Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-03
Circulation Every 1OOOO
: EveningYe,terday 1 1LOOO
SATURDAY, AUGUST g. 1918.
Where the Fault Lies.

The communication printed elsewhere
in this issue of Every Evening, under the
heading THAT Horrid Highway, should
be an incentive to all interested citizens
to make determined move in the direc-
ton of reform-radical and immediate.
For il refers to sore complaint, q trouble
that has afflicted the riding public and
the citizens of Wilmington and the sur
rounding country for many years.
The complaint of our correspondent Is
in respect of the outrageous condition OF
the Philadelphia pike, now closed TO travel
while repairs are being made For years,
while il was under the control Of turn
pike company that charged toll for travel
and later, when it became public high
way, the Philadelphia pike, from the
CITY line 10 the Pennsylvania State line,
has been cause Of aggravatlon. Seldom
was it in good travelling condition. Yet
il has long been the leading highway Of
communication TO Wilmington from all
points above the city. All travellers
from this direction by vehicle who had
Wilmington for thcN destination had
righteous occasion. on every journey.
coming here or gong home to curse the
condition OF the Philadelphia pike. Now
il is being repaired. and il is hoped the
repair work will be OF such character
and quality that the travelling public Will
have nothing to complain Of for years TO
come.
1t Will be observed that our CORE
spondent makes inquiry as to the re-
sponsibility ior such public nuisance as
the Philadelphia pike long has been The
answer IS at the tongue 5 end: The
people of New Castle county are the
responsible agents They have it IN
their power to elect members Of the Levy
Court, and the Levy Court IS the custo-
dian OF the public highways of New Castle
county, the Philadelphia pike included
For years the Levy Court of New Castle
county, under the partisan political IN
fiuences that have controlled It's official
action, has been neglectful Of the public
highways OF the county. \ ears ago,
with money obtained through bond issues,
the Levy Court built many miles OF new
and improved roads, but after building
them allowed them to detenorate until
they became almost worse than no roads
at all Not until recent years did the
Levy Court give attention TO the i'm
portant matter Of keeping these good roads
in suitable repair. And when 1t at last
took action, some Of these good and costly
roads were beyond redemption.
The attention of the citizens and tax
PAYERS of New Castle county was called
TO this situation, time and again election
after election. They were warned that
If they continued to keep in power the
partisan Levy Court that thus neglected
their roads, that subordinated all the
agencies of county administration 10
partisan interests, they would suffer by
maladministration, with the inevitable
accompaniment of high taxes and nothing
to show for them. But these voters
blindly persisted, election after election,
in electing the same old partisan Levy
Court, instead Of endeavoring to secure
Levy Court that would pay more at
tention to the real interests of the people |
of New Castle county than to the de-
mands of partisanship. Here We have the
answer to our correspondent inquiry
And soon we are to have an election !
which will include members of the Levy |
Court. viii the voters and taxpayers of /
New Castle county continue in the same
old line, and elect partisan Levy Court, |
instead of one that Will feel it duty TOD
give intelligent consideration to the |
needs of the public, especially in the |
matter of good public highways? 1t re-
mains to be seen.