Smyrna times., 1911-08-09
GENERAL IT, DUPONT AND
ENGINEERS VISIT SMYRNA
MAKE A PRELIMINARY VISIT BE-
FORE COMING TO MEET PEOPLE

States His Proposition to the Boulevard
Committee and Expects to be Back
Again in About Two Weeks i
General 7. Coleman Dupont, his
chief engineer, Mr.. Williams, and |
automobile party visited Smyrna |
yesterday afternoon, met the Boule-
ward Committee of the Smyrna |
Board of Trade, outlined his PROPOSE
tion and left shortly for his camp
in the lower part of the State.
The Board of Trade Committee was
notified of his coming in advance
by telegram. Yesterday afternoon
Chief Engineer Williams pulled
into Smyrna and with President c.
H. LeFevre of the Smyrna Board of
Trade and Messrs. John P. Hudson,
Harry B. Grieves, W. o. Hoffecker,
members of the Boulevard Commit
tee went over the two or three
proposed routes, east and west of
Smyrna in order that the engineer
might become better acquainted
with the layout of Smyrna and its
relation to the proposed Two Million
Dollar Boulevard. Later the sur
veyors will go over the course and
take tie measurements. General
Dupont, who had been to Whining
ton to hold a conference concerning
the Delaware City Trolley, came
down on the five O'Clock train. He
was accompanied by his father.
Dupont Wants Right of Way of 200 #.
General DUPONT did not go over
the several proposed routes but held
a conference with President LeFevre
and the Boulevard Committee at the
office of President of Town Council,
Samuel ]. Reynolds. Mr.. DUPONT
stated his proposition, which in short
was that he wants the people of
Smyrna to donate and give him a
right of way 200 feet wide through
the town of Smyrna, free of all ex-
pense to him. In the matter of i'm
prevements, parkways, ETC., he
offered to bear so per cent of the
expense. While nothing definite was
fixed as to route, Chief Engineer
Williams was most impressed with
the western section of Smyrna. They
were the Pearl street route and the
one branching off from about Wood
lawn, "going north across Lake Como,
coming through Smyrna along the
site of the dwelling of Mrs. Armitage,
South street, thence along side o1
the property of Mrs. Caroline j.
Raymond, Commerce street, in
cluding the Taylor and Sudler pro
perties and the properties on th'
opposite side of the street and tax
ing in the residence of Vernon La!
Phillips and L. 7. Davis on Mt
Vernon street, and thence in
straight line back of Glenwood ant
st. Peters cemeteries to the Stat
road. 1t is estimated that righ
of way through Smyrna will cos
anywhere from $50, 900 to $50, 90
and if the citizens of Smyrna s
decide, Council will be obliged t
increase its tax rate and increas
its bonded indebtedness This is
matter that must be decided later
A considerable number feel tina
since General Dupont is mutual
interested with Smyrna and all town
through which his route will pass
that he should be wiling to bear a.
or at least half of the expense in aC
quiring the right of way. But it
understood that he does not tax
this view of the situation. On
thing certain, the Smyrna Tow
Council and Smyrna Board of Trad
have a serious problem confrontin
them. All progressive citizens al
anxious to do everything in the
power to have the Boulevard s
through Smyrna, and not stand Il
odium now paid our forefathers
driving the railroad from our TOW
limits. General DUPONT will cor
plete the survey below Dover fir
but in two weeks he expects
come back to Smyrna and meet t
business men. A public meetil
may be held at the Opera House.
Dover Council Voted Right of w;
1t is now believed that Dow
will get the State-long bouleva
to be built by General T.
Dupont. Council, at its Augu
meeting, Monday night, confront
the question of donating the towr
new nine-acre' field and the right
way across streets and the to'
fathers stood right up to their du
and gave the strongest possible &
to the whole boulevard movemel
The following resolution was adol
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