Milford chronicle., 1926-02-19
SUGGESTS CHANGES
FOR HIGHWAY DEPT
I. Paul Jones, Retiring Secre-
tary, Submits The Following
Report:

signed as secretary OF the State
Highway Department, has submitted
to the Highway Commission finan-
cial statement Of the department.
condition, along with some other
recommendations or suggestions as
to the department. Mr.. Jones' report
is as follows:
I'm compliance with the usual
custom and in accord with your
resolution of January 8, relating
thereto, the annual report of the Sec
retary is herewith submitted. 1t is
presented in two parts. Part two is
the annual monthly statement for
December, with which you are IA
miliar and requires no comments,
while part one, shows the budget
for 1926, the status of finances as of
December 81, 1925, summarized
transactions for the year 1925 and
net expenditures for the year, with
supporting details in each instance:
1926 Bonds, $1,557 ,0O0-The bud
get shows that bonds may be issued
in 1926 to the amount of S1,557 900.
Bonds issued to date amount to S.
$50 on which the total annual inter
est and singing fund charges are
$595.42.
"Unobligated, $2SS,7SS.S5. The
financial statement shows balance
of $4SO,916.63 at the close of Dec
ember 81. However, liabilities of
$91O,373.61 reduce total assets of
$1,149,157.46 to an unobligated
amount of $23S,7S3.S5, which is
available for new construction.
"The summarized transactions
show receipts of $3,179,443.14 plus
balance of $744,314.74 from 1924 or
a total of $3,92S, ,757.6S, and expendi-
lures of $S,492,S41.25, with the pre-
Viously mentioned balance of $780,
1858 to 1925.
"Dirt road improvement, S174,-
1912 in 1926. The 1925 legislature
passed a law providing ''if at the
end of any year there are monies re-
sulting from annual appropriations
unexpended. The De-
partment may use such monies
for the improvement up
keep and support of the unimprOVed
roads," The appropriations referred
to, motor vehicle fees and motor
fuel tax, amounted to $1,022,091.3S,
while the expenditures from such
revenue totaled $839,O22.21, leaving
$163,O69.17.
anticipating a surplus, a section
Of the White Oak Road in Kent
county was improved during the fall,
under contract No. So at cost of
S8,277.25. So that, under the provis-
ions of this law, at the end of 1925,
there are available S174,791.92 which
may be used for the improvement of
dirt roads.
"The last sheet shows the depart
ment's net costs for the year. The
administration and legal was ST.
1881, less than in 1924. Mainte-
nance costs averaged 1920 per mile
this year against $275 for the pre-
vious year.
"Trafic police total costs increas-
ed from $59,5O1.94 to $8S,894.O7,
while the fines fell off from $37,S4S
to $S6,959.
CONSTRUCTION total expenditures
were less than last year by S291,-
678.88. The aid from other sources
was also less by $810,367.81, while
the department spent $51S,68S.83
more of its own funds this year than
it did last.
''In seVering my connection with
the department, I feel it will not be
out of order to make the following
recommendations or suggestions:
Gan audit of the accounts by a |
qualified public accountant is rec
especially on account of |
the change in the Office of secretary.
Regular periodic meetings of the |
State Highway Department are sug-
gested not only for the transaction
Of routine business but also for the
of new questions and |
constantly arising.
"The State Highway Law provides
for the appointment Of members,
and the employment by them of a
chief engineer and a secretary, spec
flying the duties in the case of
each; member, chief engineer, Sec
retary. On account of past transac-
ions, I recommend that an inter-
Dretation of the law be obtained
rom the attorney general with re-
gard to the duties, powers and limi-
ations of the members, the chief en-
yineer, and the secretary, so that
here may be no overlapping and
hat full cooperation may be had.
"The original State Highway law
for the use Of right of way
" public utilities under terms inn
,osed by the State Highway Depart
nent and a resolution adopted by
he department on June IA, 1921,
tates definite terms and time ele-
nents. Formal agreements based on
hese should be entered into with
II public utilities now using right
f way, especially on new locations.
here are a number of instances
7here this has not been done.
"There appears to be a growing
endency to permit the use of equip
,srt~for other than highway works.
his should be discountenanced and
s continuation stopped. The same
pplies to work for private interests
y employees on State time and the
Sc of State instruments, supplies
nd equipment.
"Due to heavy loss ratios expert
need by the six or more carrying
compensation insurance
ill be difficult to continue or OBJ
lin except at rates considerably
lgher than usual; and probably
lly at rates sufficiently high to pay
le losses, in which case the State