Evening journal., 1916-04-22

or the final payments. This sec
tion provides that partial payments
shall be made during the progress of the
work. but does not say how often. These
partial payments are not to exceed
eighty per cent. Of the value of the
work done previous TO the completion
of the road. The indefniteness of this
provision makes it possible TO pake pay
ments to one contractor every two
weeks and II another one every two
months according TO the wishes OF the
court. The contract should specify how
often partial payments are to be made
as, for example, following the usual
custom, once a month. 10 should also
specify the exact percentage Of the
value of work to be paid for when par
tial payments are made. As heretofore
recommended the provision for the re
tcntion of five per cent. Of the contract
price should be eliminated from thi,
section and IL should be provided that
at the time of the acceptance Of On,
work the full amount of the contract
price will he paid
Section 70 provides that the right
to increase or decrease the quantity
of the work is reserved. In compar
ing the final estimates with the esti
mate Of cost. i'm many caess II is found
that extras ir large amount have beer
allowed. In such work as highway
work where II Is possible 10 determine
almost every quantity exactly in ad
vance. n would seem z at very few
extras should be allowed. II a proper
survey is made and adequate prelim
mary Investigations conducted, the
amount OF extras should usually hC
less than five per cent OF the con
tract price.
On page 81 under Proposals" the
contractor states the unit prices FOL
which he will perform the differen
kinds Of work as specified in the pro
posal On page 25. Section AZ. Il Il
stated that bids will only be receive,
for the road complete and that item
lied bids are for the use of the high
way commissioner for making partia
estimates as the work progresses o.
In payment for any extra work. If thi
scheme is followed. It should be pro
vided that. II any items or work ar
omitted. the lump sum price should b.
corresponding decreased I'm accord
ance with the itemized bids. We
however, are convinced that the luml
sum method is bad and should not b.
used but that the contract price shoul
be based on the cost of the work a
obtained from the estimated quaint
ties multiplied by the several itemii
ed bids. II this be done any increase
or decreases in estimated quar-
-. 90 nf uFffhnN
the formalities of giving orders TO
extra work or for decreasing the col
tract price. We. therefore, strongl
recommend that this method be adop
ed. This method necessitates tn
making OF a final survey in order tha
the exact amount OF work performe
may be obtained as a basis for hn'
payment.
! Accounts.
Present Conditions. Accounts al
kept covering the expenditure OF Sta'
and county funds for the constructio
and for the maintenance OF highwa!
lin cases where the funds are provide
by direct taxation in the several hui
dreds. Published accounts GOVERN
the expenditures OF the above fun'
have been printed in the biennial r
ports Of the New Castle County Sta
Highway Commissioner and the al
nual reports OF the county road eng
neer respectively. Apparently accoun
covering the expenditure Of funds al
Ipropriated by the Levy Court for q
maintenance Of improved highways al
not published although the sum sa
10 have been expended for this pu
pose during 1915 amouted TO approx
mately $4,000.
Recommendations II is recon
mended that an annual report be pr
pared by the highway commission
which shall cover all highway VOL
coming under the jurisdiction OF Il
commissioner and shall include thr'
accounts covering respectively, frs
expenditures OF State and Levy Cou
Improved highways; second, Le'
Court appropriations for maintenan
OF improved highways; and. third. a
preparations by the several hundre
for maintenance and unimproved al
lpartly improved highways. These r
ports should show on constructi'
work the cost OF each item OF wo
comprised in the contract. Tn
should also show the total cost OF q
work as a whole as compared with q
estimated cost and explain in det;
why any differences exist The 7
ports on maintenance should show {
amount expended upon each road
lportion of road OF any particular ~
OF construction, the cost per squa
yard OF the work done and as near
as possible the exact location al
character OF repairs. On unimprov
roads. the reports should show {
J kind and quantity OF work perform
and It's location. The reports as
whole should show. where possib
the character OF the traffic over ca
road maintained so that an appro'
mate standard may be obtained OF
type OF road necessary for certs
kinds OF traffic. BY the continuous
cording Of such data for a number
, years. an engineer may, by the use
statistics thus obtained. deduct conc
sions pertaining to the most econon
; cal and suitable pavement for Civ
} local conditions.
II is further recommended that {
e reports and accounts Of the highw
t commissioner should be for year
e periods, coincident with those Of {
county auditor, which are from Ju
s to June 80. while at the prese
time. the highway commissioner
4 ports bi-ennially. for a period endi
= December 81, and the county road G
e gineer annually for a period endl
d March 81. The current practice max
$ impracticable and almost impossible
T comparison Of the financial reports