Evening journal., 1917-01-31
ENGINEER WILSON In REPORT TO
GOVERNOR URGES WIDER ROADS.
TRUCK TAXATION, FILLING GAPS

II peins absolutely necessary. on ac-
count OF the increased travel that
the maintenance commence on the
completion of our roads. and be con-
tinuous. ~0
Supervision.
AS the supervisor, appointed bv
the Highway Commissioner on nav
construction 20 see that the contract
ana specifications are strictly ad-
hereo to, is the person constantly in
charge Of the work, the Highway
Commissioner. on account of his
manifold duties being able 10 review
the work only at intervals. IL IA OF
the utmost importance that he be An
intelligent and capable man. and
such cannot be secured, especially in
view Of the limited term OF emplov-
ment, at the wage now set by law
viz: SO per day. This section should
be eliminated. and the Levy Court
permitted 10 fix a reasonable COM
pensation for supervisors selected bv
the Highway Commissioner thereby
enabling him 10 employ more COM
petent men, especially as the addi.
tlonal cost would be comparatively
slight. II is false economy TO HRS
cheap and incompetent men on such
important work.
Should Regulate Trucks.
Few people recognize the amount
and kind OF travel over our roads ana
the increase Of late OF heavy motor
trucks, In both number and weight.
The property owner, Of course. is
taxed for our roads, but the roads are
worn out by the trafice over them.
and It seems only equitable and lust
that the vehicle which destroys them
most should pay the most towards
their construction and maintenance.
Within the last year some OF our
roads have been literally destroyed
by the heavy trucks, and while our
truck owners are generally property |
owners, and pay a property tax, II is |
not In proportion to the Dement'S |
which they receive nor the damage |
done by the number and weight OF 1
their trucks. Some local truck own /
ers, and those from adjacent States. |
are not property owners and ,
pay only a relatively small tax in the
way OF motor license. All this in
crease OF traffic Is IN the line OF prog
ress and while We do not advocate
or impeding Il, we believe
some more equitable and adequate
of taxation should be de-
vised
AS soon as roads are built 20
stand a certain amount and weight
of travel, il seems that the motor
manufacturers go us a few points
better, and increase the weights and
capacities OF their motor trucks be-
yond the capacity OF the road beds
L would therefore seem necessary to
have some limit TO their weight
Truck travel confined to local deliv
cry will take care OF itself. but when
truck owners engage IN long hauls
with heavy trucks, competing wifi
the railroads. but using the people
road beds, and bridges. as a right of
way. without extra cost they should
be limited TO a certain weight and
pay an extra tax.
Right 10 Close.
The Levy Court should have the
right to close roads to travel when
necessary, and also to limit the
Weights OF vehicle on certain bridges.
IN road construction II Is often for
he best interests OF the county that
he roads be closed for a certain time.
ut there has been great difficulty In
'nforcing this in the past
by the present law the improved
oads are constructed under the d.
ection OF the Highway Commits
ioner but when finished they are
urned over to the control of the ]
4evy Court, and his authority and
over them ceases -
leither has the County Engineer anv
ontrol over them save what NAV he ]
ested In him by the Levy Court
iodern highway engineering is a ,
eohnical work, and one which is 20
ay receiving the attention of our s
est trained engineers in an effort IN I
olive the questions OF road construc- I
on, maintenance, costs etc Our J
'ounty Commissioners ara NOT s,,r !.
osed to have this technical knowI- \
dge, and with their MANY duties
annot De expected 10 give the time Z
equlreo on the Improved roads I'm I
helr respective districts. / would :
nereIore recommend that all high ,
.V WoIk OF Whatever character be ;
Ut under the direct supervision ot J
le county Engineer. This would !
equire only slight change In !
le wording OF the present law. Our :
eVy Court, recognizing the above.
as already by resolution placed the :
are or the roads under the charge ~ =
10 county Engineer. but II would be =
etter II II were so done by an act
the Legislature, the idea being that >.
ie Levy Court members act as a =
oard OF directors in road matters :.
ut that the executive features he :
nc TO the engineering department =
'odern Highways. =
"If Wilmington is 10 hoId ber n
lace in the Lincoln Highway. ana h
? a stopping place for North and o
outh travel. along the Atlantic sea- y
,ard, and for her growth and com K
ercial benefit, Il is very important +
at the approaches TO the city be L
'pt IN good order. This Is particu- A
rly true Of the road leading from "
aymont on the Pennsylvania state 7
ne, TO the Maryland State Line via G
o old Philadelphia Turnpike. Is
rough Wilmington. Marshallton ana n
'wark. TO the Elkton road. Two T
les OF the old turnpike were re- @
instructed some six years ago, and s
other four have been resurfaced d
tn a light GOAT OF stone. and oiled, al
the whole road is In constant ei
ed OF repair. The stretch OF road In
IN Wilmington 10 Newark. and be- pl
nd Is, In some parts, now In its &C
elfth year, and has paid for itself p
ny times over, so that no regret q
I'd be felt at It's reconstructlon TO NJ
n the nnnda nf rlandnrn tl.nA a. L. On