Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-07-10

New Castle County Body Ended
With $4,000 Balance
KEEP THE SAME TAX RATE

The New Castle County Levy Court
closed its fiscal year June 80, with
balance on hand of $50. 900, and with
the tax rate for the coming year re-
naming the same. IS cents on the $1OO.
In view Of the increased cost of every
thing, the New Castle Levy Court and
the finance committee of the court re-
gard this as a splendid record. The
Levy Court has to provide for the sal
aries of county officials and clerks; take
care of the poor of the county, which
includes not only the maintenance of
Farnhurst. but also provision for the
INDECENT who are not in the Farnhurst
institution, and it has to provide funds
for the construction and maintenance
of the roads and bridges of the county.
These expenses are all in addition to
the meeting of fixed charges, such as
interest on outstanding bonds.
During the last fiscal year there was
an appreciable increase in the salaries
of county clerks which the Levy Court
had to meet. The cost of food and
other supplies used at Farnhurst suffer-
ed the same steep increase. Particu-
larly was there tremendous inclease
in the cost of materials and labor need
ed upon the public highways and
bridges of the county. Yet the Levy
Court met these increases without in
curing deficit, and at the same time
are able to face the coming year with
out an increase in the county tax rate
BULK OF WORK ON ROADS
The bulk of the work Of the levy
Court is in the maintenance and con-
struction of public highways and
bridges, and the following excerpts
from the report of the New Castle
county engineer Indicate the work done
by the Levy Court during the fiscal
year just ended:
"Four contracts for ten miles of re-
construction raised the type OF road
way from water-bound macadam to
asphalt penetration on the Adams
Dam or West Chester, Glasgow-Cooch,
Yorklyn- Hockessin and Silverside roads.
Eight miles of macadam were re-
surfaced with new macadam, including
the Edgemoor, Hockessin, Lumbrook,
Newport and Delaware City roads.
Three of these were later treated with
tar.
''For the extension of the road from
Taylors Bridge toward Fieldsboro, two
and one-half miles, contract was
awarded and is progressing as we'll as
material transportation will permit.
Concrete streets were placed in
Middletown to the extent of $1,000 al
the expense Of the county. Streets Of
Delaware City were improved.
Eat Little Baltimore, by convict
labor, new road was built of stone fur
nished from the county stone clnshel
at Stony Batter.
Throughout the county, the bridges
have been and are q serious problem
due to the increase in weights travelling
the highways, %most all bridges are re
ceiving great overlooking. Wooddale
Fennimores, Silver Run and Thompson
timber bridges were repaired. Fender
were placed at Flemming's Landing
bridge, Marshallton bridge, over Re-
Clay Creek, was strengthened to with
stand the Lincoln Highway traffic
Newport bridge is now under repair
Wherever an old bridge requires re
placing, it is their aim to build Of con
crete. Ten new concrete bridges O
from IL to 26 feet spans and man
small culverts have been constructs
this year"