Evening journal., 1919-01-21

(Continued from page fifteen9
the surface treatment with tar aud
chips Of more than one hundred miles
OF macadam road The total amount
accomplished this year. in face OF the
fs.any difficulties may bc Judged from
The fact that we improved the condition
or IS per cent. .of ou- Total mileage, all
lowed but 3 per cent TO detcriorate and
held the remaining 81 per cent. Ia as
good a condition as found in the sprins
Realizing The growing necessity TOT
ceniralized attention, and the value OF
exact cost -cc0rds, The Levy Cours M
December authorized the county road
engineer 10 establish system OF main
lensnce of an improved roads by patrol.
When completed. this system will de-
mand constant attention for each mile
Of improved road by individual patrol-
men on ihe Job every day, 'ain or
shine Already patrols have been es-
iablished on a few az The heavily used
roads which are in fair condition. The
duties OF the individual patrolmen may
De enumerated as follows:
(a) Keeping waterproof The surface
mat Of tar-coye.ed macadam by paint
ing with tar
lb) Fining and patching holes IN sur
face with tar and chips.
fo) Filling depressions along side OF
improved road metal 90 prevent water
from lying along stone bed
al Removing an trash, tin cans, nails,
old iron. bottles, etc
iel Replacing broken foor boards IN
cuNeris and bridges.
30 Replacing broken guard rails.
is Keeping culverts open.
ih) Cleaning bitches and shoulders.
fn Cuiiing grass and weeds which
keep wafer from cutters.
(io Trimming brush and trees at
curves
(k, Painting or whitewashing guard
rails bridees and culvert heads
In addition to these individual pa
arolmen. from three to four rotating
gangs Of from six TO eight men viii be
required to take care Of such repairs
as cannot be handled by one man. Fol-
lowing arrangements with the prison
authorities. one such gang has been
furnished 10 operate from the County
AVo-khouse.
10 is expected that this plan VIII pro-
vide an efficient organization which
shall fofestall many of The periodic
failures and gradually bring out roads
back TO shape.
OF course, on those roads which are
receiving traffic far beyond their Ca
paciiy, we shall stan have succeeding
failures. It viii be necessary that
these roads be constructed i0 a higher
type Some Of our county roads en-
which need Of reconstruction is now
apparent, are listed TO be adopted by
ou. State Highway Department aS state
roads. and 10 be by them reconstructed
and maintained. this fact would seem
TO call for US to apply our efforts in
maintaining these roads in their pres
cnt class until so taken over
There are. however, many by-roads
which have ben used as detours during
other road construction-such as the
Naamans Creek Road in Brandywine
Hundrcd-and which have failed under
ihe diverted traillc, so that they re-
oiire immediate reconstruction In al
i.lo-i- every case the expense Of such
obstruction exceeds the original cost
of The road, and TO pay for this direct
from county taxes. lays an exceedingly
heavy burden on an already OvortaXcd
public. 10 would seem that program
~ State aid for counties, in addition
10 the present annual allowance Of Si0-
200, might be arranged for the mutual
benefit Of State and county
Almost every State, In the creation OF
state Highway Department, provided
for two classes Of roads according 30
The source OF funds First, State roads
those inter-county roads connecting