of them. and also recommending
general oil surfacing treatment for
/ the heavily traversed highways. In
! his report Commissioner Wilson
says:
I TO the President and Members of the
Levy Court of New Castle County,
I Delaware.
In accordance with your resolution
nstructing me to state what roads in
my judgment needed repairs, and
what material would be best suited
for use on certain ones for their up
keep and maintenance, l beg to sub
nit the following brief report. Your
honorable body will understand that
the subject is rather a broad one and
|, open to discussion and difference IF
! opinion, no matter what recOmmenda-
, tions may be made. We must also
! take into consideration the matter
I of expense, and If we have a fixed
amount TO expend, then the cost Of
! our repairs must come within that
amount, or in other words we must
"cut our suit to fit our CLOTH" so
that we are restricted somewhat as
TO what we can do.
I We must also take into consideration
the grade of the roads TO be treated,
kind Of traffic on them, many of our
roads that were built for automobile
and other ordinary traffic now being
, used by heavy trucks with rigid tires,
transporting several tons per head, and
the climatic conditions governing them.
in fact many elements may determine
! what repairs shall be made. This applies
probably more materially to the con-
, struction of the roads in the first place,
but has also its place in the question OF
Z repairs We have still roads under the
care of the contractor, others are two
years old. in various good shape and
form, and others from two to ten years
old, in various states of condition. The
first class il would probably be well 10
leave with the contractor until his time
is up 10 them, although for various rea-
Z sons | believe it would he better gener-
Z ally TO have the law 80 altered as to give
Z these roads over 90 the care of tho
Z county within three months after their
Z completion. The second class, OF those
Z recently come under our care, and still
z in good form, should be treated with
z some good road oil wearing surface be-
fore deterioratng and getting out OF
shape. The third class must be repaired
and put in shape again either by resT-
z facing or patching. as the case may re-
quire. before any wearing surface can be
applied with success.
In APPOINTMENTS and Blackbrd
hundreds we last year treated several
miles of road with a road oil with
very good results, the roads being
Z still in excellent condition. the other
roads were also gone over and given
top dressing of good binding
Z screenings. | believe the oil treated
z roads will last with only patch here
4 and there we'll through the year and
z probably until next spring, when a
2 second coat of the same material will
z keep them in good condition with
= slight expense for two (2) years more
= One road in Blackbird hundred, the
z road from Duck creek towards Cy.
q press Corner. sometimes called the
z Jack Wright road, has never been re-
z surfaced since coming into the
= county's hand. some three years ago
q but is still in good shape, but about
= to ravel II you could spare the
UlOntN 10 HUN Ull CuiidAt AAAn ANdh
y believe IL would last without othel
y repairs for several years.
= In ST. Georges and Pencader hund
= reds the same conditions exist as II
q the other two. The pieces of roa'
y from Summit Bridge to Mt. Pleasant
q and the small piece from Middletowl
= to ST. Annes road. both on the mail
y State road together with the roa'
- j afsalIrfnttrt. ~ ndprga
y good shape, and If possible shoul
y now receive an oil surface treatment
u The road from Middletown toward
= think had better be brought intotaoi
q Warwick, Maryland, is a very muc
y travelled road and Is worthy Of
y good oil surface treatment. The roa
= from Middletown towards Warwicl
q Maryland. is a very much travele
y road and is worthy of a good oil SUI
y face treatment, but | think ha
= better be brought into prop'
y condition by patching the mar
= small holes and resurfacing a fe
u places with stone and screenings b.
= fore applying any. The road fro
y Summit Bridge to Glasgow was ollie
= last year and is still good. The roi
y from Glasgow TO Cooches Bridge al
= from there to Newark is very I'll
y in places. and must be resurfac'
y quite heavily in their sections, al
y the few pot holes filled on the rest
y the road before anything more is dor
y The piece Of amiesite road fro
y Coochs Bridge TO the White Cli
= Creek hundred line is in very go
v condition and will need but few 7
4 pairs for two or three years; q
q rest of the road from this point
y Stanton via Christiana is in the sar
y condition as the Cooch's Bridge
= Newark road. and needs the sar
y treatment The Elkton road from q
y State line to Newark is in excelle
q condition. having been treated la
q last year.
v The road from Newark to Wilmin
= ton is one of our very much us
= roads, both by automobiles and hea
q motor trucks, and is besides part
= the through road to Baltimore, Was
y ington and the South. II is difiici
= and expensive to keep in good con'
q ton. and part OF il now is very mu
~ out of repair. yet It is one Of the pri
y cipal roads by which foreign tra'
= Judge all our roads. The stretch
= road from Newark 10 Roseville bridi
y and the piece from Harmony Gre
y Roads to st. James Church are no
= except few small holes which c
y be easily repaired. in good conditi
a for a good oil surface treatment, a