Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-06-13
Magazine Review
Gtvina a Highway 70 a ~tate

Giving a Highway to a ~tate
When, tow years ago, he arrived at
the age of forty-seven Thomas Cole
man DUPONT, the president of the
great power company, man Of many
millions with a good reputation and a
bad designation, perhaps fearing that
he might not live many years longer
and doubtless because he really is
good fellow a philanthropist at heart,
determined to do something big for
the people of his state and for the
glory for the DUPONT name while he
was yet alive. At first he thought OF
building al elaborate memorial foun'
tain in Wilmington. But that was not
large enough benefaction to satisfy
mis- philanthropic spirit. Then he
Thought OF a hospital, and after that
the manual training school. Having
been in the Boston Institute of Tech
nology and come out very good en-
gineer, the training school idea was
the one which he most favored. He
was still revolving this latter project
in his mind when one day while out
in his automobile Dumping over a rut-
ty road in central Delaware, his eye
took in the dismal stretch of highway
ahead and an inspiration seized him.
What this state wants is good
roads," he declared, land Tllput my
money into them instead of into those
other things which after all would be
/ of no benefit ito the people outside OF
Wilmington. I'll build the straightest
| the widest and best road in the coun'
try and is shall reach from one end OF
the state to the other"
And verify it was a big idea n the
benefacton line and an original one,
for no notwithstanding, anxious to
| leave a monument to himself, had ever
written his name indelibly across the
map of his state.
| Coleman Du Point is a man who
acts quickly. Having conceived the
idea of the state-long boulevard, he
Immediately began to interest infiuen-
tial people in the project. The assem-
billy was in session and he went to
leading legislators and aked them II
they would put through a bill that
would enable him to make the gift OF
the great highway to the public.
The members liked the idea and cen
scented to act And so the Coleman
DUPONT Roard incorporated, came in
to being in accordance with an act
authorizing any boulevard company
which would comply with certain con-
ditions to construct a highway from
the southern to the northern boundry
of the state. Chief among these con-
| ditions was that such company
should give to the people Of Delaware,
free and clear of any encumbrance, d
road for vehicular travel from one end
of the state to the other on as nearly
straight line as was practicable.
1.-THE only thing that bothers me in
| this whole business is the attitude of
the farmers, says Mr.. DUPONT. "You
would think that they would all be
glad to see the road built, considering
| the tremendous advantage it's going to
be to them, but many Of them will not
give rights-of4way through their prop
! erty, and where offer to buy, they
put preposterous figures on their hold
! ing. One man had been offering his
farm for $500, but as soon as he
the road was coming he ran the price
up to $1,000 on the ground that the
| boulevard vas going to improve his
place to that extent. Human nature"
From estate Road from Private
Purse" in July Technical World Mag
azina