Evening journal., 1916-04-22
Changes NeU Castle Co,tys Road System Recommended

III IVGW
Castle county OF the State Of Della
ware.
In general. we found the following
conditions. First. that the organiza-
tion was not such as TO produce best
results: second, that the roads have
not been constructed so as to form a
satisfactory system Of highways: third,
that the accounts OF the highway ap-
propriations have not been kept in
such a way as to show the costs Of
the different classes Of work on spe-
cific highways, both as to construction
and maintenance: fourth that sutil-
cient attention has not been given TO
preliminary Investigations. surveys, de-
sign, plans, estimates. etc, before ad-
vertising for proposals for the work;
fifth, that the advertisements have not
been given such publicity as TO Sc
cure wide competition: sixth. that the
forms of proposals, contracts and spe-
cifications have been so drawn as to
permit divided authority. such changes
in work as TO favor il desired. GER
tain contractors and in many cases
have been 40 indefinite as not TO per-
init intelligent and economical bidding
Our Investigations have included
consideration OF the items. listed in
the Table OF Contents. relative to each
OF which the report will cover existing
conditions followed in each instance
by recommendation covering the eco
omnic and efficient development OF the
several phases Of highway work enum-
Grated
Organization.
Present conditions The New Cas-
Tie County State Highway Commits
sioner appointed by tho. Governor Of
the State OF Delaware for term
of four years at an annual salary Of
1000. according to AN Act to pro-
vide for the permanent Improvement
of iho public highways i'm the State Of
Delaware" shall investigate and con-
slider the best and most practical
methods Of construction. and mainte-
nance OF highways. and the estimated
cost of the various methods and sys-
tens"
According To laws numbered 1852
Section and 1884 Section 4. the Levy
Court OF New Castle County. Delaware
appoints a County Road Engineer for
a term OF four years at an annual
salary OF S2.50O. unless the county
road engineer also occupies the po-
sition OF New Castle County State
highway commissioner. in which case
the annual salary OF the county road
engineer is Sl.5OO The county road
engineer under the direction Of the
Levy Court. has charge OF making and
repairing public roads. bridges and
causoways.
James Wilson. the present encumbont
OF the Office OF New Castle county state
highway commissioner, also occupies the
position of county road engineer
The State law provides that the high.
way commissioner may employ all
clerical assistants and counsel service
and other assistants rs shall be ap-
proved by the Levy Court Of New Gas.
tie county and all such expenses 50 in.
CURED and approved shall he paid by
tho said Levy Court"
The law further states. in connection
| with the construction contracts. that
"llc shall as soon as practicable appoint
supervisor Of the construction Of the
| work under such contract who shall re-
ceivc for his services under this net 81
per day, 10 be paid by the IovyCourt d
The law further states. "And IL may
! be- the duty Of the Levy Court to APP
point a'county supervisor Of roads. who
shall hold his Office for four ycars-and
shall receive such salary or allowance
as the Levy Court may fx" and ct
shall hc the duty OF the county super
visor 10 report to the Levy Court all re-
pairs he may think necessary or proper
10 he made TO such county roads. and
under the direction and control of the
said Levy Court to spend monies raised
for such repair, IN such manner and
upon such portions of the roads as win
tend to Keep them in the best possible
state Of repair
The law numbered l4S3. Section 3.
and liS5. Section 3. states that the Levy
Court shall appoint some suitable per
son 90 be a road supervisor for each of
the hundreds in New Castle county.
who shall reside in the hundred for
which ho T.. appointed: the said hundred
wages TO be fixed by the Levy Court for
the time he was actually engaged in
I work. and "The hundred road super
visor shall have charge. under direction
of laii county road engineer. Of the
roads bridges and causeways Of their
I respective hundreds and shall in all
/ things carry out the directions ~ the
I said county road engineer in relation
thoceto They shall have power under
the direction Of the said county road en-
gineer. io employ such workmen and
teams and 20 purchase such materials
| for the purposes aforesaid"
The present organization. author
/ lied by the sections Of the law herein
stated. consists OF James Wilson. New
| Castle county State highway commits
s.Oner and county road engineer. a
clerk 10 the highway commissioner. a
/ clerk 10 the county road engineer. a
I road supervisor In each hundred. and
I supervisor on each highway con-
tract The engineering work such as
J surveys. preparation Of plans and es-
timafes and setting of necessary
stakes for lines and grades during
construction work is accomplished by
an engineer appointed for each high
wav contract. The cost of this engi-
neering work during 1913 and s1s14
Was s562529.
Recommendation. In order that
the highway engineering work Of the
county should be conducted efficient
! lly. g is Of fundamental Importance