Evening journal., 1916-06-06
ATTORNEY FRANK SPEAKMAN AND HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER JAMES

and maintenance Of the unimprOved
or dirt roads Of the various rural
hundreds. IS expended under the SUI
pervision of the Levy Court, and the
county road engineers, county SUI
pervisor Of roads and local supervi-
sors for each hundred. who are ap-
pointed by the Levy Court.
, The people of this county firmly be-
lieve in local self-government and To-
cal self-control. Prior To the adop-
{ ton of the present constitution Of
this State in 1897. the officials of this
county were largely appointed by the
Z Governor Because OF the demand
made by the people OF this and the
other counties that they be permit
ted to elect their own county officers
the said constitution of 1897 confer
red upon them that right.
/ Unless the unimprOved or dirt
roads Of the rural hundreds are 10
be constructed and maintained by tho
State az the expense OF the State the
citizens Of the rural hundreds Of this
/ county would oppose and resent any
I change that would take the control
thereof from a person or persons di-
rectly answerable 10 them and put
the charge thereof under the control
Of the State through State officer,
appointed by the Governor
The remainder OF the said first spe-
cihc recommendation refers 10 the
manner Of appointment of the New
Castle County Highway Commits
sioner, his term OF office, his quslih-
cations. his residence and his salary.
For reasons which are clearly ap-
parent no recommendation is made in
respect thereto.
Seccad Specific Recommendation by
Commission Of Engineers.
1T is further recommended that
the highway commissioner may ap-
point an assistant engineer at an an
nual salary OF from $1,000 to $4,000 a
year. who shall be q civil engineer,
having had experience in highway
Engineering; a craftsman at an an
nual salary of $1,000 to $i.500i an
Office and field assistant at an annual
salary OF S720 to $500; a stenogra-
pher at an annual salary Of 1924 to
$3.50. and such other employees as
may be authorized by the Levy Court.
Il will be noted that the above spe-
nual expenditure by the Levy Court
for engineering work not including
supervision OF construction and main
tenance. Of from $6.044 to $3.50. IL
should be noted that during 1913 and
1914 the Levy Court paid for the
above engineering work approximate
ly $4,000 per year.
Recommendation by Highway Com
missioner.
IL the New Castle County Highway
, Commissioner. Is to have charge OF all
highway work coming under the jur-
isdiction OF the State and the Levy
Court he should have a properly
equipped department TO take care of
such work. The said department
should not be organized for the pur-
, pose Of taking the entire charge OF
the construction OF roads, but should
be equipped to take charge Of the su-
pervision OF said construction. and
r should also be fully and properly
! equipped to take the entire charge o
!, the maintenance OF said roads.
The commission Of engineers call'
attention to the fact that during th'
years 1913 and 1914 the Levy Court
l
struction OF roads Appropriately sixty
three hundred dollars per year IL is
assumed that these figures are cor
rect During these years quite a
considerable amount Of money was
spent for the construction OF new
roads. During the year 1915 the Levy
; Court spent practically no money for
such engineering work because there
was but a small amount OF money eX-
pended for the construction Of roads.
an the past the money available for
the construction OF roads has been
largely raised from bond issues, and
, the amount spent during each year
: from the time the county began the
: construction of improved roads has
varied largely.
It would not be proper and eco
: nomical to expend any great amount
81 OF money 10 equip the highway de-
o. partment for the purpose OF enabling
! il to construct roads. Such a de-
2 partment. as far as the construction
o OF roads is concerned. would. OF
r course. be useful when he county
r had money on hand with which tc
b. build roads, but would be OF little OF
~ lN use III lt0NfAA w N'hoAi Wv NA'A
when there was little or no money on
I hand with which to build roads. Il
e would he much more economical 10
j. employ engineers from outside Of th'
y department. under the supervision o.
the highway commissioner, in connec
- tion with the construction of said
roads. AS stated above the said de
3 partment should he properly equip
,f ped 10 take care Of all maintenance
work in connection with roads
" Third Specific Recommendation b!
" Commission Of Engineers.
n IAN inspector OF construction TO
~ each highway contract should b.
,s appointed by tho highway commits
10 siouor at a salary OF from 81 TO So
" day"
s Comment aud Recommendation b.
n Highway Commissioner.
j" The adoption of the above recon-
mendation would make no change 4
e the existing conditions excepting a
a TO the salary OF the inspector OF con
d struction which is increased from $
e per day 10 from 81 to So per day. A
d the present time the law provides 70
G a supervisor Of construction at sal
y airy OF SO per day
n On account OF the scarcity Of avail
d able men qualified to act as inspec
tor OF construction, or supervisor @
= construction and the limited term O
- employment Il is recommended tina