Evening journal., 1921-08-30
ROAD BUILDER
IGNORED Chief
Perkins Built Brandywine
Hundred Highway After
His Own Idea
BEFORE LEVY COURT,
MAY LOSE POSITION


'etween Henry NJ. Perkins. a road
upervisor of Brandywine Hundred
nd the County Engineers Office was
ired. The meeting was enlivened al
ines by the commissioners asking
fr. Perkins II he thought he was a
etter road builder than County En-
ineer Grubb. To this Mr.. Perkins
eplied the point at issue was ''Whc
; boss. the engineer or the Levy
,ourt"
While no definite action was taker
t this mornings hearing. the matter
vas referred to the court as a com
nittee of the whole
When Mr. Perkins was called into
Iession with the court every seat II
he room was occupied and score.
we're standing Albert J. Stetser
PRESIDENT Of the court had the clerk
James F. McIvor read a letter sen
~ Engineer Grubb to Commissioner
lanes Ball in which he complained
81 the actions Of Mr.. Perkins.
This letter read as follows.
August 20. 1921.
Mr. James Ball. Commissioner,
Montchanin, Del.
Dear SIR
I should like to bring to your
attention certain conditions
showing lact Of cooperation on
the part OF the supervisor of
Brsndywine Hundred.
r~fr.o..
him. with instructions for re-
pairing a certain section OF
Harvey Road. for which meas
urements had been made and
materials calculated and order
ed. The engineers directions
were ignored. as to the method
of construction and depth Of
material on this road and the
material skinned from il trans
ferred from Harvey to Silver
side and placed on the Carr
road. along the property OF the
supervisor.
Responsibility for stability Of
construction rests upon the en-
gineer; the reduction OF the
depth weakened the construction
materially but the use OF the
earth binder practically wasted
the $40 tons OF stone. The
moisture. content OF the earth
allows the road to have a con-
tinuous movement under truck
tfrafiic. Also. as tar will not
adhere TO mud. the sealing of the
surface by the usual and pre-
arranged schedule may be a
failure. II such happens the
entire construction will indeed
be costly for its temporary life.
The liberty assumed by this
supervisor in transferring the
material saved by cheating this
job for use on a road OF personal
Interest Is indeed bold and a di-
rect violation Of the county road
laws Even had excess material
been there we had use for Il on
the adjoining section and would
have so directed In order to
correct Mr.. Perkins method OF
construction (although such
was supposedly previously taken
care OF. called on him at his
home. on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday morning. ] visited
the Harvey road to find mud In
heavy layers over stone and
work unfinished. but no work
men other than roller men on
the job-and this when we are
waiting upon It's completion
IN order 20 90 ahead with our
surface treatment work.
The roller man directed me
10 the operation on the Carr
road. on which the saved
material was used and for which
no order had been Issued.
Here. one morning immediate
y following directions as 10
earth binder. the supervisor
spread the layer as thick a,
ever and Informed me that he
Intended TO continue to do so.
Earlier disposition on the par
OF this supervisor 10 ignore d.
rcctions. combined with thesl
recent violations. make il cleai
to me that cooperation on nj
part cannot be expected. It 4
physically impossible TO ssl
work OTTER enough to act as in
speetor. and such should not b.
necessary.
] should. therefore, recon
mend that Mr.. Perkins be re
quested to resign as supervise
OF Brandywine hundred.
Yours very truly.
CHARLES f. CRUDE.
County Engineer
Mr. McIvor then read extra
from the State laws covering
duties of road supervisors and tn
duties under the county enginee
Mr.. stetser also had read a sta
ment explaining just why the col
had requested Mr.. Perkins to
present and this statement conclt
ed with the following words:
Mr.. Grubb has expressed a w
ingness to withdraw such reco
@@'@4AN-oNA'H liNflutl YOU tndll ap
ogize for your attitude and pied
cooperation"
Mr. Perkins. who was seat
alongside President stetser, "a
MS version of the differences n
existed. He explained that he v
unaware Of the fact that that un,
he law he was under the jurisdict
OF the County Engineer. He a
asked the question What is the
Of that law? Why not ignore
Levy Court and allow the engin
10 do it all7-
There were three carloads
large sized Stag. but the engine
ofllce failed TO order the right
ana called Mr.. Grubb on
telephone and~ said / could use
On another road ard / named
road. Mr.. Perkins continued.
said go ahead. but I didn't n
$40 tons to hx 1000 feet of r.