Smyrna times., 1906-07-18
ENGINEER ENDEAN DECLARES
TROLLEY LINE WILL Be BUILT
SAYS COMPANY PROPOSES TO START CON.
STRUGGLING ITS LINE IN TWO WEEKS.
Will Begin at Clayton and Continue Through
Smyrna 10 Boat Landing, Employing $50
Men; Power House at the Landing.


Men; Power House at the Landing.
Consulting Engineer John w. En-
dean OF the Smyrna, Kent County &
Delaware Bay Traction Company ar.
rived IN Smyrna last week and with
his family are residing in the Cosgriff
residence on Mt. Vernon Street. The
arrival of Mr.. Endean has given fresh
impetus to the trolley movement and
some OF those who have been more or
less sceptical are beginning to feel
that the trolley will be built. Mr.. En-
dean, WHO'S a member of both the In
stltute of Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers and practical man in every
sense of the word, is now verv busy
getting over the preliminary work
with Promoter Click and is getting
plans and specifications in shape to be-
gin actual construction work. In an
interview with the Times yesterday
Constructing Engineer Endean spoke
most encouragingly of the situation
and expressed wonder that so fine
country as Delaware had not long ago
been belted with trolley lines. There
is future ahead for Smyrna" he says,
land the whole State when the trolley
is built and in operation. No state in
the Union Is better suited for TROLLEY
system. The people are thrifty, the
land is fertile and productive and an
electric railway is only needed to de-
velop the community and put it in
quicker and easier touch with the citv
markets."
Getting Plans and Specifications in Shape.
Regarding the construction of the
local line from Clayton to Smyrna
Landing, Engineer Endean says: ''it
will be built without fail. Promoter
Click and his company have had many
disarpOintments and setbacks but af
fairs are now assuming definite shape
and the construction of the line is a
certainty. We are now getting our
plans and specifications in readiness
for the contractors and we propose to
let our contracts the latter part of this
week or the first of next. The mater
ial will be shipped as soon as the con-
tracts are placed and if everything
goes well in two weeks time we pro
pose to begin the work of actual con
struction, beginning at Clayton and
proceeding without delay to Smyrna
Landing. While this will be the first
section built we do not propose to stop
here. During the fall and winter we
will in all probability build to Wood
land Beach and then we will strike the
main State Road and will either 90
north or south whichever pressure is
brought to bear the stronger. The
probability Is it will be north to Mid
dletown and via Odessa to Delaware
City.
viii Starr Construction With $50 or 200 Men.
We propose to start with $50 or 200
men" continued Engineer Endean,
''and if everything goes well we will
have the line completed from Clayton
to Smyrna Landing in ten weeks.
The contract for the Power House will
be started at same time of the laying of
roadbed. Just where Power House will
be located has not been definitely de-
cided. After looking over the situa-
ton we have about decided that
Smyrna Landing would be a more nat
ural place for it than the Trolley Lot"
next to Lake Como for the reason that
it will be more central and near navi-
gable water. This counts for much in
getting our coal and supplies. Where
ever the powerhouse is built will mean
The springing up eventually of quite |
colony. The chances are that this will !
mean an increased population for
Smyrna. You can tell the people that
the trolley is going to be built and
that propose to stay here until it is
and : in operation, after
which / have agreed to become the
general manager of the company. We
will not stop until the whole State or
Peninsula is cob webbed with electric
railways"