Smyrna times., 1874-02-04
For the Smyrna " Timas." ."
The New Court House and the Smyrna
KemOnStTance.

For tho SMYRNA Times"
The New Court House and the Smyrna
RemOnstrance.
The TINES, will perhaps, be expected to
notice communication upon the subject of the
New Court House, and sundry other things,
found in the DeidWdredn of January 3lst.
The people of Smyrna therein spoken of
in good English, perhaps, but in terms exceed
ingly silly, and in very petty temper, and re-
ceived such storm of abuse that it may be |
matter OF wonder that they were not annihila-
ted. They had, it seems, once the audacity to
apply to the Legislature for authority to open
certain ncedful roads in Duck Greek Hundred,
which authority having been granted, they
hal the effrontery to follow it up with an ap-
plicatOn to the Levy Court for the funds re.
quired to execute the law, and, in consequence
of adrOlt management. they did actually re-
ceive from the Levy Court, says this writer,
the large sum of 81 7,500-and all this OF their
own motion, not haviOg the fear of any gentle
man in Dover before their eyes. That writer
dOes remember that in former days Smyrna
had wise and influential population, and a
large range of country to supply-but that was
long ago. The degenerate sons of worthy sires
retain however, their 0Uddcity, and, to COM
plete the list of their offences, they have real
y had the bOldneSs to demonstrate against
|
funds by the large appropriation contemplated
for the erection OF an expensive building upon
the burnt Tavern property in DOver-Iately
purchased at an enormous price) for new
Court House, at a cost it is estimated, of
$4,000. Appalling offences truly. Let the
Tax Payers of Kent county decide. The first
charge is that Smyrna obtained from the
county 81 800 to open streets for her especial
benefit, and thus involved the County in a
debt which yet remains unpaid. If this be
true it is certainly strong reason for adding,
without the least necessity, some $2j,OOO to
that debt. If a small debt, necessarily incur
red, be blessing, much larger one, incurred
without necessity, is, Of course a greater hleS-
sing i'll proportion TO its magnitude. But
apart from such considerations, had not Duck
Creek Hundred (befOre the division) contrbu-
! ted to the common fund Of the County, in
! ! td.reS, much larger sum than any other Hun
! dred in the county? and had she not been as
3 sessed far above all otherS2 Let the Records
: answer. Was Duck Creek Hundred or Smyrna
> ever before known to erpend anything like the
amount of her contributions to the county fund
: Again let the Records answer But that writer
admits that the opening Of these roads leading
' into Smyrna was the very .ErSt occasion which
! called tor any such appropriation as that oi
/ which he complains. II that be the tact as il
= not doubted, has not Duck Greek Hundred
)! and Smyrna as an important part of it-stil
IL further Just demands upOnthe COMMON fund
in order to render the decision eq,uttbte dnl0n,
q the Hundreds? What has the writer to sa!
u in relation to the contributions, to, and with
II draUels from the common fund Of Dover, an,
other Hundreds? Let him q again to th
record Of the Levy Court and refresh hi
Is memory.
r, But weak rs would be this argument If hi
u statement were correct, it becomes actually i
g need Of tonic when the real facts are pre-
~ sented. The total appropriation made tor th
le opening OF those roads which connected wit
, the new streets opened in the town Of Smyrna
,; c was but about $3,5)O. AMI of this not on
Vi d0tt0r was applied to any avenue of the tow
\ SmyrnI opened her streets entirely at her ow
expense, using Tor that purpose. from her Ow
e. treasury S., ,O62S0 The appropriation wisele
us made by the Levy Court was usel, exclusively
In for opening roads beyond the limits Of Smyrn;
l% for the accOmmO latiOn Of the SurroWntlIl
NJ eoantyy, whose population by the existing 70 ad
III were obliged to eHlanger the safety Of the
y; families in passing TO and from the town whic
su supplied their daily wants. In these neces>ar
}" roads Smyrna was no more Interested tina
&C. was the entire population OF the wpSteI
e- portion of Duck Creek Hundred, aud
Kenton Hundred, AS now established
indeed no more than was any citizen who w
gu obliged to approach the town from the wcstel
lst side.
s.; Again, says "X. " as q consequences of II
Gu recent blindness OF the people in refusing rig
w. " of way FOR the Delaware R.iroad, Smyrna
nc rapidly falling into a state of respectful
ne decay, &c. This from a citizen of DIVER,
Oy perhaps the unkindest cut of ull. That Il
Is origin Of the Delaware Raj iroad is due to Il
'cc SteanbO0t Company Of SnlyrlRI viii be su
y ., stantlated by more than one living witnes
ilu About 1899 the citizens Of Smyrna obtained
- r. - II
Tu' communication, by Stednlb0It, with PhiladC
me phia-then rather perOus undertaken
d They built small steamer, aud succeeded
ec' well that larger boat became necessary--tll
also proved SD successful that some citizens
49,; Dover became disirOuS Of sharing the bu
~ ~ ness, and offered Dom Ian ling as stopp
H. place, if the line could be extended to Dow
;, and themselves made participants in t
business and direction OF the COMPANY
ho this was granted. The enterprise still $,
-" o0 ceeded so decidedly that further extension
W. W. the business vas contemplated and arranl
nor mentS were in progress for ths construction
- n railroad from DOnq to SsalOr6, so as to CT
C~ Cu' meet Norfolk and Philadelphia. through Dow
sau Thus jealous was Smyrna. Noby does "X
Ill return her generous intention. At that tin
Co. however, acting upon the renewal OF an
,rol rol charter, the Delaware r. K. took hold of
,;o work Of grading, already commenced, upon
the p. W. Il b. X. r. to accomplish the VIII
- work-diverting the route, however, from DC
op o Landing to Philadelphia. Then came
!ne time for the lociton of the Delaware RailroI
.%or % Several lines were surveyed aBd the pres
anu .ha iniudicOus route was adopted not beca,
tu e the people Of Smyrna were blind
ouS because certain Directors, forgetting, in 10
JUS 'ns' objects. the interest Of the Corporation at
ion. head of which they stood, successfully exert
.a mo their influence to curve drouni Snlp,
.ent ne The excuse made was the opposition of
: aEu =. single land Oocner, yet the route adop
~0y passed over farm whose owner 81. II. Re
was as much opposed to the use of his Ian
as was the gentleman whose opposition
nge' allowed so much pretended influence.
lghs Smyrna was blind, where were the keen org
1Hld of the Railroad Company that they sbo
cted -to n curve from, one oi their most ;mnort
con COZ contributors to whom they were really indeb
lar for the first idea of the enterprise and