Milford chronicle., 1921-12-02
ABOUT $2,25O,OOO
FOR new ROAD WORK
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT WILL Be
ABLE TO CONDUCT EXTENSIVE PRO-
GRAM NEXT YEAR.
TO TRY new KIND OF ROAD
new YORK MAN TO BUILD A STRIP OF
ROAD In DELAWARE TO DEMON
STRATE HIS METHOD.

The State Highway Commission on
Friday, arranged for elaborate ROAD
building program next year. All mem
hers of the Commission were present,
including United States Senator Cole
man du Pont, who received a most
cordial greeting from the other mem
bers.
The resignation of ]. e. Grouse as
a member of the Citizens Highway
Police was accepted and w. c. Corey
of the Delaware Leather Co., Will
mington, was commissioned as a
member. o
The commission extended into 1922
it's contract with the Barrett Co., for
75.OOO,OOO gallons of bituminous ma
terial, because the materials contract
ed for had not been used this year.
The petition for the route of the
Boulevard through Dover, as present.
ed at the last meeting of the COM
mission, was tabled, as the road thru
Dover will not be built for the pres
ent.
C. Douglas Buck, acting chief engi-
neer for the department was elected
chief engineer to take effect January
1. 1922. Former Chief Charles M. Up
ham will be retained as consulting
engineer, subject to the call of the
chairman of the commission and the
chief engineer.
The budget for next year which,
with Federal, State and county AID
will make approximately two and
quarter million dollars available for
road construction, was approved.
The department will have a bond
issue of $1,400,000; the Federal aid
will amount to $365,00O, and with the
assurance that Kent county will issue
bonds to the extent of $5OO,0OO next
year, one of the most constructive
road building programs will be ac-
complished.
One of the first roads in the upper
part of the State to receive attention
will be the Christiana section, leading
to the improved harbOr development
in Wilmington.
Proposed new roads in Kent county
will include Milford to Harrington,
Frederick to FELTON,, Dover to Hartley,
Leipsic to Cheswold, Clayton to Mary
del, touching KentOn.
The Highway Department is now
settled in its new headquarters in the
building purchased by the State two
years ago, from Kent county, just
across from the State House, which
has been thoroughly remodeled and
presents a pleasing appearance. The
entire lower floor is used by the State
Highway Department, the upper floor
being used by the Federal Govern
ment agricultural laboratories for
analysis of fertilizers and soils. By
fitting up this building the State has
saved large rentals and reduced the
overhead expenses, this latter to the
extent of $4,000 this year. The new
headquarters also are close to the
storage rooms for the departments
equipment, back of the State Armory.
Several weeks ago, Senator Cole
man du Pont had an offer from John
B. Walker of IrvingTon-on-HudsOn,
N. Y, to build a strip of road in Del
aware to demonstrate his method of
construction, at a remarkably low
figure and on a different basis from
many of the present day highways.
Senator du Pont announced that he
would personally enter into contract
with Mr.. Walker for the building of
the three miles of road without one
cent of expense to the State, he pay
ing the entire bill. The road to be Sc
lected will be done so by the chair
man of the State Highway Depart
ment, A. R. Benson, Mr.. Frank V. du
Pont and the chief engineer, subject
to the approval of the Kent County
Levy Court Commissioners, the road
selected to be in Kent county.