Smyrna times., 1907-11-27
ENGINEER ENOEAN ANSWERS
CASHIER WALTER MORRIS
TELLS WHAT HB HAS. ACCOMPLISHED IN
THE DELAWARE STATE TROLLEY PROJECT
But DepIOres Lack of Community Interest
aud Support Of the Citizens Of Delaware So
Badly Needed TO Make Movement Success

\
Chief Engineer J. W. Endean, of
the Smyrna, Kent County and Della
ware Bay Traction Company, who is
pnshing with utmost vigor his plans
for the construction of a through state
trolley line from Delaware City to
Lewes and Rehoboth, has replied to
Walter Morris, the ell-known Dover
cashier, who recently contributed a
letter to the Dover Delawarean urging
the building of trolley. Mr.. Endean
says in part: "You are no doubt aware
that my company Gas the holding COM
pany) through the writer, has been |
working for the past year to interest |
capitalists to finance the construction
of an up-to-date electric trolley line
from Delaware City to Wilmington. to
Milford, and Rehoboth, for the con-
veyance Of passengers and freight and
have been successful so far, that a
British syndicate of capitalists has been
formed, and on detailed reports fur
nished them, have agreed to construct
and equip the proposed lines under
certain conditions, which the writer
and his colleagues are endeavOring to
meet The cardinal points of the con-
ditions are, viz: First, that complete
right of way must be acquired. Sec
ond, that the people shall show a COM
munity interest by subscribing to the
bond issue (Which is not payable until
after the lines are complete and in OPP
GRAFTON to Milford) Thirdly, tn e sup
port of the people of Delaware must be
assured by their showing a commun-
ity interest, and their desire to assist
the enterprise by exempting the line,
etc., from taxation for period of years.
How Engineer Endean Has Overcome Condition
Regard ing the first condition, the
writer appeared before the Levy Court
of New Castle County some months
since, and made application to use one
side of the road, for a width of twelve
feet for a right of way, offering to
maintain the same as a hard macadam
roadway for the full width of the same,
and in order that teams might be able
to use this hard road at any time tina
cars were not passing, to lay the rails
flush with the main highway, but re
gret to say, the Levy Court Commits
sioners would not grant the nse of tn,
highway for the operation of a trOlle
,oooaoifota6 fto ooOuir
ing of a private right of way fror
SMYRNA north to Delaware City, dis
lance of twenty-four miles, and whic
the writer has been engaged in acqulr
ing for the past several months, with
I am glad to say, good success, ant
there is every indication of this cOndl
ton being complied with in the yer
near future. With regard to the Sc
on1 condition, my time has been s
occupied with the first one, that onl
very little attention has been given l
but what little has been done, has M
been at all encouraging, and gree
laxitv of interest appears to exist wit
the people approached. Regarding Il
third condition, the Legislature
course has not yet been approache
but several of the members aud Sci
tors have been interviewed on the M
ter. and have given it their endors
ment.
Every Town Grants Franchise Except OO'
The Town Council of every TOW
(excepting Dover have granted rig
of wav franchises without any hal
restrictions, and the town OF st. Ge
ges where a site for a main power {
tion has been acquired, and in Smyl
Camden and Milford where sites
acquired for shops, car barns, ONO
etc. have exempted the property tr
taxation for fifteen years. You
thus readily see that for the past y
incessant work has been crrrled VIII
view of giving to Delaware the
necessitv required to properly deVe
her MAGNIFICENT agricultural resour'
and while 1 quite agree with your
inc "vou had no faith in the sew
past attempts to construct trolley
in Delaware, as these attempts
mareIv nbIinds" to further other
terests mostly politicaD and furt
more the lines previously propo
could not have been any earthly
to any community. think you
agree that the steps now being Ia
are in the right direction, aud win
active assistance of the communiti'
complying with the second co1dit
I see no reason why a majority pol
of the lines should not be constru
and in operation in 1908. AS an
4r;ooI and construction engineer