Smyrna times., 1923-02-07
ECONOMY SHOWN IN REPORT
OF STATE ROAD FINANCING
GEN. DUPONT PAYS $S,6OO,S42 AND
STATE s674,769 ON BOULEVARD
Chief Engineer Buck Gives Members
of Legislature Complete Data
FavOrs a Gasoline Tax

FaVOrs a Gasoline Tax
Many interesting disclosures of the
business-hke manner in which the
State Highway Department is con-
Quoted were made at the hearing Civ
en- to the Highway Department by
the legislative budget committee We'd
nesday afternoon. The story of de-
partmental efficiency, economy and
results as told by c.. Douglass Buck,
State Highway Engineer, and his sug-
gestiOns for carrying out the States
road building program to completion
impressed the legislators, who listen
ed to him. Delegations from all parts
of the State urging construction of
modern highways in their commun-
tiles already have emphasized to the
Assemblymen the popular desire for
good roads. Engineer Buck urged the
Legislature to make an appropriation
that would enable the Highway Com
mission to issue $2,500,00O of State
bonds and thus make available for
use throughout Delaware, the county
bond issues and Federal appropria-
tions of $2,5OO,OOO, which would pro-
vide total of $5,OOO,OOO for complet-
ing gaps in the main arterial State
highway and for State aid to the
three counties on a dollar for dollar
basis to construct all important lat
eral and feeder roads in those coun-
ties. With such an amount available,
Engineer Buck pointed out, $50 to IT'S
miles of modern road could be built,
supplementing the high class perma-
nent pavement already laid through
out the State. He commended the
counties for their cooperation in the
good roads extension cause. Mr.Buck
in response to questions, said the du-
Pont Boulevard, from Wilmington to
Selbyville to date has cost in round
figures $4,275,611. Of this cost Gen
eral DUPONT has paid out of his own
pocket $3,600,842 in giving the boule-
ward to the people, and the State has
paid $674,76 General dupont, in
offering the road as a gift to the
State, obligated himself to pay the
cost up to $4,000 a mile for construc-
tion of that road. "And for that rea-
son he was defeated" interjected Sen
atOr Viven, Republican, of Bridgeville
but this sally brought no response.
Mr.. Buck also showed that the States
investment in modern roads to date is
$11,OOO,000,the share furnished by the
State of this amount being $5,329,0OO
the difference being paid by General
dupont and the three counties, the
counties having contributed approx
mately $2,500,000. Engineer Buck,
in addition to impressing upon the
Legislators the necessity of the State
watching the county and Federal
moneys available, proposed tax of
one cent a gallon on gasoline in 1923,
and tax of two cents a gallon in
1924, thus providing considerable ad-
ditiOnal revenue with which to meet
interest and sinking fund charges on
the highway bonds. Such bonds, he
estimated, could be retired in q years
instead of waiting 40 years, the ma
turity period set out in the securities.
Mr.. Buck revealed a saving in 1922
over the previous year of many thous-
and dollars in the engineering and adj
ministrative expenses of the depart
ment. A saving Of $4,000 was eff
fected in the administration and the
account Of general engineering was
reduced 100000 Automobiles of the
department were maintained and op-
Grated at a saving of $4,000, and the
cost of engineering construction was
reduced $1,000. These reductions with
others of lesser amounts alone equall-
ed a saving Of $1,000 a mile in the
cost of roads constructed in 1922
During the past year IA miles, OF
One-third of all the roads built by the
State, were constructed. Mr.. Buck
said any credit forthcoming for this
showing and saving should be shared
by all the engineers and employees OF
the department.
Salaries paid the engineers of the
department, Mr.. Buck asserted, are
less than paid for such services il
other States.
There was a discussion relative tC
the fractional automobile license bill
introduced by Senator Hardesty. Mr.
Buck estimated that the State would
lose at least $4,000 a year in the rev
enue should this bill become a law.
| Governor Denney who attended tn,
hearing thought the loss might run t
$4,000 or $4,000. Senator Hardes
ty remarked that it had been practi
cally decided to make it a half yea
fractional license in the bill instead o
the quarter year as now provided il
the bill.