Evening journal., 1921-02-01

tion OF advertising signboards in rural
areas be SO controlled by legislation
as TO eliminate needless dangerous
crossings.
tg) That the fiscal year OF the
county be made TO coincide with the
calendar year.
'h) That an vehicles on public
highways be required under penal
ty) 10 carry lights showing TO The
front and rear between sunset and
sunrise.
Construction work is treated at
some length by Mr.. GrubD. Railroad
transportation restrictions and scar
city Of labor, as in 1919, greatly inn
peded the work OF The engineering de-
pGrtment during the past year, the re-
port sets forth. 10 has been only dur
ing the past two months that the la
Dor supply has exceeded the demand
4 part OF the Lincoln highway, re-
Gently completed by the Eastern Paw
ing Company, is characterized by Mr..
Grubb as zone OF the finest pieces OF
improved road in the State"
The report states that Surveys
were extended for the proper location
of section D, between Pixies Creek and
Newark. and the various property
owners approached In regard TO right
OF way through their respective prop
critics. As II was impossible 10 secure
any continuous stretch OF right or
way through mutual agreement, con-
dcmnatiOn PROCEEDINGS were institut-
ed through the Court OF General Ses-
sions. Unusually high demands las
much as s2JOO per acre. were made
for property damaged. and each owner
had his own idea as TO the proper To-
cation of the highway. In most cases,
lhesc ideas were such that along this
property the new road would coincide
with the old and 20 direct through a
field or building Of a neiahbOr.'
Condemnation proceedings were in
slilutcd, but their awards have met
With The dlsfavOr Of the property
owners along the section, who have
taken an appeal from The decision Of
The commission, Mr.. Grubb states.
The property holders have also iiled
petitions, with the hope OF invalidat-
ing the whole proceedings on Tech
meal grounds he also informs the
Legislature. Decisions in regard TO
these Is still pending.
"a more straight route than favored
by the property owners was selected
hy the commission the report brings
cut. "Thcy then gave consideration TO
the values demanded by the owners
affected by this selection, and al
though they realized that these values
placed by the owners were far above
the actual damages. they, In a meas
urc, met these demands. with the
hope that a compromise might effect
an early settlement, the cost OF which
would be fully warranted through
benefits accruing 90 The public were
construction permitted. TO proceed
The property owners, however. have
held out for their fun demands and
taken an appeal from the return Of
the commission Mr. Grubb sets
forth.
Agreement was reached with tho
railroad authorities, Mr.. Grubb states,
for an undergrade crossing on the
Lincoln highway near Newark.
The Lincoln highway Is now open
from Wilmington TO Newark. COM
bined with portions OF The old road,
and eliminates the necessity OF any
future detours during the remainder
OF the construction, the report states.
The report adds that "the delays in
cident TO the proceedings OF the Con
demnatiOn Commission serve 10 em-
phasize the handicaps OF The present
county condemnation laws. Through
these laws. we are required TO com
plcie NEGOTIATIONS with the property
holders in full before commencing
construction infringing upon their
land; thus we are tied and the public
in general suffers while legal steps
are in progress.
Under The state Condemnation
law. following the return Of one Con
ION
Is permitted TO proceed Unfair com
parsOn OF progress by state anC
county in construction, where con
demnalion Is involved, results In han
dicaps W The present county law. Il
would therefore seem proper That
uniform act for State and county con
dcmnatiOn be passed.
Improvement OF the Taylor's bridge
road has been made the report in
forms. and recommendation is made
by The engineer that The remaining
stretch of one and quarter miles, 10
connect This construction and tho new
State highway at Fieldshoro.
Under maintenance, Mr.. Grubb etates
Methods and results OF mainte-
nance OF the improved roads durinf
the last two years show distinct
advancement. The closing OF sue.
cessive stretches OF main highway
( due to State and county construction
/ tmost OF which roads were previously
improved roads on which traillc haS
81 changed as 10 render their type o
/ construction too light. failure result
I ing) has had a big influence on tn
maintenance OF other main roads ani
I hyroads But in spite OF the conse
! quent spreading OF mainline heav,
trafilc. our system as a whole Is, I be
! lieve, in better shape than at an
time since transportation by trucl
7 began"
The report further says that In i9i!
the institution OF a proper order syS
/ TEN for control OF field force supple
and operations increased the ellicienc
! aF lh., .,trstNsa ,rs~, tFuIEnr tsftN