Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-06

Present obligations of State
by reason OF Sussex county r--s1 m
Present obligations Of State
by reason OF New Castle 80 ~,
county contracts 49,. o.oeo .oeo 'seaaoo ssa oo oo
Present State obligations 1fi,oosv'
ain addition TO this, there is an
other item worthy nf attention Oh
every citizen of Delaware. jcnefhi
DUPONT had given the boulevard, |oV
feet wide. to Sussex county. the organ
zntion of tn. department of construe-
ton and completion of which had cost
him over $500 .OD0 But through fall
ure of appreciation and constant It'll
cation, the original project was aban-
| doned But the enthusiasm of General
| dupont would not down. His interest
| in roads i'm the development of n State
prompted another plan. He proposed
| that the Highway Commission proceed
! to build a highway extending from the
! boulevard south OF Milford to the city
| of Wilmington, where they pleased,
of what material they Judged best
| adapted and 40 wide as was deemed
necessary, and send the bill. including
! cost of right of way. to him and the
same would be paid. II is needless
| to say that the offer was accepted.
| BY this. General DUPONT has spent tl.-
| tod.T74.23, has contracted for sl.o28.-
| 541.9S and I'm the plans now outlined
| yet contracted for. He has paid for
will spend s7s7 900 for roads not
| right of ways 500. .1sf.5s. This makes
"a total OF ss.4s7.7e spent or made
available to the highways of this
| State.
This. gentlemen, is wonderful. Novel
! in conception, | know of no expression
| of economic foresight and civic gener-
/ osity that approaches IT. Appreciauve
| as may be. we can but family sense
| the importance of this gift Only years
| will bring the true realization. The
deserved honor due will not come In
| our day. but I'm the generation yet To
he. Tho public right here and now
are scarcely acquainted with it's con-
ditions and magnitude, Can't we. there
fore, voice our appreciation by some
official recognition7 The engineering
| program inspired and 80 practically
effected by him has actually challenged
nation wide attention.
1T has occurred 10 me that a flt-
ting recognition would be to establish
a Coleman DUPONT chair of highway
engineering a Delaware College.
In the consideration given by you
! to, Delaware College / would suggest
that YOU make an appropriation To be
| thus designated.
1 MS DfaHEn Oh -
| tically n new profession. | am in
/ formed that this department ut the
college is, at present. insuflciently
manned and equipped. II would be
practical. too, In that our boys at Del
aware would have the advantage Of
studying under the conditions here
which are considered by experts as tbs
last wor din road building. The op.
portunity and demand for highway
engineers throughout tho world lis
greater than ever before. In my
Judgment such course would be
come one of tho most popular In the
engineering department.
Another interesting addition TO this
department has been the war surplus
material that has been allotted to Del
aware by the Federal government. W.
have received. TO date, IL automobiles
SO trucks. 30 20-ton tractors. on,
trenching machine. ono asphalt plant
I5-ton stiff leg derricks. one concrete
mixer. four industrial locomotives, g
maintenance wagons. nine transits
s25 600 worth of auto and machine
parts. This is worth by conservativ.
estimate s225.0oO. This additiona
equipment. without cost to the State
| will add much to the efficiency of ths
Department.
The program outlined will neces
state the authorization of more bonS
issues and probably an increased ap
| preparation from the general fund. Th'
plans projected will connect all th'
towns in the State. Sussex county vii
probably ask for further bond author
ization TO complete it's regional sys
tenn leading into the main highways
| Other counties should do the same
The State should do everything pos
sibIe to encourage the State-aid pro
gram. giving dollar for dollar to tn
counties agreeing 10 the State pro
gram.
The practical question is often asket
whether the roads will last This
a pertinent inquiry, especially in viey
of our past county experience in roa
building. The commission made wis
provisions for this in it's original pol
icy in that $3.50 per mile per year
reserved for maintaining repairs an
upkeep. With this amount available i'm
!. / mediately on the completion of tn
road, their permanency is certainly rea
sonably cared for. The same is tru
of the provisions for payment of bond;
sums are now being set aside in sink
ing fund whereby all bonds will b
paid within 40 years.
Other questions Will arise IN IN
consideration of highway Legislation
The Levy Court of New Castle shout
: be abolished and the commissions
form established. Experience in othe
county governments shows this to h
far superior in efficiency and econom,
Such action represents, | believe, tn
opinion of the great majority of Ne'
Castle citizens. / suggest its seriou
, consideration.
police power to highway officials an
| legislation on safety first is absolutel
essential Auto traffic is increasing q
wonderful rate, and every precautio
for safety should be taken. The issu
! ance of licenses should be Very care
fully guarded. and notaries and jus
tees of the peace should be cautione
> more worthy of your attention tina
: in this responsibility.
mo legislation in nay Judgment
, the needs of the highway program.
! FINANCES.
: With the program outlined il wa
: necessary that consideration be give
s To finances. The fees on auton obilt
= was increased and according to roat
. weight and this money was transferre
: from the general fund to the highwa
= account. The receipts from the incon
g tax laws enacted, up TO $3.50 600. wel
g placed to the credit of the school fun
above this amount being placed 10 II
e highway account.
: "A detailed statement of the State