Evening journal., 1901-03-11
SAVED FROM CoNsp1RA1oRs

our readers who Signiiied a desire to
buy building lots at Rehoboth that the
State failed to accept our proposition
to sell them to the people at 81 apiece
and that the project must be held in
abeyance for at least two years. Mean
while we hope that such public SEN
timent will be created in favor OF
throwing open this stretch OF ocean
front to the people that the next Leg
islature will enact laws having that
end in view.
In order that the matter may be
understood thoroughly, we will review
briefly the progress OF the negotiations.
Several months ago Former Sccre-
tary OF State John +. Salisbury went
TO Baltimore and had a conference
with Messrs. Bosley and Giddlngs, OF
the Queen Anne's Railroad Company.
He proposed the introduction in the
Legislature of n bill TO grant the rail
road company a right OF way through
the State land and one hundred acres
OF the beach front at tho terminus OF
the extension at a point below the
Douglass House, provided the company
would obligate itself to build the ex-
tension within a specified number OF
mcnths, and also put up a large hotel
and an excursion house on the one
hundred acres given by the act. It was
a splendid proposition from a public
point Of view for it would have thrown
the immense stretch OF public land in
close touch with transportation facili-
ties. and the hotei and excursion house
would have formed a nucleus for a
new seaside resort which ultimately
would have become part OF the town OF
Rehoboth. Mr. Bosley was seized with
Illness and the Queen Annes Railroad
Company failed to act upon the sug-
gestlon and no bill Of that character
was introduced.
The news must have leaked from the
offices OF the railroad company, or
there must have been a telepathic con-
nection. for shortlyafterthe Legislature
met Senator Pennewill. Union ltepub-
lican. introduced a bill granting to
Messrs, Truitt and Curry, two private
spectators, one a Democrat and the
other Republican, two hundred or
more acres OF this beach front for the
paltry sum OF 81 an acre; and 1t was
the very same tract Of land which was
embraced in the proposition made to
the Queen Anne's Railroad Company.
Messrs. Truitt and Curry admitted
frankly that they wanted the land for
purposes which were purely spocula-
tive. There was nothing in their bill
which bound them to do anything fur
ther than to make a survey, pay 81
an acre and take the land.
The Evening Journal fought the bill
because 1t regarded II as a plan to rob
the public. It fought it all the harder
when 1t discovered that every Addicks
member Of the State Senate was lined
up back OF Il, because It assumed the
form of a political conspiracy with the
Addicksites bent on carrying II to 9
/
The bill was referred to the Com
mittee on Vacant Lands. OF which Sen
stor Alice, the political manager Of Ad
dicks, was chairman. with Senators
Farlow. Blake,y. McFarlin and Maui
as his colleagues. Senators Alice, Far
low and Blakely voted to give tn,
land to the speculators in the face o
the protests of Senators MoFarlin an
Maull. and regardless OF the sxpressel
wish Of hundreds OF Delawareans u
buy something over 1000 lots at doubl
, the price the iand-grabbers offered 10
them.
3 Then came the two fights on the lool
with the Addicksites lined up to a ma
in favor OF the isnd-grab and th
Regular Republicans and Democrat
\ lined up to a man against it.
o Senator Maull offered his thousanS
e dollar check. 1t was laughed az by N
t Addicksites. as also we're the offers {
e hundreds Of persons to bay thousand
IS OF lots.
e Then Senator Knox emasculEtcd n
= lpernicious measure by Offering a
Ie amendment that the land asked for I
Is Messrs Truitt and Curry he turns
At over to the State treasurer, surveye
A. plotted, advertised for thirty days al
ID sold to the highest bidders. Even q
Addicks land-grab conspirators cou
not affaord to vote against that prop
of sition. The amended bill passed I
r. Senate by unanimous vote.
a. II was sent TO the House. where I
i'll Addicksites permitted it TO die in U
~ friendly hands and the valuable ooe
all front while saved from the conspil
* tors. must remain closed to the pl
ey lie until the next session of the Les
err lature when. 1t Is hoped. something C
A elusive will be done to make itavaila
or to the people and cause it to serve
in greatest good to the greatest numt
is
afa That live nipapon ehoofinQ match