Milford chronicle., 1922-03-10

THE LAW REGULATING requirements for County
Engineer in charge of public highways in Sussex County,
his ability, is hedged about that it is almost an
impossbiy for any civil engineer in Delaware to hold
the position This would not be serious matter were
not that the prescribes the salary that may be
paid for the services of engineer capable of meeting
all the requirements be legally appointed to hold the
position and limits the salary below the amount neces
sary competent road engineer 1t is true that
county needs engineer capable of building dirt
roads, as well as ability plan and build bridges capable
of serving permanently the traffic of the modern high
way or make repairs to the bridges already built 1t
matter record that the Sussex County Levy Court has
not been able to engineer qualified to fill the
position since the incumbency of Mr. Charles Upton who
served for time while building the du POnt Boulevard
through Sussex county The whole trouble to be,
that salary is sufficient to get the services Of an
engineer qualified under the law We believe that the law
in it's intent and purpose, to secure well qualified
engineer who would bring experience well as ability
the work of building and maintaining the highways and
bridges of the county but unfortunately the limit of SAL
ary a with the ability to do the work. mis-
akeny fixed at low figure 1t also intended that
politics should be eliminated far it is possible, in
the administering of the Highway Engineers Department
but this accomplished to only limited extent How
that point would take Of ITSELF the others
that the conditions could be met It would be mis-
take to lower the standard for road engineer for Sus
county, and hope that it will be permitted
made such that qualified to the wasteful
pendture of money in road building and repair work. and
have it applied to nearly permanent road building
is possible accomplish. An engineer capable of for
mulang and practical plans at double the sal
airy fixed by the law it stands would be the most
economical to employ in the long of experience Low
price not the best SERVICE and especially is this true
of~engineering service. The for the pace-s the
will tell the county what is the best
to accomplish highway building Every farmer and each
road overseer believes himself entirely capable to plan
road building and is perfectly willing to rush ahead along
the lines of his their IDEAS spending which in
will be entirely wasted plan that is without
practical working to system. The Assistant En-
gneer acting for the county, is probably the best
plan left to the Levy to carry the highway
pair urgently needed Mr.. Hill the incumbent is not
and not claim be qualified under the laws to fill
the position County Highway Engineer; but, with sal
ary limited by law below the price which would get the
grade engineer contemplated by the law he is carrying
on-not pleasing all his critics, but doing things he
thinks them to be needed the way he deems for the
best service county The matter which brought
before the levy court recently, to have smmered
down. after light of understanding has been let in on
the subject the best to be had in executive ab
ty at times-but it must be overlook that good
and high grade employees, require salary COM
mensurate with their services Kent county has recognz
ed this fixing the salary of her levy court members
we'll as other officers.