Evening journal., 1911-03-11

unconstitutionality. and which would
be absolutely free of any possible
question as to its validity upon con-
stitutional grounds.
To Amend Corporation Law.
"Inasmuch as Mr.. duPont's idea was.
as I understood It, for boulevard TO
be constructed for vehicular travel,
the idea was thought out that by The
use Of a corporation which could build
this road and which of course would
necessarily hold these franchises, II
would furnish the means Of avoid
ing the postponement Of the work for
two years, and meet the provisions of
the constitution. The idea is 10 amend
the General Corporation Law by au-
thorizlng the formation OF boulevard
companies. Such an amendment
could cover all of the points involved
IN Mr.. duPont's proposition, as It was
submitted to the Governor and all that
he has stated TO you in amplifcation
Of that proposition, and l feel very
sure from the consideration that has
such statute can be drawn which
would absolutely protect the interest
of the State and permit the building
OF roads such as Mr.. DUPONT contem-
plates. IL is such statute that ! am
now attempting TO draft, and which
think can be completed within a few
days. do not know II there is any
thing that / can say in addition 70
that so far as the legal aspect of the
matter goes My interest is the in
terest merely of a citizen of the State.
The building Of such a road would do
more to develop the various parts of
the State than any other public work
that ] can conceive as being under
taken"
Mr.. RidgeIy Asks Questions.
Henry Ridgely from the audience
asked: "On the legal aspect Of IT,,
how viii you clinch the proposition
which understand Mr.. DUPONT makes
that this strip Of land which is not
used for a State highway will be turn
ed over to anyone who desires 10
build trolley line and will guarantee
that It will be built in reasonable
time"
Mr.. Richards replied that thirty
feet Of this strip would be decided TO
the State when the road was finished
and the rest would be retained for the
corporation for a trolley line or other
public utilities or TO lease il. or to
convey the franchise to whomsoever
might wish to operate the public utili-
ties.
II understand that Mr.. DUPONT does
not necessarily anticipate building
trolley line" said Mr. Richards. "I
do not think that 1t could be very.
we'll provided that Mr.. DUPONT should
turn over this franchise to anybody
who wanted to build a trolley line OF
to construct a telephone or telegraph
line. / understand that by his state
ment he is prefectly willing to give
tho franchise to anybody who wants
TO build n railway. but II II should be
prescribed in the statutes passed that
he should be required to turn over
this franchise to anybody he thereby
would be deprived OF the right OF
building a railway himself n he want
ed TO, and I do not think that he
should be deprived Of that right"
Mr.. Ridgely asked II there would
be any provision that n the strip was
not built on or utilized within a spec
flied time It should revert to the
State.
Mr. Richards replied that he be.
lieved II ie a matter that should be
carefully considered by the Legisla.
ture and representatives OF Mr.. du.
, Pont and he thought Il should b,
satisfactorily arranged.
Mr.. DUPONT here stated: 1T seems
TO me that II l bought this right OF
way and paid for II and did not use
IL for a trolley line In the course OF
two or three years, would have the
right to keep Il. ! do not see why ]
should give Il back to the State. Why
should / give Il upf"
] II. O Collision, OF Kent county, from
the audience asked: eff he wants to
build a road through the State, why
don't he take a strip 200 feet wide II
he is only going 10 deed back to the
State 30 feet. The land that he re-
tains would be worth more than the
cost Of building the road, and l don't
think the offer should be accepted
Mr.. DUPONT replied: "The gentle
man has just said that the ground
would be worth more than the road
I will sell him back every bit Of the
ground at the cost Of the road wher
the road is done. and would like
TO do that all summer"
On motion Of Senator Drexler the
. Dover Board Of Trade and Dover
opera House managers we're given a
vote OF thanks for the use of the
theatre.