Evening journal., 1919-01-24

This account not only shows the total
costs for the maintenance OF this road,
but II also gives a complete history OF
the road section, including the cost OF
construction, as well as stating Just
what maintenance treatment this par
ticular section had
During the past year the mainten-
ance engineer has also had charge OF
the State Highway Department Labor
atory.
ION account OF the present small mile
age Of State road and the high type OF
construction. the maintenance division
Is equipped only with a few small tools
and small amount Of equipment. This
consists OF a light auto truck and the
necessary tools for simple maintenance.
The outflt also includes such equip
ment as tar kettle for pouring cracks
and joints in concrete roadways. and
a moving machine for the purpose Of
keeping the grass cut along the road
side and bitches. This Is stored with
the resident patrolman adjacent 10 the
road.
The bitumlnous macadam, on ac-
count Of the small amount, Is main
talned by hand, or the bitumlnous CIV
ering will be applied by contract. No
special equipment for this purpose win
be bought at present.
"The maintenance division al pres
ent has three resident patrolmen. who
when necessary, organize gangs that
keep the shoulders In proper condi-
tion, as well as illl washouts, clean
bitches, pipes, etc. All this work is
reported directly to the chief engineer
by the maintenance engineer. The ac<
counts are handled and payments for
labor made through the ONCE Of the
secretary.
Signs Along Highways.
There are many signs that are on
the market at the present time that
do not MI all the requirements OF a
guide sign A sign should be plain with
lettering that Is clear and easily read;
II must be durable and maintained at
a low cost. While no satisfactory sign
has been accepted by the department
up 10 the present time. several sam
pie signs have been submitted and Il
is expected that a design will be soon
submitted that VIII fulhll all the re-
quirements. Pending the selection Of
a standard sign, temporary signs have
been set up in dangerous places.
Laboratory.
Temporary quarters for a labora-
tory were established In the basement
OF the srmory and sufficient testing
material rented 10 test all the mate
rials entering into the 1918 construc-
tion. On account Of the scarcity OF
and because we could get
our cement tested by a reliable flrm,
and because the maintenance Of our
road did not take all the time Of the
engineer, he acted as test
ing engineer, having had considerable
in this line. With the in
crease In mileage Of roads to be main
tanned and the increasing amount OF
TO be tested In the future,
and as soon as a normal program Is
resumed, II wall require the 'ntire time
OF one engineOr n charge OF the labor
atory.
"All materin's entering into construc-
tlon, even 10 he water used In the con-
crete, were inspected and tested. Many
failures In he past have been due In
general TO materials Of poor quality.
Il Is not dlflcult to control the quality
Of materials when the department Is
equipped with a satisfactory laboratory,
and one OF the general and serious
causes Of poor construction Is over
come by close inspection and careful
testing.
During the past year i've carloads
OF Stag, one carload OF sand, and one
carload OF cement were condemned.
Over 2,5OO,000 paving brick have been
tested by our engineer inspectors sta
- al g arTf
mately 10000 barrels Of cement have
been accepted by the department after
the tests have been approved by the
testing engineer.
. Permanent record Of the tests are
kept on Ole at the main ONCE On ac-
count Of the State Highway Depart
ment not being established in perma-
nent quarters, no permanent labora-
tory has been established. The tenn
porary quarters established In the
Of the State Armory are an
swering the purpose for the present.
but as soon as permanent quarters for
the Highway Department are 'estab-
lished. a complete laboratory should be
as this Is the most satisfac-
tory means Of checking the quality Of
materials for construction.
Federal Aid Roads.
"In 1916 there was passed a law In
the United States Legislature which
was called the Federal Road Act. This
provided for Federal aid to several State
departments complying with
the requirements Of the law. Among
the requirements are that the plans
and specifications and construction
should be in accordance with the Fed
eral standards. The amount Of money
that Delaware Is receiving in the flve-
year period Is si22, 1885. This Is the
least amount Of money received by any
State in the Union. The greatest
amount Of money Is received by Texas,
being s4,37s,9i7.i5. The money Is pro-
portloned IN three divisions rated on
the area, population, and miles OF post
roads. II is evident that Delaware is
low on each OF these three items. A
division on income tax, would undoubt-
edly give Delaware a much larger share
Of Federal aid.
delaware has made two applica-
tlons for Federal aid, the first to the
amount Of $4,000 to be used on the
philadelphia Pike. This has been
granted and the Philadelphia Pike is
now classed as Federal Aid Project
No. f. The second which is designated
as Federal Aid Project No. 2 has been
applied for and granted, and II Is ex-
pected that the agreement will be
signed in a short time. The amount
of Federal aid applied for on Project
No. 2. Is sis,965.t0. The total amount
OF money received from Federal aid
10 July. 1919, Is s4e,965i0.
"There are several laws now pending
In Congress that will come under the