Smyrna times., 1911-02-22
STATE MACADAM ROAD
TO COST OVER $75O,OOO
SENATOR DREXLER INTRODUCES
BILL OF MUCH IMPORTANT
Provides a Bond Issue of S75O,OOO
And Names Wilson 7. Lavender,
of Smyrna, one of Commissioners

Provides a Bond Issue of $75O,OOO
And Names Wilson T. 'Cavender,
of Smyrna, one of Commissioners
Joining with other States in the
movement for better highways, Del
aware may build road from its
northern boundary, passing through
the city of Wilmington and the
towns of Smyrna, Dover, Milford
and Georgetown. At least this
is the aim of the bill introduced
in the legislature last week by Sena-
tor Louis A. Drexler, which provides
for the issuing of bonds to the extent
of $3.50, 900 for this purpose. The
bill also provides the establishment
of State highway commission, to
include Lieutenant Governor John
M. Mendinhall, Wilson T. Cavendar,
of Smyrna, and State Senator Louis
A. Drexler, of Bethany Beach.
According to the bill, which is a
lengthy cne of 26 sectionsd the COM
missioners shall receive no salary,
but shall be paid their actual expen-
ses while engaged in the work re-
quired, and that these expenses shall
be paid out of the State Highway
Fund, unless they exceed $1,000
year. A civil engineer, experienced
in road construction, is to be ap-
pointed by the Governor with the
Senates consent. The salary for this
office will be $2500 per annum, under
the provisions of the bill; he shall
be allowed his actual travelling ex-
penses not exceeding $500 year and
he shall give his whole time and at
tention to the duties of the office.
Assistants can be appointed, but the
total expense, including salaries
shall not in one year exceed $1,000
He will investigate and consider the
best and most practical methods of
construction and maintenance of
highways and the estimated costs
and report to the commission the
substance of his investigation.
Dupont Makes Offer of 100000
Following the introduction of the
Drexler bill comes the announcement
that General 7. Coleman DUPONT, the
millionaire president of the dupont
Powder Company will advance the
State 81 900, 900 for the construction
of such a>highway as proposed BY
Drexler, it being his intention tt
make the road the equal of any il
the United States. The original ides
of General DUPONT was to advahc,
this big sum of money to the State
for this specific purpose and to have
the present session of the Genera
Assembly pass law giving a cor
poration, which he would organize,
the right to eminent domain. Hi
plans were to have the proposed cor
poration, which would be a road
building company, construct tn
highway by the shortest possibl
route. He will agree to be reimburs
ed for the advancement of the 81, 900
900 in a novel manner. He want
to effect an arrangement whereof
the difference in taxation betwee
the existing assessment and tn
assessment. that the improvement
will create will be turned over
him, AMI he believes that it could b
repaid in few years. General du
Pont has directd former Judg Dani'
Hast ings and former Attorney Gen
eral Robert H. Richards to arrang
the details and the attorney gener'
believes that it would be possible
utilize portion cf the Drexler bill
connection with General dupont
scheme. Should any portion of Il
bill be used, it would, of course, b
necessary to eliminate that poltit