Milford chronicle., 1920-05-28
ROADS WILL BRING
FAME TO DELAWARE

- ""ya ol delaware was deliver
eu before the State Federation of VIC
mems Clubs at Dover, by Samue
hhopI' engineer in charge of divisio
, OF state aid. Josiah Marvel was {
} audress the club women at their af
terhoon meeting, but was not able L
oe present, and Mr.. Knopf was induc
: ca TO take his place on the program
his address follows:
Every citizen of Delaware NAV TAX
an honest pride in the national fam,
mat is bound to come to our Stat,
When our system of highways, now il
course of construction, will becom,
a realty.
The State Highway Department
not yet three years old, has establish.
ed a comprehensive system of design.
ing, constructing and maintaining
permanent roads, based on giving the
greatest service at the least expense
To date about one-third of this COM
prehensive plan is under construc-
tlon, and in few years the remand
er will be completed
I'VE are all interested in civic art.
Civic art means a constant endeavor
10 secure in our public works the
maximum of utility combined with the
maximum Of beauty. Cities have real
lied the importance of this and have
given large attention to park, play
grounds and bOulevards. So along
with this road construction program.
we have planned to put the finishing
touches upon this superb system by
finishing the roads with everything
necessary for the public safety, health,
comfort and pleasure, including road
side planting.
1T is not enough to build good
roads, it is not enough to maintain
good roads, it is vitality important
when we build and maintain good
roads that we beautify them. Things
useful need not necessarily be ugly.
Roads without embellishments, such
as trees, shrubs and flowers, are ugly
and prosaic. 1t is not enough to con-
slider the financial side of roads, it is
our aim also to consider as well the
JOY that one receives travelling upon
them. In fact, proper attention to
rOadsides means a definite increase in
The pleasure of travelling and a sub
stantial addition to the value of the
adjoining property.
I'VE admire a home with trees,
flowers and trailing vines
lbOut it. We-nOw the pleasure that
S excited in our hearts by those
How sorry we feel for
hose obliged to live in homes where
10 attention is given to plants, flowers
md trees. A little attention to flow
RS and trees will transform ugly
awns into spots of beauty The shade I
nd freshness of trees along the roads |
out of our villages and cities |
re needed now more than ever be- /.
ore. Concrete roads and hard sur /
ace roads of all kinds are harsh and /
eed this softening effect.
I'VE cannot afford to have tourists .
Tho will come here to see our roads .
eclare that We Delawareans have no
ppreciation for beauty, no feeling
Dr. nature, no desire even to hide un-
lightly objects or decorate our bar
en- highways. Just as we receive our
lends and entertain them in the
lost comfortable rooms of our homes,
II the same reason we want to make
ur visitors our friends by Impress
lg upon them that we are maintain
lg useful as well as beautiful roads.
he portals, the gateways. the en-
'ance to our community homes are
lie highways.
MANY of our cities understand the
llue of having inviting boulevards !
i'd streets for guests to enter. Con-
derable attention is given to the
ain entrance to commercial and res
ential centers. They beautify the ..
reefs with park rows, trees, bridges,
lrubbery and flowers, so that the Wis e
Ors may feel more welcome. 1t is a
Ong this same line we intend to Gre '
e the same interest about our
ads. v
Until recent years road builders
I've neglected roadsides. Many road {
Iilders have destroyed beauty by per- y
itting the careless cutting of trees,
rubs and hazel bush. Telephone O
mpanies have had an active hand in
is. What was left was a barren c
ghway. Other distracting sights b
Ong the highways have been the bill S
ard containing advertising. We !,
e the bill boards destroying many y
city views and beautiful curves. s.
ar the cities much has been done to
RIB this nuisance, little has been F
ne to restrict such advertising in h
e rural districts. On roads under
e State Highways control, bill v
ard advertising and useless cutting
trees have been restricted. -;
1t is with this point in view of beau iI
ying the Delaware highways that 5,
competent landscape architect has W
en- employed by the Highway Depart h
mt through the generosity of one p
its members. He is S. r. Lancas- u
:, who built the world famous Col =,
lbia River Highway. He is recog- al
ed &c the foremost highway land h,
ape architect in the world pl
The department feels that nothing W
lnts like expert advice and direc-
n in the handling of this important n
Dblem. We cannot afford to let this p
.tter of rural planning continue to -
worked out under our Indifferent e
Iateur policy if we wish to make our -
IDS ornamental as well as useful.
"A start has been made. The splen-
du Pont road traversing the coun-
of Sussex is in the process of beau
cation. Beauty spots have been es-
llished at the town and village en-
noes. These have been planned
l supervised by a competent land
lpe architect. The remainder of
right of way where ever possible
been planted with farm products,
/ out in regular tracks. Where the
d passes through the woodland, the
have been LETT in its ma
al state, with the exception that
Tering shrub and the occasional
nting of trees to introduce color
It's will be planted.
In New Castle county along the
pike, an experimental
atob fc nour hainp Dlanted