Smyrna times., 1935-05-23
$1,318,549 GRANT
FOR HIGHWAYS
S5, 900 To Be Spent to
Deepen and Widen c. and
d. Waterway
GRADE CROSSING FUND

work relief melon worth $6,606,-
O49. Delaware was allotted ST.
318,549 as its share Of the half bill
lion dollars set aside from the
works fund for highway, road,
street and grade crossing eimina-
tion projects, Thursday as the
Presidents advisory committee on
the works program decided on the
distribution of more than S1,OOO,-
100000 out of $4,000, 100000 fund.
Of the amount allotted this State
$900,310 will be spent for the con-
struction of new highways, roads
and streets, and $418,239 for grade
crossing elimination. The highway
fund will be augmented in the fu-
ture by S461 ,697.o0 due the State
from the S100,00O,OOO unappropri-
ated balance of the Hayden Cart
wright Act passed last year. This
later amount has already been
largely expended here. In addition
to these grants S., 5,287 500 was ear
marked for river and harbor pro-
jects to be carried out by amy en-
| gineers. Of this $5,107,000 is for
dredging and bank revetment of
the Chesapeake and Delaware Can
al, and S180,50 for the construc-
ton of jetty in the Wilmington
harbor. w. w. Mack, chief engin-
eer of the State Highway Depart
ment, when advised Of the FERA
grants, said that department has
been making survey of the dang
erous grade crossings throughout
the State, but has not yet decided
on any definite program of elimi-
nation pendingd efinite knowledge
Of the amount of money to be
placed at its disposal He explain
ed, however, that two of the larger
projects which have been studied
would, if they are undertaken, cost
almost S418, ,239, which is the total
sum allocated to Delaware for this
work throughout the State. Mr..
Mack explained that the Hayden
cartwright Act was passed last
year and authorized total of
5000, 100000 for highway work. Of
tn is sum only one half, or $780,
10000, was actually appropriated
and of this Delaware received ap-
procimately $4,000. He said most
of the $461 $3.50 now allocated to
this State as its share of the re
naming S10O,OOO,OOO has already
been ear-marked in highway con
tracts now under way, some of
which have actually been complet-
ed, so that this grant will not mean
any appreciable extra allotment for
road building. However, there is
an additional Federal sum author
lied and probably to be made avail
able soon from which Delaware
will receive grant approximating
that Of last year which will be
available for the proposed expan-
sion of highway building program.
100000, 900 For New Roads
Of the sum provided for these
projects throughout the nation.
S200,000,000 was recommended for
new highway and street work;
S2OO,000,000 for grade crossing
elimination and $10O,OOO,0OO out of
the unappropriated balance of the
Hayden-Cartwright Highway Act.
The S4000OO,OOO for new highway.
road, street and grade crossing
work was distributed according to
a formula laid down in the law
calling for population, road mileage
and railway mileage to be consid-
cred. The river and harbor aIlot-
ment carried with It the promise
Of additional money for the state
as it was taken from an initial
fund of 81 ,0OO,0OO,OOO designated
by the presidents committee for
this purpose. There remains an
unexpended balance of approx
mately 100000, 900 to be allotted
~ LII fdAAOoo SLdICS 1OI oil SOTIS
Of works projects 1t was estimat-
ed by army engineers that $780,
600 more is needed to complete the
canal projects and this amount is
expected in future allotment,
making total of $13,O73 ,O00 They
pointed out that the present depth
of the canal does not allow pas
sage of ocean-going vessels. 1t is
intended to provide a channel depth
Of twenty-eight feet which will
permit passoge Of both foreign and
domestic vessels in trips from Bal
timore to Philadelphia, New York
and Europe. 1t is estimated work
can begin in 45 days. The jetty
project was reported justified by
the large amount of commerce
which has developed at the port of
Wilmington, and it too was declar-
ed could be started in As DAYS.
Army engineers said this improve
ment will reduce shoaling of the
channel and greatly reduce main
tenance costs. 1t would also pro-
| vida for noccihIa f,tt,,ra arloroa