Milford chronicle., 1947-01-03
ReUielU The Highlights
OF Mdck'S Career
Continued from FIRST pagc)

Olc Oh tllc outstanding events Ol
the period during which Mr.. Mack
served in this office was the merg-
ing Of all of the then existing
county roads into the State high
way system creating a project of
huge proportions in the matter of
road maintenance and construction.
Long a matter of much discussion
/ and argument the project of merg-
| ing the roads was considered very
difficult yet when the law authOriz-
ing the merger became effective
and the Highway Department pro-
/ ceeded in smooth manner to han
die the operation of all of the high
ways, the move was soon hailed as
one of the outstanding events of
that period.
However for the Department it
! was no easy task. The merger
meant many miles of dirt roads to
| be prepared for drainage and
Widened for better use. Under Mr..
Mack's supervision all of this work
was accomplished to the general
satisfaction of the public.
All OF the dual highways now
existing in the State were con-
structed during the period that Mr..
Mack served as Chief Engineer and
III addition to making dual high
ways of existing roads, such as the
DUPONT Highway from Wilmington
to Dover, and the Delaware Mary
land line, the Governor Printz
Boulevard, new dual highway
from Wilmington to Claymont, was
constructed.
In addition to the dual highways
already constructed, Mr.. Mack
supervised the preparation of plans
Tor additional dual roads, such as
The continuation of the present dual
dupont Highway from Dover south
to the Maryland line.
The record for Mr.. Mack's term
also reveals that in auuIuon to the
usual concrete and black top road
construction found throughout the
state, there was also some road
construction in difficult areas with
materials needed to suit the needs
VI tiic IOdu DclIIS uSCU.
One road was built with fOun-
! cation of marsh mud, taken from
the marShland it was built across,
ana given stone top dressing. This
ROAD extends from point east of
Little Creek across a marshland TO
M&hOn'S Ditch and was built TO aid
Watermen.
Another road of this nature was
constructed through sand dunes
leading from Rehoboth through
Bethany Beach to Fenwick Island
Where 1t connects with a highway
leading to Ocean City, Md. Likewise
on many sections of the highway
map are far to market" roads con-
structed to aid transportation of
1arm products to railroads or CITY
markets.
1T was DUNG Mr. Mack's term that
the program of eliminating rail
crossings along much used high
ways was inauSurated and while
numerous improvements in this
connection have been completed.
plans for others have been prepar-
Su uHuel HIS supervision.
The testing laboratory service. a
techhlcal service greatly aiding in
highway construction and mainte-
nance work, has been greatly eX-
r&nded during Mr.. Mack's term in
Office while the Highway Depa,t-
ment erected and occupied new
Cliice and headquarters building in
Dover.
Nam highways in the State suf-
lefed hard usage during the war
EellOd and as soon as materials
Wer released Mr.. Mack supervised a
program of repairing and resurfac-
ing. with widening where il was
feedcd' OF these existing highways
ana 'hat program is still in pro-
SreSS.
Mr.. Macks ability in highway
construction soon became recOgniZ-
cd throughout this State and like
wise extended beyond the borders
Gl Delaware with the result that he
mas served officially with several
National highway organizations.
lie has held several offices i'm the
American Association of State
Highway Officials, serving as Trea-
surer from 1886 to 1899, president
III 1889 and a member of the Exc
cutive committee in 1910. This AS
soclatlon has members in every
State in the Union.
On the Highway Research Board
he server as member of the Exc
'utlVe committee from 1896 to 1914
ana was Chairman of the Board for
two years, 1910 and 1941.
In the Association of Highway
officials of the North Atlantic
states he was a member of tbo
Board OF Directors from 1929 to
l946 and served as President in
1892.
In 1888 he was d member of the
Executive Committee of the Nation
al Safety Council.
IN addition to his activities in
connection with these various Or
SanlzatiOns, Mr.. Mack, throuehout
MS lengthy career, has frequently
served in consultation with high
way officials of other States.
frequently cOmplimented. and
the recipient of much favorable
comment, from time to time on his
hlghway work in Delaware. Mr..
Mack perhaps received no greater
recognition than that accorded 10
nm by the general public when if
was learned that although it was
necessary from him to sever his du-
'les as Chief Engineer. the State
would continue to have the benefit
ol ms highway construction experi-
ence and knowledge in the capacity
OF special consultant for the De-
rartment.
since the announcement. made
early in December. that Mr.. MACK