Evening journal., 1922-01-04
TELLS OF ROAD
WORK in 1921.
Engineer Buck Also Recon-
mends Highways to be
Built This Year
CONSTRUCTION COST
GREATLY DECREASED
Special 70 The Evening Journal.

work of the past year and recon-
mending the roads to be built in the
three counties Of the state during
the present year. c. Douglass Buck.
chief engineer OF the State Highway
Department. presented an interest
ing report 20. the State Highway
Commissioner today. Mr. Buck
succeeded Charles NJ. Upham as
chief engineer last summer and pre-
vious to that lad been Mr.. Upham's
ssistant.
Many Interesting details in connec-
tion with the building of State roads,
are brought out by Mr.. Buck in his
report. During the year according to
the report 130 miles Of surveys were
run and plans completed for 20 diff
ferent contracts. In addition 81 final
estimates requiring 96 miles Of sur
vey were released. The work Of the
year required the building Of As cul-
verts and 16 bridges
The report shows a material de-
crease in the cost Of labor during
the year In 1921 the average con-
tract price for 16-foot concrete
roads was $4,000 a mile. which was
an average Of $4,000 less a mile
than in 1920. Mr.. Buck predicts in
the report a reduction Of about Is
per cent. in cost OF construction this
year compared with 1921.
The report says that there is now
about lSS miles OF completed high
way for which the department is re-
sponsible for maintenance. Mr.
Buck says $3.50 a mile will care for
sthe upkeep of the concrete roads but
this does not include keeping the
roads open during snow storms
provision for which he thinks should
20 made.
The engineer submits a list Of
roads in each of the three counties
from which he recommends the
commission select the roads to be
built this year. The report follows:
Mr.. Bucks report follows;
"A. r. Benson. Chairman:
Il take pleasure in submitting 10
you an annual report OF the depart
ment. in accordance with Chapter
SO. Article %. Section 7. OF the Laws
Of Delaware. summarizing the work
accomplished this year and recon-
mendlng for your consideration a
number of roads in the State which
arc OF such importance that their
conversion into State Highways
would be OF great benefit to the
citizens OF the State. Before touch
ing upon next years work Il would
seem proper TO offer first a brief
account Of what has been accom-
piished his year.
"It Is recognized that an essential
70 the construction OF a modern
improved highway IS the preliminary
study OF the road TO he built, and
the careful preparation Of accurate
surveys and detailed plans.
"During the year. 100 miles OF
surveys were run by the depart
ment on various roads in the state
and plans completed for 90 different
contracts. In addition to this pre-
iiminary work. 81 final estimates
requiring 90 miles OF survey. were
released
"The work Of the year necessi-
tated the design OF As culverts and
IS bridges. OF which nine were %
feet snan or over. Twenty-Five
bridges were constructed or under
construction during the year. in
volvlng a cost OF approximately
$500. 900 among which is included
the Appoqunimink bridge, sonth-
west OF Odessa. a structure 240 feet
long. the longest bridge yet con
structed by the department. and the
first in the state to be founded OF
concrete piles.
''The testing laboratory, an i'm
portant part OF our organization
kept step with the large construc
tion program in progress during the
year 1921. The maintenance Of 3
laboratory enables the department
TO arrive at accurate conclusions II
regard 10 the value OF various ma
terials for road-building purposes
and to determine definitely whether
or not materials submitted for use
conform TO the specifications.
makes possible a reasonably nromp
decision as 10 the acceptability o.
material submitted. II is a pro
lection TO the state against possible
claims BY contractors Of inferior o.
supposedly inferior materials werl
rejected without being tested. TIL
total expenditure for maintenance,
OF the laboratory. equal TO abou
three-tenths OF one per cent. OF tn
cost Of construction OF roads
t-sncrefore well warranted. resultini
as n does in the use OF good ma
ferials and in protection from Ger
tain claims.
''The tota, number OF tests mad
in tho laboratory during 1921 wa
anrroxirnately $50. with an averag
of 10 specimens TO a test, or a tota
OF 54oo specimens. Following tn
policy adopted in 1918. this depart
rent has continued TO secure fe
simple titles IN the name OF IN
state OF Delaware. TO all rights @
way for state highways
In general. a strip OF land 6
feet in width has been secured. eN
cept for the main north and sout
highway in New Castle count-
where a width OF so feet has bee
acquired. and on some of the Stat
aid roads where a width OF so fee
has been deemed sufficient. Thes
are believed to be the minimum
width necessary IL provision is to I
made for future development. ]
pursuance of this policy the depar
ment. during the year 1921. has s,
cured options from 1Os owners an
acquired fee simple title to II
PROPERTIES. at a cost OF s67,s95.6
n addition, IS properties were s.
cured by condemnation at a cost
sak aan as