Evening journal., 1919-01-24

that where fences now exist, they
should be replaced at the expense OF
The state on the new rlght-of-wsy.
ION the Philadelphia Pike. many OF
the property holders preferred that the
adjustment Of an equitable arrange
ment for the acquisition OF the land
by the State Highway Department be
/ left to a jury. In practically every
Instance there has been shown a spirit
OF fairness by the property owners and
a great desire 10 cooperate and ex-
pedlte the road construction.
1T Is strongly recommended by your
engineer that no road construction be
undertaken from now on until at least
ninety 1901 per cent Of the rlght-of-
way has been acquired. During the
past year the construction has been
held up In few instances pending minor
details IN settlement Of right-of-way.
"The Recommendatory Report for
1918 was a part OF accommodations for
/ the location Of the frst construction OF
State highways, setting forth the rea-
sons why the FIRST highways. construct
ed should be those running north and
south. The report outlines the tenta-
tive north and south system, as shown
in Figure No. 6.
"In order that the routes may be
easily Identified, they are numbered; !;
the odd numbers running north and
south, and the even numbers running
east and west. These numbers are
pre1xed by the 0rst letter OF the county
through which they pass. This numer-
alton is not only for Identification but
also for keeping a permanent record.
The Identification OF the roads and the
division OF them into section miles.
together with the index map. will iden-
tlfy In miles any State highway In the
entire state. The construction carried
on during the past year has been the
construction Of these roads OF travel
outlined In the report Of 1918 and shown
IN Figure No. 3.
"The same consideration that was
given in the 1918 report 10 the essen
tial roads that will accommodate the
greatest amount OF trafIlc, both passen-
ger and freight, and the roads that will
relieve the worst physical condition
throughout the State should be consid-
cred. The general highway system has
been outlined and drawn pending due
consideration for traflo survey both
vehicular and railroad, as we'll as the
relative location OF the several towns,
and the approximate location OF the
existing roads.
"The shape OF the State was taken
into consideration and Il was recon-
mended that a north and south system
be FIRST constructed by the State. One
years program has been commenced and
after considering the various conditions
and surveys Of the roads lt would
seem that this next years construction
should still be the continuation OF the
construction Of the north and south
lines, before the east and west lines
were commenced; therefore, the rec
ommendation for construction In 1919
would be additional sections. along the
lines as laid out In the 1918 report.
AFTER the 1918 contracts are com
pleted, and II the 1919 recommendations
are accepted, hard surfaced highway
viii be available from the Pennsylvania
State line 10 the Maryland line; the en-
tire length OF the State. After the conf
pletlon OF the main artery the east
and west routes and the radlal roads
can be completed In quick order, as
the mileage OF these is not consider
able.
Recommendation No. 4.
at would seem that the greatest gen.
eral beneflt throughout the State would
be derived II the road between Milford
and Dover would be completed, for by
the completing Of this road and the
1918 contracts. a hard surfaced road
would then be available from the Penn
sylvania line north OF Wilmington TO-
the southerly boundary OF the state.
This Will be the flrst time that the
entire State viii have been linked to-
gether with hard surfaced highways.
/ would therefore recommend placing
this section under contract as soon as
possible. This Is shown in Figure
No. I.
Recommendation No. 2.
"In the southwestern part OF the
State the continuing Of the road from
Brldgeville TO Harrington will open up
a portion Of the State that is now very
diflcult for travel during the winter
months, BY the continuation Of the
west line IN Sussex County as far north
as Harrington, lt will connect up with
the Harrington-Milford Road, which
will intersect a hard surfaced road at
Milford, which will be a complete trunk
line as soon as the 1918 contracts are
completed, and II the Dover-Milford
recommendation is accepted. would
recommend this section put under con-
tract this season. This location Is
shown In Figure No. Z.
Recommendation No. g.
Between Summit Bridge and Ty-
bouts Corner there Is an earth road
connecting the bituminous macadam
roads OF New Castle County. BY con-
structing this earth road II would fur
nish a hard surfaced road directly Into
Wilmington for the people OF Middle
town and vicinity, as well as opening
up the territory between Summit
Bridge and Tybout's Corner. and fur
nlsh an all-year road.
From an economic standpoint this
connection would also take consider
able Of the north and south State traf-
nc and would relieve the lightly con-
structed river road OF considerable OF
the wear aud tear which Il Is now
subjected TO during the winter months.
Il would recommend that this road
with the exception Of the distance ad-
iacent to the canal be contracted at
this time. The reason for not con-
structing in the vicinity OF the canal
Is TO await developments relative to
ACQUISITION OF the canal by the United
states government. II new highway
bridge be constructed. a new location