Evening journal., 1919-01-24

way
"In order that the State Highway
should connect up with the City OF
Wilmington and thus af1ord a high
class pavement at the northern en-
trance OF the city. would recommend
that this section OF pavement be con-
structed Immediately, n the Whining
ton and Philadelphia Traction Company
will remove their tracks TO the center
OF the roadway. This location can De
seen in Figure No. I.
Recommendation No. 9.
The 1918 report recommended that
as many grade crossings as possible
should be eliminated. AT State Road
there is a very dangerous crossing that
carries considerable trafflo both rail-
road and vehlcular. This crossing Is
on the tentative. system and Is very es-
sential for public safety that there are
eventually no grade crossings In our
entire system. The abolishment Of this
grade crossing Is very simple and ]
would recommend that separated
grade crossing along the lines and plans
that | will submit later for your con-
slderation. The location OF this cross
ing Is seen on Figure No. Z.
Recommendation No. T.
During the past year the New Castle
Levy Court has constructed or has un-
der contract a portion OF the Lincoln
] Highway between Wilmington and the
State line by way OF Newark. with the
exception Of about three miles from
Newark IN an easterly direction. Il
Il is not the intention that this be con-
structed during the coming season with
permanent type OF pavement by the
Levy Court, would recommend that
this section be taken over and con-
structed by the State Highway Depart
ment. This would complete the hard
surfaced road from the Pennsylvania
! line 20 the Maryland line tvla VIII
mington and Newark. The location OF
this section can be seen In Figure No. Z.
THE above recommendations call for
the building OF roads throughout the
State. In the 1918 report some Of these
roads were proposed as a part OF the
dupont Road. The above recommenda-
tions that would comprise a part Of
| the dupont Road are from Dover 10
| Milford: Red Lion 10 Tybout's Corner:
Minquidale to Wilmington.
Recommendation No. 8.
'sThe shape OF the State shows that
lt would not be dlflcult 10 see that any
north and south line might effect the
economic situation OF the entire State
/ But there are counties where east and
west lines might be constructed which
would not directly effect the economic
situation OF the other counties. These
roads are the most important county
roads, because OF their location In the
county, being Of more importance
TO the county than 10 the State. The
construction OF these roads at the pres
! ent time Is being carried on by the
counties.
AT present there Is a State Aid Act,
which provided for the building OF
roads by Joint State and county funds
under the direction Of the State High
way Commissioner Of New Castle Coun-
| ty, and the County Engineers OF Kent
and Sussex Counties. Contracts are let
by the Levy Courts and the roads when
completed are maintained at the ex-
pense OF the counties. The appropria-
ton In 1917 for State aid roads was
$4,000 to each county for the years
1918 and 1919.
Il would recommend a large exten-
sion Of this county aid program. bui
1.-The engineering and supervision should
Ibe centralized and carried on by or al
least under the supervision and spprov-
al Of the State Highway Department
These should be known as State Aid
! Roads. As soon as the road Is COM
pleted, would recommend II to be
taken over by the State Highway De-
partment for maintenance.
1.-THE assistance OF the State High
| way Department In the extension OF the
state Aid program would assist the
counties TO construct a higher type
OF roadway than II the county had 10
bear the entire expense.
Recommendation No. Q.
I'VE are constructing roads Of high
type; the amount Of money Invested
/ IN these roads should be safeguarded
10 the utmost II will not be long be-
fore the State will have invested mil
lions OF dollars In her roads, and pro-
vision must be made 20 protect this
investment 10 the utmost.
'while special attention has been
paid at all times to drainage within the
near vicinity Of the road, find that
there are sections Of the State where
drainage on a larger scale Is neces-
sary. While local drainage has been
taken care Of under our present con-
tracts for road work. the necessary
extensive drainage could not be fully
carried out and charged 10 Highway
construction; therefore. would recon-
mend that the attention OF the State
government be called to the necessity
OF a drainage commission that would
take up this problem on a large scale
and from a State standpoint. This.would
not only be good assurance OF lower
cost Of maintenance OF State roads, but
would beneft all earth roads.
Recommendation No. 10.
Considerable good has been secured
from the educational value Of a good
roads movement during the past 10 or
IS years. The people have been brought
close TO the road question and have
helped TO solve II. This movement has
recently been revived and is now car
ried on by the aid Of motion pictures,
stereopticon lectures, and bulletins.
"In order that the people Of Della
ware may be kept closely In touch with
the work OF the Highway Department,
and the good roads movement In gen
eral. and In order that they may re-
celve the BENEFITS that generally grow