Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-30
ROAD SUPERVISOR
PERKINS ON RACK
Claim Made, Before Levy Court,
That He Ignored In
structions.

The Levy Court room this morning
was invaded by a group of partisens
cf Henry NJ. Perkins. Supervisor OF
rv~ds in Brsndywine hundred. TO
listen to the proceedings in connection
with the issue Of falling to follow In
structions OF the county engineer or
TO r-ccgaixe his authority.
The proceeding was opened by the
reading OF the following communica :
tion to Commissioner Ball, Of the
Brandywine district:
Dear sir: | should like to bring
To your attention certain conditions
showing lack of cooperation on the
part of the supervisor of Brandywine
hundred.
~ definite order was given him,
with instructions for repairing GER
tain section OF Harvey road, for which
measurements had been made and
materials calculated and ordered. The
engineers directions were ignored, as
TO the method of construction and
depth of material on this road and the
material skinned from 1t transferred
from Harvey TO Silverside and placed
on the Carr road. along the property
of the supervisor.
Responsibility for stability of con.
struction rests upon tho engineer:
the reduction of the depth weakened
the construction materially but the
use OF the earth binder practically
wasted the $40 tons of stone. Tine
moisture content of the earth allows
the road TO have n continuous move
nIent under truck traffic. Also, as tar
will not adhere TO mud, the sealing of
the surface by the usual and pre-ar-
ranged schedule may be a failure. IL
such happens the entire constructioa
will indeed be costly for its temporary
life.
THE liberty assumed by this sup
crvisor in transferring the material
saved by cheating this job for use on a
road Of personal interest is indeed bold
and a direct violation of the county
road laws. Even had excess material
been there we had use for it on the
adjoining section and would have so
directed. In order to correcct MIR.
Perkins method of construction tsl-
though such was supposedly previous
H. taken care of | caclled on him at
his home. on Wednesday evening
on Thursday morning l visited the
Harvey road to find mud in heavy
layers over stone and work unfinished,
but no workmen other than roller man
on the job--and this when we are wait
Ina Upon its completion in order to go
ahead with our surface treatment
work.
The roller man directed me TO the
operation on the Carr road, on which
the saved" material was used and for
which no order had been issued.
Here. on the morning immediately
following directions as TO earth binder,
the supervisor spread the layer as
thick as ever and informed me that
he intended 20 continue TO do so.
Earlier disposition on the part of
this supervisor 10 ignore directions.
combined with these recent violations.
make Il clear To me that cooperation
on nj. part cannot be expected. 1t is
physically Impossible to see work
often enough to act as Inspector, and
such should not be necessary. i
should. therefore, recommend that Mr..
Perkins be requested to resign as
supervisor Of Brandywine hundred.
Yours very truly,
Charles E. Grubh. ]
County Engineer"
This was supplemented by the fol-
lowing statement addressed to Mr..
Perkins by President Albert StetserI
~ the Levy Court:
II shall read. in connection with
this communication, from the County
engineer. Section 1855, of the Revised
Code of Delaware.
Prom this YOU can see that in pro-
coedinC contrary to directions. on the
Harvey road and in doing any work
whatever on the Carr road you have
violated the provisions of this law.
Because Of these violations ana
your attitude concerning them, when
called TO account by the engineer, you
have been requested to appear before
this body, in order that we may de-
tsrmine IL we can expect change of
disposition on your part; in other
words. cooperation by you in obtain
ing the RESULTS desired by the county
engineer.
MIR. Grubb. in his communication
TO Mr.. Ball, has recommended that
you be requested to resign as super
visor OF Brandywine hundred in con-
iffffits utNtNtFf ne mas t8pftSSta n
TO withdraw such recon-
provided you shall apollo
rizc for your attitude and pledge CO.
operation
Mr.. Perkins. in his own behalf took
n distinctly defiant stand. After ad
n!tting that he was in entire ignor-
snce Of the provision of the Legis-
latire Code just read, he at once pro-
ceeded 70 criticise its justice.
IF one man has the entire power
tc say how a road shall be built, what
Il the use of paying s12.50o a year 10
you Levy Court Commissioners" Ee
a ssked, dramatically.
His defensive was based on the fact
that three cars supposed TO contain |
cne-han inch Stag for surface treat
ment OF the Harvey road, where found
10 have been loaded with II -inch ma
tcrial, by error OF the shipper.
On reporting this fact. he was di-
rected to use these three cars of Stag |
In repairs 10 the Carr road.
He also stated that he had con-
suited Commissioner Ball and secured
his approval of further work on the |
Carr road, on the basis that it was
paid for by Brandywine hundred |
and should be used in Brandywine |
hundred.
Mr.. Bah later stated that his ap-l
proval was given with the understand
ng that this course had been ap-
proved by Engineer Grubb-
His use OF clay filler on the road,