The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-12
RIVAL TO
DELAWARER0AD

Dover, DEL, Feb. ,11.-Con-
stable William W. Willis to-day
seized and advertised for sale all
the available property Of the old
Delaware General Electric Com
pany, including a mile Of steel rails
newly laid, several thousand cross
ties trolley poles, tools, shanties,
workmens quarters and other prop
erty. Notice of the seizure and
sale was served on Director James
Lord here, but Mr.. Lord stated
that the franchise and property of
the company had now gone out Of
the control of the old directors.
The Delaware General Electric
Company was incorporated in Aug
ust, 1899, to build an electric rail
road from Milford to Smyrna, via
DIVER, with an extension to
Bombay Hook, a total distance Of
As miles. About twelve miles of
line have been completed.
Reports are correct that J. Ed
ward Addicks will buy the road.
It is said that Mr.. Addicks and
several capitalists will at once be-
gin to construct the Kent county
line, and in addition will extend
their tracks into New Castle
county, with the intention Of fin
ally building into Wilmington, if
suitable entrance into the city for
a new railway can be obtained.
z his would be rival to the Del
aware Railroad, the only line
down the state.
Mr. Addicks is now said to be
having the validity OF the char
ter of the Delaware General Elec-
tric Company inquired into, to
learn whether or not lie can pro-
ceed to construct a trolley line un-
der it. At the time this charter
was issued in 1899, IL deposit Of
about $1,000 was made by the
capitalist interested in the COM
pany as guarantee that th9 road
would be built.
Tie route of the proposed line
was about thirty-fve miles, under
the incorporation law, Il deposit
of $500 for each mile was requir-
ed to be made with the Secretary
of State. The company was given
two years in which to construct
the road, but it was never finished. |
The laying of tracks was commence
ed at the hill near the home Of
Maniove Hayes, just south OF Do
yer, the frs spike driven being Of |
silver.
Since then the company was in
volved in litigation. and the line
never was built. One Of the legal
questions to be cleared up is
whether OF not the charter is still
valid, because Of the litigation
that prevented the company pro-
ceeding with its tracks.
The franchise of the company,
unless its charter is impaired,
would be extremely valuable as
Mr.. White, Leo Belmont and Col
onel Leland, Of the Delaware Cen
eral Electric Company practically
obtained free right of way from
Woodland Beach to Milford. The
route was through Smyrna. Dover
Camden and into Milford. In all
Of these towns the use of the
streets was granted by the author
ties, although in Dover a COM
oany headed by John d. Hawkins,
ought the company headed by Mr..
White, but intellectually.
1t is furth 1 claimed that Ad-
licks will build the road by River
tide Park at New Castle and Aug
lstinc Park. In addition line
will be built from Bridgeton
Trough several towns to Salem
nd Pennsville, A ferry will be
Established to the Riverside Park
o It'll Of New Castle and the fare
rom Bridgetonto to Wilmington and
Philadelphia will under such cir
be cut in half
Interest Ing Service,