Smyrna times., 1918-10-30
LINCOLN HIGHWAY WORK
UP STATE MUCH DELAYED
GOVERNMENT REFUSES MATER
IAL TO COMPLETE ROAD
Pixies Creek-MarshalltOn Section Will
not be Finished this Year-Lynch
Company Tears up New Road

ANCo NACSh-hdTSndulO0 OecIlOn VIII
not be Finished this Year-Lynch
Company Tears up New Road
Construction of the Lincoln High
way will be held up for sometime it de-
velOped at the meeting of the New
Castle Court Wednesday, because of |
refusal of the United States Highways
Council to allow materials for the con-
structiOn of the section of the road |
from Pixies Greek to Marshallton, de-
spite the importance of the work,
The Standard Bitulithic Company,
builders of the section of the road |
from Elsmere to Prices corner, has |
found it impossible to complete the
work in the time specified. In addi-
tiOn, about 600 feet of the highway,
only recently completed, just outside
the city limits, has been torn up by the
Lynch Construction Company, to lay
a sewer. Application of the Standard
Bitulithic Company for an extension
of time for completing it's work was
laid over by the Levy Court last week.
In regard to this matter, County En-
gineer Grubb told tn court that the
company has proceeded with the work
as well as they could. The county, he
said, has furnished, at great detriment
to its own work, the labor from the
Workhouse and that the construction
company has in it's employ only about
six of its own laboring men. The
company could secure more men for
the work, he felt. If the road is not
to be finished this year, COMMISSIONS
Groves urged, the unfinished part
should be put in condition for travel.
The John 7. Dyer Quarry Company,
which is furnishing stone for the Lin
coin Highway, informed the court
that it might be unable to complete
its order before October 81, because
of shortage of labor and stated that
the county, to secure stone otter Nov
ember l, must obtain the approval of
the State Highway Commission. The
action of the Federal authorities in
refusing to allow materials for the
Lincoln Highway caused disappoint-
ment to the county officials. When
the contract for the construction of
that section of the highway from
Pixies Greek to Marshallton was a
warded, the U. S. Highway Council
assured County Engineer Grubb that
materials would be allowed. The
communication stated that approval
of the county's order had been with
held, Notwithstanding the Importance
of the road, because of the need of
materials for other and more essential
work. Mr.. Grubb said that, because
of the lateness in the year for build
ing roads, it would not be worth
while for the court to make fight for
the materials. The letter was ordered
noted on the court minutes. Mr..
Grubb then informed the court of the
action of the Lynch Construction
Company in digging a trench, two feet
wide and 600 feet long, in the middle
of the recently finished part of the
Lincoln Highway leading from this
city to MarshalltOn, without obtaining
the consent of the Levy Court or even
informing that body of it's intention.
Mr.. Grubb said an official of the COM
pany told him that he did not know
that it was a county road and eX-
explained to him that it was the in
tention of the company to connect the
houses at Front and Union streets
with the sewer. The company has
offered to repave the torn-up part of
the road, but as Commissioner Elliott
thought it would be impossible to
place the highway in nearly as good
condition after once being torn up, Mr.
Grubb felt that the matter should be
taken up with the U. S. Shipping
Board Offices at Philadelphia. The
, court referred the matter to Mr.
Grubb and Frank L. Speakman, attor-
ney for the court.