Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-01

ton providing for joint participation
by the county and the property hold
ers, proportioning I'm an equitable man
ner the cost OF the necessary repair
and maintenance of river banks pro
tecting public highways and privat
properties.
Rules of the Road.
In conjunction with the "Safet,
First campaign throughout the coun
ty l feel that few words on rules o
the road might here be appropriate
Automobilists. drivers of horse-drawi
vehicles, and pedestrians. must joir
in this movement in earnest. for th
number of accidents with their accom-
panying loss of life. is appalling.
In this connection. the many sfgI
boards placed at intersections of road
I'm way to obstruct the view of ap
preaching machines are menaces 4
life. Advertising of this nature is TO
day q recognized business necessity
but II would seem that certain restric
tlons should be imposed. through licens
ing or otherwise. to prevent the plac
ing of these signs at certain points
when they could Just as readily b'
placed few feet one side or the ether
and serve the same purpose.
Neglected hedges of great height ane
width are offenders in breaking th'
clear view at intersections, and are
probably more numerous than advcr'
tising signs. The fact that the latter
are located mostly along the heavier
travelling highways accounts for the
more numerous accidents and narrow
escapes incident TO their presence
Both hedges and sign boards. however
should be properly adjusted for tho
safety of highway users. provision
placing tho responsibility for attribu-
table accidents upon those maintaining
such nuisance would. I believe. en-
phasizo the seriousness OF the offensc
and go a long way toward preventing
tho continuance of these menaces &c
human life.
Rural Bridges.
In adapting the various bridges Of
the county to meet the present traffic
conditions q serious problem is encoun-
tered. When a road is too weak &c
carry traffic, the loads break through
the surface and soon the road is inn
passablo for heavy traffic but continues
TO serve for lighter loads. Such is not
the case with bridges, for when fail
ure occurs a serious accident may &C
company the failure and all traffic be
halted Many of our bridges which
were originally designed to carry but
four or five tons. are standing today
only because OF the factor Of safety
originally provided. The excessive
strains OF the heavier trucks are tell
ing on them, and we have many prob
lens 10 solve in strengthening them.
During the last two years. seventeen
contracts. totalling sixty thousand
dollars. were awarded for strengthening
floor systems OF the larger span bridges
and replacing many of the smaller ones
by concrete structures of an adequate
character But for tho replacement Of
longer span structures. such as the
many woodon-covered bridges of un-
certain strength and some Of the
lighter steel structures. more money
than can be appropriated from current
funds without unduly affecting the
county tax rate. is necessary. II there
fore seems logical that a bond issue be
authorized to aid in their reconstruc-
ton.
Handlcaps of Present Piscal Year.
countered annually, due to tho county
fiscal year commencing so late in the
road working season. Taxes are lowed
in June for collection. with the maxi
mum discount until October lst
Naturally the largest payments arc
made just prior 10 the close OF this
period. and paid over to the County
Treasurer during tho early part OF
October.
Under this present arrangement OF
the fiscal year. consideration OF i'm
portant work for the season Is not
taken up until the budget for the year
Is IN course Of preparation. which is
usually in the latter part of May or
early in June. Thus from six 20 eight
weeks are lost before any projects are
definitely proposed. II is then neces-
sary that plans and specifications he
prepared. II such have not been antici-
pated. and also that about two weeks
be devoted TO advertising before bids
are received. LOSS Of time in prepara-
ton of bonds. and arrangements by the
contractors for commencing the work
and brings the actual starting
Of the work into July. when from
thirty 10 thirty-five per cent OF the
working season has expired
A change making the fiscal year and
the calendar year coincide would per-
NIT lis TO have the advantage Of a fun
working season: then consideration Of
projects proposed for the coming sea-
son would be taken up during Decem-
be prepared during the winter months
ber. The plans and specifications could
when the engineering force would not
be busy with construction. and when
Spring arrived not only could the vari-
pus contracts for the season be pro-
posed and bids received. but also money
to meet the monthly estimates be In
hand. as the discount period would
close April !.
Prompt payments would effect q saw
Ing 70 the county. as contractors. in
turn. are called upon for such by en-
ployee and those furnishing materials.
II the contractors are forced to await
payment until October for work done
during the season. their prices for work
must necessarily be higher, as it is
necessary for them 10 carry interest
charges on borrowed capital used 10
prosecute the work.
Recommendations.
Recommendations as follows are
for consideration by your
Honorable Assembly:
(a) That the following roads be re-
through State aid or
any balance remaining from
he Lincoln Highway bond issue upon
completion of the Lincoln Highway:
Hillside Mill road. in Christiana