Smyrna times., 1923-02-07

W PNJ DJ Ills NOluItLdIy OlleI DuI NIL
Buck thought all the other could be
built for $4,000 a mile or less.
Senator Murphy asked Mr.. Buck to
explain his statement relative to the
proposed gasoline tax for the benefit
OF Senator Hardesty who came into
the room after he made the state
ment.
After he made the statement there
was a general discussion as to wheth-
er or not the tax should be made one
or two cents gallon for the first
year. Mr.. Buck said in States where
such law is in force they estimate on
receiving $3.50 from each car. Mr..
Nelson said he did not understand
why it should not be made two cents
straight for each year.
Senator Viven suggested it be made
two cents this year and three cents
next.
Mr.. Buck said seventeen States now
have a gasoline tax law and it SEEM
ed to be the most equitable way to pro-
vide for road construction. He said
a bill was being prepared to exempt
those using gasoline but not on the
roads, such as farm tractors and gas
oline boats.
Senator Viven inquired if he thought
the tractors should be exempted. Mr..
Buck said the farmer has a hard
anOuUb firoo &c - 20 H. oo,,lI 90
no reason why motor boats using gas
cline should be required to pay the
tax for road construction.
Senator Simonton asked if motor
boats could not be used on some of
the roads. Mr.. Buck laughed, and
said he had not thought of that.
Senator Simonton inquired if it
would be possible to reduce the oper-
ting expenses of 1922. Mr.. Buck re-
piled: 81 don't think it is"
Relative to the proposed tax on gas
oline Mr.. Buck told the committee
there are 24,463 automobiles register
ed in the State and it is estimated
there will be more this year. Of this
number they are registered by sub
divisions, as follows: Wilmington,
8OO4; New Castle county, 5501; Kent,
4845; Sussex, 5603. There are $40
foreign cars registered in the State.
Mr.. Buck said he wanted to correct
an impression which seems to prevail
that Delaware's concrete roads cost
the State more than do similar roads
in other States.
He gave comparative figures from
number of states showing that the
cost elsewhere is far above what Del
aware is paying per mile.
Mr.. Buck complimented Sussex
county for sending its numerous dele
cations to the Legislature TO urge
good roads and said it.showed that
the people of that part of the State
are wide awake to the advantages OF
improved highways.
He said the mileage in the State
road system according to counties is
miles in New Castle; 80 in Kent
county, and 122 in Sussex county.
He admitted in New Castle county's
share are included % miles built by
Pierre S. dupont. He claimed the
Highway Department has saved $780,
| 600 on its road work during the last
year and this was due to improved
labor conditions, the reduced costs of
materials, and by other expenses be-
ing reduced.
In response to questions of Repre-
sentative Lednum as to the compara-
tive costs of concrete and macadam
roads, Engineer Buck said the surfac-
ing of a standard concrete road 16
feet wide costs $24,50O per mile. The
surfacing of a 16-foot bituminous ma
cadam road costs $4,000 per mile,
and the cost of surfacing a water
bound macadam road 16 feet wide
would be $4,000 per mile. Concrete
roads of the above width require 23OO
tons Of stone per mile. Macadam
roads of similar width would require
300 tons of stone per mile. MrBuck
said the freight on crushed stone i'm
ported into the State equals and in
many instances is more than the cost
of the material on cars at the quarry
what is the difference in cost Of
maintenance of concrete roads anC
macadam roads ?" Engineer Buck was
asked.
Certain roads of the latter type ir
the State require $1,000 to $4,000 pei
mile per year for upkeep," he said
"Bituminous macadam roads, previ
: Ously constructed by the State in Sus
sex county, cost $500 per mile Pc
year for upkeep.The average cost fol
maintenance for the past three year,
on II miles of the oldest concret,
roads in the State system was So
per mile per year.
AT the animal roooAipor &c 4ho IT,