Evening journal., 1911-03-02
GOVERNOR
WANTS ROAD
Urges Legislation Necessary
to Garry Gen. duPOnt'S
Offer Into Effect
PREPARING BILLS
COVERING THE SUBJECT

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
/ DOVER, March 2-Cioyernor Penne-
will this morning sent 60 the Legis-
lature the proposition made by Gem
| eral y. Coleman DUPONT to build
State highway and with it a recon-
mendation that tho Legislature take
such action as is necessary TO carry
| It into effect. The Governor sent the
message TO the Senate and the House,
1t being as follows:
1T is my pleasure 10 present Tor
your consideration a communication
which l have received from General
r. Coleman DUPONT in relation to the
building Of a highway or State road
running from the northern 10 the
southern boundary Of the State Of
Delaware.
"The communication containing a
most unprecedented and magnanimous
offer to the State is as follows. (The
dupont proposition is here set out in
fulD:
Il strongly recommend the enact
ment OF such legislation al the pres
ent session as may be necessary to
effectuate the proposal contained in
the communication from General du-
Pont
Bills are being prepared for intro
duction by Senator Miller and by
Representative Hoffecker to carry out
the DUPONT proposition
0iier II Praised.
The offer Of General DUPONT 70
build and give to the State the high
! way described by him in his letter
yesterday was discussed on all sides
today, and sentiment generally is IN
favor OF the plan. The legislators
talked Il over among themselves and
many expressed themselves in favor
OF Il as giving the State a highway
much TO be desired without practical
ly one cent Of cost, in fact a better
highway than could be constructed
under the Drexler bill with its
S750,0O0 bond issue.
II was estimated roughly here that
the project outlined by General du-
Pont will cost anywhere from $780,
900 10 100000, without any trolley
line or other public utilities being
I Installed. Macadam roads cost from
$4,000 10 $4,000 afmile for a fourteen
or sixteen foot wide road and there
n VIII he more than 100 miles of the
proposed highway. Aside from this
the cost OF condemning land for the
road. the removal and rebuilding Of
houses IN the path OF the proposed
highway, etc, will cost hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars. to say nothing
of other expenses like engineering,
the planting Of trees. shrubbery. etc
In round figures the project may
cost S2,000,0O0. all of which General
DUPONT has offered to spend In build
ing the road and then to turn the
thirty foot wide general road over to
the State, free Of cost, but to he
maintained by the State.
The remainder of the road, a strip
avout seventy feet wide. is to be re-
served for trolley tracks or public
utilities with the stipulation that it
is TO be exempt from taxation until
public utilities are installed on IT, Mr.
dupont offers TO deposit $4,000 with
the state as an evidence Of good
faith, and desires to start work at
once He stipulates. however, that
b he shall not be bound to build a
trolley line or install any other public
utilities at this time
Engineers Are Ready.
Il is known that General DUPONT
: has engaged three expert road engi-
neers to begin work as soon as the
State shall sanction the project and
pass the legislation necessary. He
proposes to send these engineers and
surveyors out to plot the route as
the State takes favorable action.
II was suggested today that General
, dupont may acquire and operate his
In, s.rrf ~41 -
build the proposed highway, that the
Z trolley line may be built to keep pace
with the proposed highway and be
! used to carry stone from the quarry
, to be used I'm constructing the high
way.
BY this method, It was pointed out,
the trolley line would be built mile
l.. by mile as the highway was built and
t It would save much i'm freight in haul
: ing stone entering into the new high
/ way.
r Trolley Rights Easy to Get.
Under the general incorporation
law anybody can acquire a charter to
construct trolley line. After the
e charter is obtained a right OF way for
t the railway can be acquired either b.
0 purchase or condemnation proceed
! ings. and before construction Of the
railway is begun a deposit of $500 for
{ each mile Of railway provided for In
e the project filed with the Secretary OF
State must be deposited with the
e State as forfeit and evidence OF
good faith.
II thus is plain that It would be
comparatively easy for General du-
Pont If he merely wished to build a
trolley line down Delaware to buy ur
the right. Of way for IL over private
property, without going to the trouble
or tremendous expense OF construct.
Ing a public highway the entire length