Milford chronicle., 1918-12-27
DRAINAGE BOARD TO
PROTECT STATE ROADS
Board Would Work in Conjunction
With Highway Commission and
Reclaim Thousands Of Acres

CongresSman-elect Layton's propos-
al Tor drainage commission meets
With the complete approval Of Chas.
NJ. Upham, chief engineer OF the State
Highway Commission. who believes
such a body working in conjunction
with the highway commission could
save a very large sum Of money % the
State in safeguarding the good roads
that are to be built. In an interview
about roadbuilding Mr. Upham indors-
ell as one Of the best things for Della
ware az this time the establishment Of
drainage commission. first publicly
advocated by Congress smau-elect Caleb
r. Layton.
Nh. Layton vigorously told Of the
need OF the SJa;e Tor just such com
mission. He declared necessary a
drainage comm ssion, to be composed
OF three public spirited men who would
ofer their services gratis, and that
this body would work in conjunction
win the State Highway Commission.
Mr. Layton also declared that unless
such commission is formed the mil
hons OF dollars which are 20 be spent
u good roads viii in part be wasted.
owing to the fact that the swamp lands
E.ll deteriOrate the roadbeds. In ad-
dition TO preventing this. he said.
system Of drainage would eliminate
the thousands OF acres OF swami land
in the State. which at present breed
disease. and would reclaim them for
cultivation.
Ii was about this feature OF DR.. Lay
toms speech that Mr. Upham vas en-
thusiasrc and declared that he was
not only for such a commission, but
also said that such a body was needed
in Delaware for about a thousand
years. and he also stated that some
OF the officials at Washington. even
al this late date, are so uninfOrmed
,hat they think that most OF the lower
counties are under water at high tide
"It doesn't seem possible that such
ignorance about the State exists, said
Mr.. Cpham. but such is the case right
in Washington. and l think that a
comprehensive work. such as would
undoubtedly be taken up by the drain
age commission. would put an end 10
this unreasonable attitude and would
also work for the benefit OF the State.
and particularly the TWO lower coun-
ties. where there are millions OF acres
that can and would be reclaimed. Fur
rhermore. there is the road work 70
consider. As engineer. il is my duty
TO look after road construction, and N
this case l agree with Or. Layton about
the great expense that is being put on
the roads. And with him. / wish to
say that the future maintenance OF the
roads depends largely upon good
drainage.
I'm fact" Mr. Upham continued, If
a drainage commission Is established
il would make roads that are az times
now impossible. completely gA1ssa0ie !
in Kent and Sussex counties as the re- |
suit Of proper drainage The main
-ensuce cost would also be cut down. /
AS in the case now in many, many in /
stances. instead of rebuilding roads en- (
-irely in the lower counties. the drain 1
age commission and its work would I
mean only 10 reshape the road. and /
hat alone is the saving OF . 70 50 I
per cent in cost. In many cases the /
saving would equal one-half and in 4
some others even more. Yet this re-
.taping and rebuilding must be done /
with all its cost. Take, even now, the /
-oad from Glendale 10 Milford. On
hat stretch there is no ditch OF suul- T.
.ient size TO drain the water. And I
many other instances Of the same sor. I
.an be given throughout the state
Furthermore. Mr. Upham declared, I
.that as the Highway Commission now .
las In good working order the engin- /
.ering department I am willing to have
hat department 60 with the drainage I
commission and to use its various find I
ngs along with its new work. This .
would also save the cost of new en- .
cheering department aud at the same I
ime make the two commissions work 1
ogether properly. and in that way l (
yolud see that the road work received /
rs share Of the drainage activities. /
Te have the maps Of the State and /
ouses already prepared and these also /
.ould be used by the drainage com /
mission"
Mr.. Upham then spoke Of the work .
~ the Philadelphia pike. which he I
avs is progressing rapidly. On Pen
" Hill, he said that getting through /
he deepest rock, which has peak OF
welve feet. IS done now and that there
) Just a little more 10 be accomplish
d-a bar OF three or four feet. Al
hough the brick paving has been layed
rom DIT. B. r. Veasey's place TO the
bellevue Quarry, the road is not open
o public traffic. and especially to
eaYy trucks. because the bricks are
ot properly set.
On the second contract of the pike,
-hich belongs TO Contractor Olson,
here is a part of the road. starting
rom Frank D. Lackey's place, being
ept up with stone More than three
liIes of the Philadelphia pike in this
ection has been finished which also
leans the laying of the brick This
ection is also not yet open 70 traffic,
8 the engineer wishes the road to
roperly settle.
Another subject that Mr.. U9ham
alked of briefly was the new system
( snow removal for the Phlad slphia
ike. A contract has already been
iade, he said, TO keep the pike clean
{ snow when the snowfall is three
lches or more. The road will he kept
lean by a snow plow that will be
auled by a five-ton truck. The Ma
onal Highways Transport Commit
ee and the War Department are the
To agencies that upheld this work,