Milford chronicle., 1912-03-29


Delaware, which will be ITO miles
in length, it was the desire of the
builder to locate it where it was most
desired by the people. and in order
to get a true expression OF opinion il
was decided to build it where the
greatest number OF feet Of right-of-
way was offered free. Not that the
cost of right-of way was an item OF
much importance in comparison
with the cost Of the road because a
strip forty feet wide would take only
little more than two acres to the
mile, and the value of the land in
the lower county will not average
fifteen dollars an acre; so that the
cost of right -Of-way would not be of
sufficient amount in the total cost to
be worthy Of much consideration.
This road, the surveys of which
are practically completed, will start
on the Pennsylvania line in the
northeastern part of the State and
run thence following in a measure
the contour of the country, mainly
by long, easy curves and grades thru
the rock bound hills of New Castle
County to the city of Wilmington,
first thru the residential portion,
thru over the historic Brandywine
and into the heart of the city, tour
lists having the choice of half dozen
routes thru the city proper. Then
crossing the Christiana, the stream
on which the shipyards and steel
mills are situated, it will 90 a little
east of due south to the town of Sell
byville, using in many places the
cid Kings Highway, a road which
has been established for three cen
turies. From Wilmington in a south
erly direction it will pass near the
old and historic town of New Castle,
rich i'll colonial legends, at one time
the largest and most prominent town
on the peninsula. Owing to its not
being located on a railroad or a thor
fare of any kind, except the Delaware
River, this town has decreased in
population for the past fifty years
After leaving New Castle and seven
or eight miles below, the road crosses
the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal
near st. Georges, a small village at
which the second locks of this canal
are located. The difference in ele-
vation of water at these locks is ten
feet. and as a matter of interest to
the reader, it is one Of the first canals
suggested to be taken over by the
governmental in the Inland Waterways
plan. The next town of any size is
Odessa, which also, being off the
main line of the road, has many dis
advantages, and so thoroughly have
the people of this town appreciated
the value of the road that they have
offered to give a right-of-way to the
Boulevard Company thru the heart
of the town. From Odessa it passes
in perfectly straight line to Smyrna,
another old and well known penin
sula town. Continuing in almost
straight line it goes from Smyrna to
Dover lthe capital of the State. Here
it passes to the rear of the old State
House, in sight of the famous Git is
hoped soon to be discarded) whip
ping-post. From Dover it passes
near the small villages of Magnolia
and Frederick to Milford (Milford
and Dover are the largest towns in
Delaware south of Wilmington.
From Milford it goes in almost
straight line to Georgetown, the
county seat of Sussex County.
Georgetown, too. is one Of the oldest
towns on the peninsula, and famous
in colonial days, many of the fami-
lies there tracing back two hundred
years on the same farms. From
Georgetown it passes near the towns
of Millsboro and Dagsboro to Selby-
vile, the limits of this last and most
enterprising town being the Mary
land line. From this point the Mary |
land County Commissioners have
agreed to construct a road thru Ber-
lin to Princess Anne on the Virginia
line. It is hoped Virginia will take
up the road at her northern line and /
carry it thru to Cape Charles. Sena-
tor Sproul, the author of the famous
Sproul road bill in Pennsylvania,
and Mr.. Bigelow, the State Road
Commissioner, have promised to
meet the road at Pennsylvania line
and build or rebuild a good road to
Philadelphia
The du Pont road will be con-
structed of waterbound macadam or
concrete base, on top Of which will
be laid asphalt and stone mixed or
a surface composed of waterbound
macadam with half-inch covering
of asphalt and trap rock to make it
dust and waterproof. There will be
z.-o,.o1 4xvDac Of fbo 1afocf lx,oourr l