Smyrna times., 1922-01-11
COST OF ROADS CUT HEAVILY
SAYS CHIEF ENGINEER BUCK
CHIEF ENGINEER OF HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT REPORTS SURVEY
Department is Responsible Now for
1873 Miles of Completed Work
Throughout The State

of the past year and recommending
the roads to be built in the three coun-
ties of the State during the present
year, C. Douglass Buck, chief engineer
of the State Highway Department,
presented an interesting report to the
State Highway Commissioners today.
Mr.. Buck succeeded Charles M. Up
ham as chief engineer last summer
and previous to that had been Mr.. !
Upham's assistant.
Many interesting details in connec-
tion with the building of State roads, |
are brought out by Mr.. Buck in his re-
port. 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 SO miles of sur
vey were released. The work of the
year required the building of 48 cul-
verts and 16 bridges.
The report shows a material de-
crease in the cost of labor during the
year. In 1921 the average contract
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 re-
duction of about Is per cent. in cost
of construction this year compared
with 1921.
The report says that there are now
about 1873 miles of completed highway
for which the department is RESPONSE
| BILE for maintenance. Mr.. Buck says
$3.50 a mile will care for the upkeep
of the concrete roads but this does not
\ include keeping the roads open during
| snow storms, provision for which he
/ thinks should be made.
II Plan 5O-FOOt ROadways.
II Roadways so feet in width are
n deemed as being of sufficient width in
u most cases through the state.
In pursuance of this policy the Ge-
= partment, during the year 1921, laq
secured option from 100 owners and
acquired fee simple title to 17O
properties, at cost of $67, 1856. In
addition, 16 properties were secured
by condemnation at a cost of $48, ,990.-
35.
4
State have in most instances shown
their appreciation of the benefits OF
an improved State Highway system
and of the work of the Highway De-
partment. A large number of own.
ers have conveyed rights of way free
of charge, and in most other cases the
damages has been only nominal. IL
these citizens the department wishe.
to extend its thanks for their cOurtes!
and assistance.
The personnel of our paid poll j.,
force was reduced in August from
to a members. The work accomplish
ed by this unit of our organization
has been most satisfactory.
Too Heavy Loads
"Due to the constant increase IN al
traffic, especially trucks, on the Phils
delphia pike, the overlooking Of tn
latter demanded that a stop be mad
to this practice before serious damag
to this valuable road resulted. To pre-
tect this highway from these eXcessiv
loads, a set of 20-ton Howe scales ha
just been recently erected approx
4 UldlGlX OIlt IllllC HOilI VI IllC lAAiAAbo
the city of Wilmington, and it is full
expected that after these have been
. use a month or more, there will
. brought to light evidence of fiagral
SN violations of the State laws limitin
W the loading of trucks.
" "For the similar protection on otht
M higrways l would recommend the pa
Ul | e 1OnIo,,oafo,.c I'll
M loadometer is a portable instrumel
W which can be easily transported in &
N automobile, and by which one man CO
N accurately determine the weight
W any vehicle. These should be use
M throughout the State as occasion d
W mands, and afford, for the presel
W adequate protection from overloadin
n Where Work is Needed
~ "Listed below are the roads recon
W mended for future construction, refe
W red to in the early part of this repol
~ and attached is a chart showing Il
W location of these roads and the stat
M of the present State Highway Systel
w realize, of course, that with Il
" funds available in 1922, it will be il
" possible to carry on program of co
~ struction comprising even large pc
centage of this mileage, but in We
" of their Importance. I respectful
~ submit them, and your choice of the
" feel sure will govern our constrr
x tion program for 1922
~ "For New Castle county-Chrls
II ana avenue; State Road Crossing; 1
~ bout's Corner to St. Georges;
- Georges to Odessa; Armstrong; CO
ner to Smyrna; Summit Bridge
Tvbout's Corner; Christiana to W
T mington, via Newport and StantC
Lancaster Pike to Pennsylvania Ill
D ~ IIo,o,s Corner tn Christiana; Cent