Evening journal., 1918-02-26
ROULD BUILD ROADS
While WAR IS Oh
Chief Engineer UphamHopes
Project Will be Started
This Year
SAYS GOVERNMENT
WILL HELP WORK

Charles NJ Upham, chief engineer Of
Me state Highway Commission. is
anxious that the commission start the
work Of building the system Of high
ways through Delaware and despite the
war. he believes the project can be car
ried through without interruption.
His plans for the work have been COM
pleted and as far as his part Of the pro
iect is concerned he does not think
there should he any delay.
Mr. Upham has been getting the gov
ornment's views relative 10 the under
taking and he has found that the gov
ernment encourages such projects
when they are likely 10 aid the govern
nent as military highways The War
Densrimcnt and the Council Of National
Defense are said 10 favor the building
Of roads at this time Secretary Nc
AdoO has expressed his willingness to
afford transportation for materials for
such projects.
u is expected that there will be much
government transportation passing
over the highway II II is completed.
and for This reason the government. 10
is believed. will be greatly interested
in the undertaking. This is especially
true in view of the work the govern
ment Is doing in the lower part Of the
state in the way Of building fOrtitca-
tiOns.
There are several contractors anxious
to bid on the work and there is said 60
be an abundance of materials at hand
As far as the transportation Of this ma
terial is concerned. Mr.. Upham de-
clared that II the government will al
low tho use Of i00 freight cars and loco
motive. The highway department can
carry on a SiO00O00 project even with
an other transportation facilities cut
on.
Mr.. Upham made this statement after
carefully considering the project from
many angles. IN support OF the con-
tenti0n. Poe points out that there is plen-
ty of stone 20 be had in the northern
part of Delaware. and even though 90
should be impossible TO secure ade-
quatc quantities Of sand from Whining
ton dealers. the sand pits at Lewes
could De utilized as they afford salts
factory sand for roadbuilding purposes.
He reports that plenty OF cement is 60
be had. and predicts that there will be
no lack Of bidders.
The chief engineer reports that there
appears 80 have been some apprehen-
SION ON the part OF farmers who fear
that the roadbuilding program as con-
lemplated might drain the adjacent
farms Of much needed labor which Is
now very scarce, but he sees no cause
for alarm.
70 is pointed out by him that the
contractors would import much of their
labor. men who are in the regular
employ OF such contractors and who
must have at least some technical or
skilled knowledge Of road construction.
ne asserted that only 20 a small de-
gree would farm labor be available
for the contractors.
rs an Illustration. Mr.. Upham said
that probably not more than 10 men
would be necessary for the consiruc-
ilon Of the highway from Dover TO
smyrna and considering the number
of workmen imported by the contractor
the amount Of labor taken from that
section would be small
Considering an things, Mr.. Upham
believes that the project can be carried
on without serious handicap regard
less OF the war. and expressed himself
a. anxious 90 begin
Aside from TIE probable interest on
the part Of the government in the pro-
iect in the upper end Of Delaware and
the road between this city and Milford.
advocates Of good roads see In the lat
ter project a means whereby the cost
OF living may be reduced In Whining
ton in that it would expedite the trans
portation by truck Of the products Of
field, garden and orchard TO the mar
kets Of this city.
Experiments which already have been
conducted along that limo have war
ranted the conclusion that with i'm
proved highways such produce would
he successfully brought here and there
by ease the burden on the housewives
pOcketbOOk.
The road from Milford 10 Whining
ton, the expense Of which T. C.. dupont
has agreed 90 bear. will not be dim-
cult project If the recommendations Of
Mr.. Upham are followed, the principal
features being cui-ons to stralghten the
route.