Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-20
ROAD WORK REPORT.
Submitted TO Levy Court by County
Engineer Gruhb.

County Engineer Grubb presented
to tho Levy Court today a report for
tho year ended April 1. 1922, showing
the improvements and changes made
through the hundred road supervisors
together with a detailed statement OF
the cost thereof
The court filed the report and the
accompanying communications:
Through the working the system
requiring the supervisors to have in
hand Il written order to proceed with
improvements and changes, which
order provides for n complete state
ment OF the material used and the la
Dor expended on each Job, we are sub
mitting a report in much greater de-
tail than has been possible heretofore.
Even now we have instances OF omis-
sion of complete data by the super
visors and l would hope that they
might be encouraged to adhere strictly
to instructions covering their reports
that we might have, ut all times, full
and complete information concerning
their opera tions.
Due 10 the provisions of the con-
stitution OF the state OF Delaware, pro-
viding that all taxes shall be uniform
within the territorial limits OF the
authorities levying the tax. 1t Is neces-
sary that the same road tax prevail
/ throughout the county. This provi-
sion works a hardship upon those
hundreds having a low property as
sessment but "a large mileage of un-
improved roads, while in the heavier
assessed hundreds this same rate pro-
vides more than sufficient funds to
maintain the unimproved roads and
permits these hundreds 10 make an
nual conversions of the dirt roads &c
! improved ones: as for instance, in
| Rrandywine hundred, with but So
miles OF road under the jurisdiction OF
the hundred, we receive from the road
tax upwards of S45 1000. In Appoquini-
mink hundred, with 173 miles OF unim-
proved road, our road tax receipts
amount TO less than $1,000 This wide
difference in the tax receipts ac-
counts for the fact that many neces-
sary improvements are lacking in the
hundreds having n low assessment.
AT the same time in Brandywins
and Christiana hundreds. extensive
construction has been possible. If II
were not for the constitutional pro-
vision calling for a uniform rate. the
hundreds with exceptionally low as
sessment should have a higher road
tax rate and those with the high as
sessments a lower rate than existing
Because OF the requirements OF uni
formity, the adopted rate must be a
compromise or average of the needs
of the various hundreds.
ut would seem that with materials
lower and labor more plentiful and
more efficient, benefits TO the same ex-
tent in the respective districts Nigh;
be obtained under rate of 80 cents
on the hundred. for the coming year
This would provide totals as follows
"Appoquinimink hundred, 17S miles
s6,S73.51.
'Blackbird hundred, 95 miles, s4,.
SOS.67.
"Brandywine hundred. 50 miles, s46..
6l41O.
"Christiana hundred, 10 miles, $40,
SOFAS.
Mn Creek hundred. So miles, SILL.
1919.
New Castle hundred, IS miles, ST..
3Sl.33.
"Pencader hundred. 81 miles. Sc.
42024
Red Lion hundred. IS miles. S..
625.OS.
st. Georges hundred, 50 miles, sl4
S53.94.
white Clay Creek hundred. 81
miles. s1S,sS4S4
In conclusion l wish 10 thank tn,
members OF your Honorable Body ant
the hundred road supervisors 70
their cooperation during this year.