Evening journal., 1917-01-31
stan Correspondent.

] I~~o---N~NN-N NaO NACMnAAA AEUVAL VI
James Wilson. State Highway Engi-
neer for New Castle county Engi-
neer Wilson makes some important
recommendations chief among which
Is that the law be changed to permit
OF the construction Of hrst-class roads
receiving State aid, up 10 q width Of
eighteen 10 twenty feet, the width
now being limited TO sixteen feet.
Mr.. Wilson asks authority for the
Levy Court TO pay reasonable COM
pensation" 10 road supervisors. He
also recommends regulation Of
motor trucks using public roads He
says some OF the heavy trucks during
the. past year literally destroyed
roads. and believes a more adequate
system OF taxation OF trucks should
be devised.
Engineer Wilson desires the Levy
Court to have the right 10 close high
ways to travel when necessary. He
recommends that all highway work
be put under the direct supervision
Of the county engineer.
A modern, eighteen-foot wide high
way from the Pennsylvania line at
Claymont to the Maryland line, be-
low Newark, through Wilmington a
advocated by Engineer Wilson, II VIII
mington is 10 hold her place on the
Lincoln Highway. He also recon-
mends that gaps In the goOd-roads
system in New Castle county be built.
His report sets forth:
Since the first Good Roads Act Of
April IA 1903. up 20 January 1, 1917,
there have been built under the var
ious bond issues, State aid and coun-
~ appropriations, including 1892
miles Of old turnpike purchased, some
1902 miles OF improved roads, all
OF which are now under the county
control, and subject to county main
tenance." says Engineer Wilson.
The following list shows those
roads finished and accepted during
the year 1914, subject to one years
maintenance by the contractor, and
the amount OF the 8 per cent. retain
ed, according TO law, for that object
and the date Of its payment during
1915. at their final acceptance:
st. GeOrges-B -Boyd's Cor Rd 1852 80
Appoquinimink Hd Road. s 32S 90
Middletown South Road Gee. 297 80
Blackbird Hd State Road. 1105 81
West Chester Road TO Pa. Line 572 so
Middletown-Mt Pleasant Rd. 1864 80
State Rd. sta. 20 Tybout's Cor TOO 90
Glasgow Summit Bridge. Rd. 2205 90
Delaware City-St Geo's Rd 262 25
Hockessin- Yorklyn Road $40 90
Clark's to Birds Corner Rd. SIT 80
Newark Milford XRoads Rd. $40 90
Hockessln-North Star Road. S65 30
ITnQt nA ET0 ~
Blackbird Station Road 900. 450 90
Marshallton-Gap Turnpk. Rd. 124 65
Engineer Wilson gave the total cost
TO date OF the Hockessin North Star
Road, begun in 1914. and finished in
1915, as $50 o,2o2.4B; the st. Georges
to Boyd's Corner Road. sS2.sss.72;
Centreville. towards Ashland Road
SIS, ,46s.97.
Referring to the Concord Turnpike
Road. the report states that the plans
and specifications for this stretch OF
road call for the best modern practice
In road construction. On McKee's
Hill, from the city line for distance
OF 2050 feet. where there Is grade
OF 767 per cent, four-inch hillside
block, with a five-inch concrete foun-
datlon, will be laid. From the top
Of the hill for the remaining distance
Of 2750 feet a three-inch bitumlnous |
concrete surface will be placed and =.
on the macadam bed OF |
the old turnpike, which has been |
driven solid by more than 2 hundred |
years Of travel. An eight-inch flush 1
curb. protected on the outer edge and |
projecting downward to guard the /
from moisture will extend !
along the entire length OF both brick 1
and bituminous sections. AS a furth-
or precautlon tile underdrain has /
been specified for this sub-grade in /
he hollow near the city line.
This section OF roadway, when com
pleted will be the first OF such road |
(now called perma-
nent) IN New Castle County.
Expenditures in New Castle county
Tor road improvements, charged to
he State OF Delaware. for 1915. were
s721521, and during 1916, were ST.
32376.
A statement OF money spent for
he construction OF improved roads
by New Castle county, during 1915
md 1916 is:
Good Roads Funds, for roads con-
.racted for in 1914, and finished In
1916. SS3 30076s.
Good Roads Funds for roads con-
raeted for IN 1915, and finished in
916. $9.3S049.
Good Roads Funds, for roads con-
racted for in 1916, and not finished,
1873.
Total s42,51s.9O.
"Since the passage OF the FIRST Good
loads law. in April. 1903, until jan
airy ]. 1917. there has been expend-
IN the construction OF these roads,
nd the purchase OF the two old toll
pads, 81. 61S.14725. giving an av-
rage cost per mile OF SS.4SS.S7,'T
n. Wilson says.
During the last two years very
tile new road construction has been
me. all our time. energy and money
lving been expended IN the repair /
ID maintenance OF the roads al I
adv built. In 1915 we set aside ]
5000, and In 1916 $4,000 for this I
lrpose alone / feel that the Levy {
ourt, as a body. IS 20 be commend I
for their interest I'm this work. 4
UG6ESrED CHANGES \
load width. ~ "oAD LAWS. \
Under the existing law no road :
eoelving State aid or builf Inv hond :,
yLS,h al, vah De OF greater improved n
10 cora,.,a osn sixteen feet Modern traf- y
Mum u, OF at least eighteen soot n
M ny. nrst-eiass roads, and ad..co,'. on n
.ne City OF Wilmington tbe1 100 20 y
oe netter Tor a twentv-foot ,,,,, ,~Vulu q
would, therefore. rooo,e go eh. Nluth. m
Snnahse ma v IN the law to this eject n
VhV Athf Nlause. ei