Smyrna times., 1924-08-13
HIGHWAY BOARD REFUSES TO
GIVE N TO KENT LEVY COURT
INSISTS THAT NORTH ROUTE TO
LITTLE CREEK is THE BEST
Expense is Much Less and Does Away
With Some Bad Curves; Also
Preserves State House Property

In view of the fact that the Kent
County Levy Court has three times
refused to endorse the improvement
of the North Little Greek Road from
Dover to Little Greek, but did endorse
the south Little Creek, leading from
the State House to Little Greek, and
in view of the fact that after the
State Highway Department opened
bids at Dover last week for the North
Little Creek Road the Levy Court
still refused to adopt the north route,
sending a communication to the State
Highway Department the next day
after the bids were opened, setting
forth that fact, the State Highway
Board through its chairman, A. R.
Benson, sent the following reply to
the Levy Court relative to the north
and south roads:
Your resolution of July 81 is at
hand. We note that you reaffirm
you determination to reject the |
north route to Little Greek, as State !
aid road, by once more adopting a |
resolution endorsing the south route |
as a. State aid road.
The State Highway Commission re-
grets that they cannot acquiesce in
your determination. Their reasons
are as follows:
1st:-The State Highway Commits
sion since its Inauguration has adopt
ed the policy of building improved
roads on the best possible alignment.
The north route from Dover to Little.
Creek is a perfect alignment with the
State aid road from Marydel to Dow
er. The south route would necessi-
tate two angles, one at the intersec-
ton of Division and State streets and
one at the intersection of State street
and the Green in the alignment of the
two roads. Furthermore, when the
county sold the State the old county
building for the purpose of enlarging
the State House by the erection OF a
: north wing, it was clearly understood
| that the Levy Court was to give the
State the right to the use Of the road
now running between the State House
and said old county building, subject
b of course to the approval of the Town
Council of Dover. If our commission
r should approve your suggestion OF Sc
lecting the south road to Little Creek,
the western terminus of which would
enter Dover between the State House
;. and said old county building, it would
y be giving its consent for this road to
S. remain forever open, which would
l. mean that at no time in the future
5. could the much needed addition to the
= State House be made for such addl-
tion can only be properly made by
). closing this road and building north
wing. This Commission would not
n. feel that it was conserving the inter
: ests of the State by adopting such
course. Second.-While the north
route is slightly longer, it has sollC
foundation to build on, with only one
culvert. The south route has two
bridges and a considerable stretch Of
4 marsh to cross. The experience o.
the State Highway Commission Il
= that improved roads built over marsl
lands are more expensive to construc
and more expensive to maintain THAI
the same class Of roads built on higl
fast land. The initial cost of con
structing the south route would nee
essitate an outlay Of several thOusan
dollars more than the north route an
= = higher maintenance cost after con
-, structed, due to constant washing b
,oI tide water.
Third:-The north route as no'
II constructed is impossible during per
- ods of freezing and thawing. Wit
the exception of remote periods of e2
tremely high tides-a condition tha
v the construction of a cement roa
would not remedy unless built at
irv cost prohibitive to both State an
county-the south route is passab
at all times of the year, due to IL
IC fact that from time to time the sout
avn road has been surfaced with no.
for freezable materials.
Fourth:-The cost of making
foundation for a permanent road ov
the marsh and to the bridge south
Little Creek would not be justified !
J asmuch as the town of Little Gre
cannot expand to the south because
=. said marsh, while a cement road bu
St'' on the north route would not or
permit Little Greek to expand to t
north on fast land, but would furni
the town a paved street from
north end to the bridge at the sol
end.
. Fifth:-The approaches at both |
yer and Little Creek are immeas
ably superior on the north route.
State Highway Commission in bui
ing permanent highways feel impel
to give cognizance to future impro
ment along the route Of construct
as from that source lie future po
bilities Of increased revenue to b
OVC State and county.
The State Highway COmmiss
fulf,y oppraoiofoe fba facf that