Evening journal., 1918-04-05
olTnAcrous RoAD CONDITIONS.


xrERE is further evidence that brokei-down public
IA roads constitute an exceedingly poor advertisement
for county or a state that IS responsible for them.
The following scath!ng words relative to the Delaware
roads between Caymont and the Maryland line below
Newark have been written by the automobile editor Of
tho Baltimore News after he dad ridden those thor
oughfares and himself the condition they in:
10 Is in The deepest sorrow and not at an IN
that these few words will be written about The dcplOaha
roads Ia Tie state o. Delaware particularly between
Wilmington and the Maryland state line. ones heart
really goes out to Delaware. 40 least These We're my
fhonsfs and srs,ed for that state as early Yesterday
morning mo,ored through the grand old State OF
Delaware route 70 Baltimore from Syracuse. ~ Y.
Don't censuro DeiawUre-piiy the unfortunate Stetet
sympalhy It's people need sympathy, and yet deep
In ones heart feels though both Delaware
aud its people MS Governor It's legislators etc., should
at least have some compassion for the feelings Of
motorists whom Delaware would welcome to her borders
visitors
Many are ;he rough and rocky roads have traversed
by motorcar aud by horsedrawn vehicles and by horse
back There also the proverbia Rocky Road 10 Dub
lin" Those all fade into insignifcence when compared
to Delaware roads, particularly from Wilmington TO the
Maryland state line Series after series OF ruts from
and half TO two feet deep, OF furrows closely
semblns newy-plowed held little ravines and sunkea
mud gardens, protrudng rocks and bouders-thoso
a applicable 10 the roads In Delaware particularly be
tween Wlmngon and the Maryland state line. The high
way between Wilmington and the Pennsylvania state line
Is far from bens smooth road but It is beautiful
boulevard compared 20 stretch Of desncable road
way west OF Wilmington route TO Baltimore.
rode the crags, humps, ruts, burrows. guies
This famed for It's easy-rdng qualities
It is light, comfortable and economical II u weren't
honestly don't believe would have written this article
on the other hand doubtless would be in hospital
suffering from conclusion Of the brain. fractured skull
or broken leg And Delaware, in the hospital would
ways Thanks TO the automobile able TO pen these
few words about the deporable Delaware roads Broken
springs smashed wheels front and axes snapped
twan-these arc happening daily to cars being driven
from Wilmnglon TO Baltimore.
To get back on subject Of roads New York State
roads having been properly built are In wonderful
shape There no skmpng scrapng In the building
roads in the Empire ate, the result being OF the
hnes chains Of roads in the country These roads are
wthstandng the heavy trac OF trucks and due
the contested freght-car situation Portions Of the
Jersey and Pennsylvania roads are almost deporabe but
those two States roads the whole good It IS
difficult matter TO them. Marylands beautiful
state roads from the Delaware line to Baltimore have
many bad. rough spots but the Roads Commission
hbited cal "headwork IN putting Of to work
nproVlnr these bad spots Al this hnciure I wish TO
say-and venture this opinion from what know
the tranlc conditions the State highways OF New
York. Ohio Pnnsyyania and other staies-that undue
criticism has been heaped by the State roads officials
the motoruck as being the cause for the breakdown Of
our roads.
criticism OF the new modern mode Of transportation
the motortruckand take few lessons road building
and rosd maintenance from other States Belair
rosd would not have TO be 50 extensively repaired as is
the today. Even with this said credit is due Mary
land for her wonderful State roads system.
Anent Delaware. what has been said OF this unfortu-
nate State has been expressed only sorrow pity and
not in anger because ] really enjoyed my ride over
neaware's rough roads.
And the worst OF It is that the indictment that has
been framed against road system by that Baltimore
man is true practically every count When cot
slider the large amounts Of money that have spent
the roads to the NORTH the west and the southwest
cur city the situation outrageous The stretch Of
road leading from Newark toward Elkton has been
! vile condition for weeks. The stone road between
! Wilmington and Newark constitutes public scandal
while everyone knows that the condition OF the road be-
tween Wilmington and the Pennsylvania state line al
Claymont is far from what u ought to be.
The situation is that is iniuring Delaware and
every community in It No community is suffering more
a result Of It than is Wilmington. There is no tell
Ing how many hundreds, thousands Of Automobiles
who normally would INTO State and city, art
making detours to avoid such miserable roads. Nor
there any way Of measuring the material and moral
damage that Deawareans have suffered as a result Of
such conditions