Smyrna times., 1923-04-04
PRAISES OUR GOOD HIGHWAYS
Automobile Organ is Enthusiastic
Over Our Fine Roads in Delaware


Delaware is highly commended for
the condition of its highways, especi-
ally noticeable at this season of the
year, in an article in the current num-
ber of "The Car" official monthly of
the Automobile Club of Philadelphia.
The article says:
"'The year 1922, saw a splendid adj
vance in the Delaware State highway
programme, SO per cent of the mileage
under contract having been completed
or a total of 1926 miles. While this
would not be large mileage for New
York or Pennsylvania, it is a very
large showing for Delaware. During
the last five years nearly 275 miles of
new pavement, mostly concrete, have
been laid on the primary roads in the
State and on many of the more inn
proved secondary roads.
"a program of 150-miles of new
roads is planned for the next two
years, and this will provide a system
comprising 10 per cent of the total
mileage of the State and estimated to
serve. to the best advantage the inter
ests of rs per cent of the population.
Though Delaware, next to the small
est State in the Union, was one of the
last to become interested in improved
highways, it has started with a rush.
1T is not only in the amount of
modern highway construction, but in
the splendid methods of construction
that Delaware should receive the COM
mendatiOn of motorists. Close as the
State is to Pennsylvania it is little
known to Pennsylvania because in the
past many of its sections have been
closed book because of difficult roads.
Now with dupont Boulevard open and
with Improvements in other sections
OF the State under way. Delaware
will have a new appeal to the touring
public.
There are to be found in the new
roads splendid surfacing and an eff
fort to eliminate causes for DELAY in
traffic, such as excessive grades and
curves and grade crossings. Through
out, the system is designed to shorten
distances and to pass traffic around the
town rather than through them, in or
der to avoid congestion.
Speaking of new construction. an
expert recently said:
Nowhere in the country, / believe,
can you match the 260 miles of Della
ware concrete roads, when you take
into consideration the essential ele-
ments of good concrete roads, and by
these essential elements l mean thor
oughness of construction, even-ness of
surface, alignment, adequate width of
right of way, ample shoulders and
constant attention paid to mainten-
ance.
"TwO things stand out pre-eminent-
ly. First, the continuity of the sys-
TEN, and, secondly, a sufficiently wide
right of way to take care of any in
crease in traffic that can be forseen
for years to come. You simply must
have travelled over all these Delaware
roads to believe all the good things we
have heard about them.
"The star road in Delaware is the
DUPONT highway, offering one of the
most attractive short tours in the vi
cinity of Philadelphia.
at is practically all concrete, al
though some few stretches are tar
macadam, which is in equally as good
condition as the concrete. 1t forms a
part Of the through Southern route
via Cape Charles and Norfolk, the
only link unfinished between Philadel-
phia and Norfolk, being from the
Maryland and Virginia State line to
Cape Charles"