Milford chronicle., 1925-01-02
HMENDS
CENT GAS TAX
from first page)

State now has 1892 miles of mod
err highways, the cost of which is
$18, ,9OO,821. 1t is interesting to OBJ
serve that the Coleman du POnt
highway, gift to the State, cost
General du POnt $3,917,003, and the
Kennett pike, a gift 10 the State
from Pierre S. du POnt, cost Mr.. du
Pont $764,287.
Mr.. Bucks report says that the
state tax on gasoline has proved a
most painless, profitable and equit-
able piece of legislation" The reve-
nue. derived from this source since
the gasoline tax law went into eff
feet April %, 1928, is 1858, ,129, col
lected by the State Treasurer at a
cost of $50. In the first eleven
months of 1924 the revenue from
"gas tax" was $264,459.
Mr.. Buck recommends that the
law be changed so that the Highway
Commission can award contracts
without requiring surety bonds of
contractors. Many dollars could thus
be saved the State that now indi-
rectly are paid as premiums upon
surety bonds.
During the year $346.OOO as Fed
eral aid was received. "The pOssi-
bility of future Federal aid for high
ways in our state is encouraging,
Mr. Buck adds.
Engineer Buck stressing the i'm
pOrtance of highway maintenance,
says an efficient bureau of mainte-
nance has been created He points
out that the maintenance work is be-
ing done for less than $500 per mile,
the amount provided for it.
Another outstanding recOmmenda-
ton of Engineer Buck is that begin
ming with 1926 the State tax on gaso-
line for highway purposes be in
creased to three cents a gallon, and
that there be a reduction in the Del
aware automobile license fees, which
plan he. believes would cause auto
lists from other States visiting Del
aware to contribute a greater share
toward the upkeep of Delaware
roads.
Mr.. Buck further suggests that the
State be empowered to improve dirt
roads in the three counties that do
not require hard surfacing on the
"pay-as-you-go" plan. He also favOrs
a change in the law so that all State
aid roads be maintained solely by
the State and that the counties be
relieved of contributing to the main
tenance of such roads.
Looking to the elimination of
highway hazards, Mr.. Buck urges
change in the law to provide for
sidewalks for pedestrians along
highways approaching cities and in
corpOrated towns.
He also recommends that the High
way Department be authorized to
make a survey of all crossings
where the highways cross steam or
electric railways at grade, to de-
termine what crossings can be abOl-
ished or highways be relocated to
provide more safety for travellers.
Mr.. Buck favors taxation of road
side advertising, the revenue to go
to the highway fund, and asks that
the Highway Department be empow-
cred to regulate the location of all !
bill boards along State highways!
Engineer Buck devotes much space /
to the work of the State Highway |
Police. He recommends that two ad-
stations for highway pE2lice-rI,
men be erected, one in Sussex cOun- /
ty on the western side, and one on |
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. road, and /
that enough policemen estimated at .
36-be provided to give 24-hOur SER
vice at every station. An increase in |
The salaries of the highway police
men is favored, and Mr.. Buck favOrs |
a monthly bonus be paid to police
men who have no accidents on their
routes fir the month.
Mr. Buck quotes a letter from the |
Illinois Chamber of Commerce re-
ferring to the Delaware highway pa
troll as "one of the most efficient
State police forces in the United
States"
Following this up Engineer Buck
observes:
"It has been acknowledged that
without police or others equally
qualified and capable, the improved
of the State would cease
to attract many who now enjoy their
advantages with feeling OF satety.
Commenting on the fact that not
the 16S arrests the
of intoxicated auto drivers
is not decreasing. Mr.. Buck says:
More stringent legislation for this
lnfraction of the law is mandatory"
Mr.. Buck also shows that 1853 ar
rests were made by the highway po-
lice up to December 1, in addition to
special assignments. During the year
they patroled 3O3,175 miles of high
ways and were on duty 57,131 hours.
During the period covered by the re-
port, 1853 trucks were intercepted
and weighed.
The expenses of the force from
January 1 to December 1 were $54,-
514, or $19,514 more than was first
provided. However, a revenue OF
S32, 1853 was received from fines col
lected up to December l, and bal
ance of S12,653 remains in the treas
,,,,.- Co.. 4ba nO1ian dnOa Ttment