Evening journal., 1916-12-23
SATURDAY, DECEMBER %, 1916.
coon ROADS LEGISLATION.

coon ROADS LEGISLATION.
II BCENTLY We asked James Wilson. State High
N way Commissioner. what legislation should be en-
acted to make for the proper maintenance of the inn
proved roads already in this state and TO IA
cilitate the building Of new improved roads Mr..
Wilson replied that II question too large and
too important TO be discussed ohand but that after
mature reflection he would be pleased to express his
views We received from him this morning that ex-
preston. II is as follows
"Road Width. Under the existing law no road re-
ceivng State aid built by bond issue can be OF
greater improved width than sixteen C6) feet Mod
ern traffic conditions require for safety width OF at
least eighteen ds) feet on all our t-cass roads,
and adjacent to the city Of Wilmington they would be
better for twentyfoot width would therefore rec
ommend change the law to this effect
"One-Year Clause: Section So OF the present law
provides that the contractor shall keep road in re-
pair for year after construction and that the county
retain FIVE per cent $50 the contract price for this
period as security that be kept Il is beveed that
the retention Of the five per cent materially increases
the contract price with corresponding saving to the
county. AS the roads built under our specifications
and supervision should be responsible for them
would recommend the elimination OF this section as
in the It has materially interfered with the main
tenance OF the road for the first year. It being abso-
iutely necessary account OF the increased travel
that the maintenance commence on the completion OF
roads and be continuous.
Supervision AS the supervisor appointed bp the
highway commissioner. on new construction 10 see
that the contracts specifications are strictly adj
heFed to- is the person constantly in charge of the
work, the highway commissioner on accoant OF his
manifold duties being able only to review the work
at intervals, IL is of the utmost Importance that he be
an intelligent and capable man, and such can not be
secured especially IN view OF the limited term OF en-
ployment. at the now set by law: viz three dol
lars $4,000 per day This section should be eliminated
and the Levy Court be permitted to fix reasonable
for ,.yt
commissioner, thereby enabling him to employ more
competent men and at very little additional is
false economy to hire cheap and incompetent men on
such important work
Trucks: Few persons recognize the amount and
kind OF travel roads and the increase OF late
Of the heavy trucks in both number and weight
The property owner OF course taxed for our roads
but the roads out by the traffic over them,
and only equitable just that the vehicle
which destroys them most should pay the most to-
wards their construction maintenance Within the
last year some Of roads have been literally de-
stroyed by the heavy trucks and while our truck own
ers generally property it is not in proper
ton to the benefit which they receive the damage
done. Some ocal truck owners and those from ada
cent States pay relatively very small the way
OF a motor license All this increase is in the line OF
progress, and while we do not advocate restricting
impeding IT, We believe some more equitable and ade-
quate measure OF taxation should be devised
weight OF Trucks As as roads are built 70
stand certain amount and weight % travel IT seem
that the motor manufacturers go us few poni- bet
ter and increase the weight and capacities OF their
motor trucks beyond the capacity OF the road bed II
would seem necessary to have some limit Truck
travel confined delivery will take care OF itself
but when truck owners engage in long hauls with
heavy trucks competing with the railroads but using
the peoples road beds bridges right OF way with
out they should be limited to certain maxi
weights.
Right to Close The Levy Court should have the
right to close roads TO travel when necessary and
also to limit the weights vehicles on certain bridges
In road construction it is often the best interest
of the county that the roads be closed for certain
time but there has been great difficulty in enforcing
this in the past.
Maintenance: BY the present law the improved
roads constructed under the direction Of the high.
commissioner. but when finished they are turned
TO he control OF the Levy Court and his author.
ity responsibility over them ceases-neither has
the county engineer any over them save What
be vested in him by the Levy Court as has recent
ly been done by resolution Of the court
Modern highway engineering a technical work
and which is today receiving the attention OF oui
best trained engineers in effort solve the CUES
lions Of road maintenance, COSTS etc Our count,
commissioners not supposed have this teclnica
knowledge and with many duties can not be expecte
TO give the time required on the improved roads II
their respective districts I would therefore, recon
that all highway work Of whatever character b
put under the direct supervision OF the county engi
This would require only slight change in tn
wording OF the present law
-alodern Highway: II Wilmington is to hold he