Smyrna times., 1917-12-05
HIGHWAY WORK IN STATE
To GET IMPETUS IN SPRING
ooAo ENGINEERS GETTING IN
TOUCH WITH NEW THINGS
Great Difficulty in Getting Road Mater
ial-Convict Labor Pleasing to En-
gineers Over in New Castle

Il Great DlTlCullY III SS''''S
ial-Convict Labor Pleasing to En-
oineers Over in New Castle
Charles M. Upham, chief engineer
g the Delaware State Highway De-
Dortment. Engineer James Wilson of
New Castle County and other road
non of Delaware are attending this
woek meeting of road builders at
Richmond, Va. Military roads, the
ofeets of the war upon the work of
rosd builders, and federal aid are oc-
cunving much of the attention of
those attending this meeting. The
nrogram for the first day of the con-
yention, yesterday, provided for fore
NOON and afternoon sessions and a
theatre party in the evening. At the
forenoon session, President G.. P.
Coleman. State Highway Commissioner
Of Virginia, delivered the presi-
dential address and the topic, "Pre-
sent Conditions Affecting Road Con-
struction, and Measures Taken to
Meet Them" was freely discussed.
Among those scheduled to take part
were w. D. Uhler, Chief Engineer of
the Pennsylvania State Highway De-
partment, S. E. Bradt, Superinten-
dent of Highways of Illinois, and W.
S. Keller, State Highway Engineer of
Alabama. The afternoon session was
taken up by discussions of set
topics, a general discussion and the
appointment of committees. The
topic, "Car Shortage, Present Condi-
tions and the Remedy" " was pre-
sented by Charles M. Upham, Chief
Engineer of the Delaware State High.
way Department, and discussed by +.
F. Rogers, of the Highway Commits.
sioner of Michigan, and Clifton Cowen,
State Highway Commissioner of Ohio.
Unable TO Obtain Stone for Road WorE
New Castle county road builders
have been unable recently to obtair
stone to carry on the work. The ordel
fOrbidding the use of open-top freight
cars in the shipment of road material.
has worked to a dIsadv antsge to roaC
building in Delaware, so much so that
Gen. dupont has had to suspend Oper
ations on his boulevard in Sussex ant
all county commissions have beer
obliged to adopt a similar course. Tn,
time, however, has about arrived TO
frosts and bad weather. When tn,
spring opens it is hoped that condi
tions will favor the obtaining of roat
material so that DUPONT can continu
with his highway up state and tn
Highway Commission can do some goo
work. In the Smyrna-Dover vicinit
especially, it is hoped that early oper
atiOns will begin to build stone roa
from the Kent County line to Dove
connecting up with the stone road nov
fairly good all the way tc Whining
ton. Along with this it is hoped ths
the causeway at HoffecIer's Millpon
will be rebuilt wide enough to accom-
mOdate the traffic.
New Castle Pleased With Convict L Labc
Speaking of Delaware the Sunda
Star says: "The Levy Court Commits
sioners of New Castle County frol
time to time have been muck please
over the fact that they are able to g
prisoners from the New Castle count
workhouse to do road work. The d.
mand for help by the munition ar
other plants has caused the men fro
the country districts to go after tn
big pay. Accordingly it has been
very difficult matter to secure men
work on the roads. During the pa
month or so Commissioner Elliott, Fl
the Third district, and commission
Groves IN the next district, have hi
several men from the workhouse worl
ing on the roads The men were
cnarge of Everett Guest who was pa
Oy the county 81 a day. The m,
worked for the county at the rate
SL'20 per day and the money was pa
10 the trustees of the New Cast
county workhOuse. The men VIII
theY are discharged will receive the
snare Of the money. While it is
great benefit to the Levy Court to G
the men the latter are benefited
Oelng out of doors and will be remu
Grated for their work -