Smyrna times., 1932-03-23
STUDY PROBLEMS
OF 3 COUNTIES
County Highway Heads Talk
Over Economy Plan Affect
ing County Expenses
COMPARE OTHER STATES

the county governments in Della
ware, whether they are best as
they are, should be changed, or
should be abolished, was discussed
at the quarterly luncheon-meeting
of the County Highway Officials
Association of Delaware, in the du-
Pont Biltmore Hotel in Whining
ton Thursday afternoon. The sub
ject was launched by R. c. HILL
chief engineer for Sussex, and was
discussed by several other mem
bers. Mr.. Hill called attention to
the recent action of the Virginia
Legislature, paving the way for
county consultations, and similar
moves in other Southern States.
The situation in Virginia, he point
ed out. differs from that in Della
ware. There, many Of the coun-
ties, he explained, have no high
way departments, while in Della
ware each county has its highway
engineering force. Mr.. Hill thought
however, that it would be well for
county officials in our State to ex-
anime into the local methods of
county government; to see whether
or not they can be improved;
whether there should be only one
county for the whole State, instead
of three, or whether each county
government should function under
a manager.
Seek Plan of Reducing Tax Burden
The people of Sussex, as well as
those in the other counties, he
said, want the taxes reduced. In
Sussex, with a rate of so cents on
the S100,he explained, half of the
revenue is required to meet fixed
charges, which cannot be reduced.
If the tax rate is lowered the rev.
enue will be less and the service
would have to be curtailed. He
advanced no opinions as to what
ought to be done beyond recon-
mending a study of the subject,
with view to determining wheth-
er any changes are warranted. ].
E. Hadaway, chief engineer for
Kent, expressed the belief that the
present county governments are
functioning admirably. He touch
ed upon the subject of highway
lighting, which, he said, must
eventually come as protection to
the public. Alban P. Shaw, chief
engineer for New Castle county,
who is president of the association,
told Of the work being done by the
Levy Court to help the unemploy-
ed. Much is being done by hand
labor that could be done by ma
chinery, thereby providing work
for more men. He paid high trib-
ute to the county police force of
10 men, which, he said, is doing a
great deal of good. He also spoke
of what appears to him to be the
good effect of painting a yellow
line in the middle of the roads.
C. c. Reynolds, superintendent of
State police, complimented the
counties upon the work they are
doing He also told how the State
Highway Department is helping in
the present employment emergency
It is employing about 1, 200 men in
building about 10 miles of road and
IA miles of sidewalk. He spoke of
the cooperation between that de-
partment and the Mayors En-
ployment and Relief Committee.
Superintendent Reynolds noted,
however, that while everything
possible is being done to safeguard
the people using the highways 10
persons were killed in road acci-
dents in February, the highest
number of fatalities in any month.
All of the persons killed were pc
destrians. Eight were killed after
dark Seven were walking with
traffic, which is contrary to regu-
lation. and five were intoxicated.
He hoped to see an early change in
this condition of affairs, which can
be brought about by the exercise
of greater care on the part of us
ers of the roads.
Dirt Roads Problem a Question
]. Austin Ellison, a member of
the County Board of Assessment,
said the dirt road problem is the
greatest problem of the counties
right now. He advocated the pas
sage of a law permitting the dirt
road fund being taken from the
general fund. Otherwise, he said.
hundreds, where the assessments
are low, are at a disadvantage. A
change, such as he suggested, he
said, would make it possible to do
away with the dirt road tax and
would take better care of those
hundreds that are now working
under a handicap. Speaking of
legislation, he said that at the last
session of the General Assembly,
Kent and Sussex were instrument
al in passing bill increasing the
per diem charge for the keep of
prisoners at the workhouse from