Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-28
UNCLE SAM WANTS
ROAD WORK REDUCED
TO BARE NECESSITIES
Nothing to be Done Except Upon
Streets or Highways of Ma
tional Importance.
WILL OVERLOOK PROGRAM

received the following most lnpoFtant
bulletin from the United States Highways
Council, which becomes effective Scptem-
her 10 relative To highway and street
improvements during the war.
Orders on this subject have been re-
ceived bv the State Department before,
but the new ones are more drastic than
any yet received. Chief Engineer pham
viii 90 to Washington and ascertain
lust how far the new situation effects
road construction IN Delaware, when
Is considered purely war necessity
The United States highways Council
makes the following announcement "'th
reference to policy and procedure rs TO
highway and street work during the
period OF the war
L All proposed highway, street cuI-
vert, and bridge construction. reconstr'l'-
non, and maintenance involving "a,
the issuance of bonds; tb) the use ot ran
or water transportation, (cl the use OF
coal or oil fuel as or. ii the use of cement, ),
brick. asphalt. oil, tar. crushed stone,
or steel, taso sand and gravel where
shortage exists as highway material,
should frs, be submitted for approval
tn the nitcd States Highways Council
through the appropriate state highway
dcpar;mcnt Forms have been prepared
tor this purpose and supply placed
with each State highway department.
No manufacturer will furnish any road
building material until the project has
been approved 10y the United States
Highways Council
- The Council again urges that now
highways and street construction I've
confined to the most essential needs.
If this IS done there Will be . far greater
probability that the work thus selected
ran hc promptly and effectively carried
through to completion than If an amount
lar in excess Of the available facilities
were TO be undertaken.
The Council Is passing upon the
projects which come before 4 will give
urst consideration to maintenance with
view to conserving all tho highways
already completed # possible.
Reconstruction will bc iavorably
considered BY the Council only where
It Is clearly established that maintenance
Is no longer possible except prohhltivc
cost
New construction will hc given con
>lderation by tho Council IN the following
relative order Of Importance
"ll highways and streets q mll-
tarv value.
''G2) Highways and streets Of Ma
tional economic value.
't3l unfinished contracts involving
contractural obligations incurred pnoT
to April ;, 1918. where bond issue IS
lnvolvcd) which may not he disturbed
without serious consequences
80 Streets and highways which
although not of National economic I'M
partanon are o. such local m
notancr of the construction Of which has
progressed to such point rs TO canse
serious ha rdshlp If their construction
or completion Is postponed.
ELIMINATE LESS ESSENTIALS.
The Council is hopeful that the Sc
lcctivc conside ration Of nov highway
and street construction by the township
county. and municipal officials and III
turn hv the State highway departments
will so materially eliminate the lcSS es-
ScntIal projects as To make II possible
for the Council to render active and on
the projects il approves The AID con-
icmplated VIII be III the form OF such
action by the other government agencies
involved rs will remove obstacles 70 the
specdv completion Of the projects
3 By way of definition Of highways
Of military and National economic value
tho Council offers the following
Ia 4 highway Of military value is
one used regularly for he transport alton oi
military supplies IN considerable quantity
for the movement 8s an established
practice Of army tTucktrains, or which IS
essential TO the efficient operation OF q
military Cantonment, post. or plant
"tbl A highway of National economic
value l. one which serves or Will serve
II properly improved, directly To pro-
mote the welfare of the Nation and not
merely the local welfare A. example
It NAV be stated that III tins class would
he placed u highways which although
not directly used for military purpose,
vet serve to help win the war by greatly
facilitating the output movement ol
war munitions and supplies. , highways
which can clearly be shown 10 relieve
congestion on railroad lines IN a territory
which Is actually IN need OF such relief
81 highways which give access to OF
promote the output of natural products
needed bv the Nation to a marked degree
a highways winch further housing opel
ations undertaken by the Federal Gov
ernment or by other agencies with the
approval of che Federal Government
would Justify at times this designation
II State highway departments ar,
requested to give the most careful con.
sideration to each application on Its merit
in the light of the policy announced by
the Council and 10 exercise the power
of disapproval freely Only the projects
approved bv the State n ighway depart
ment will be considered by the Council
unless the department itself IS In doubt
and wishes a decision IN the nature OF q
precedent
.. The Council will shortly begin
in cooperation with the Office Of Public
Roads of the Department Of Agriculture
and the State highway departments OF
the several States, the preparation o
a program of road and street construction
reconstruction and maintenance through
out the United States for the working
season OF 1919 The purpose of the
program is TO obtain an approximation
of the character and amount Of stree
and highway work deemed esSentia
In 1919 together with an approximation
of the amount and character of financing
required, the amount and character o
the various materials entering into thc
work the extent to which rail and wateI
transportation will be involved and the
probable demands upon the labor supply
The preparation of the program In eacf
State will be directed by the State high
way department and will cover All State
county township, and municipal highway
and street work.
John Berpiey Stricken.