Evening journal., 1912-04-30
new YORKER
WANTS DUPONT
ROAD BUILT

The Smyrna News contains this in
teresting and sensible communication,
bearing on the dupont Boulevard,
from a Delawarean now resident in
New York:
ITO a former citizen of Delaware
who is still true and very deeply in
terested in his native State, the atti-
tude of certain citizens of Delaware
i'm opposing General T. Coleman du-
Points highly commendable public
spirit 10 build a 1O4-mile boulevard
through the State, at cost of several
million dollars. is one Of the most
foolish aud amazing evidences OF in
gratitude ever developed in this or
any other country.
ITO set up the plea that Mr. du-
Pont has an ulterior motive to make
money out of the highway is too
absurd to give other consideration
than to express contempt for such
narrow unappreciation on the part o.
any class of citizens who try to bar
their State from the benefits of a
boulevard that would make and en-
rich Delaware, to say nothing Of their
stopping the circulation of enormous
sums of money amony an army OF
workmen in the roadway's building
and the benefit this money would be
to the merchants of the many towns
of the State through which the high.
way will pass.
Consider for a moment the great
benefit the passing of the highway
cast OF Smyrna would be to the town.
| BY spending a few thousand dollars
on the Smyrna river and the build
ing OF a waterfront at Green's Land
ing, boats could land their passengers
and cargoes within the town limits.
II the Pennsylvania Railroad had
been allowed to run through the
town as was desired instead Of a mile
away. Smyrna today would hive beer
the largest town In the State. On
, or two land owners would not allow
, their farms to be divided by the rail
road passing over them, and the towI
received blow from which It hal
never recovered.
Suppose II were true. for the sake
Of argument that Mr. dupont had Il
view monetary aggrandizoment out q
the proposed boulevard. If he de
sired TO run a railroad. a pipe line ol
any other sort OF a line down thi
State he could get a right OF wa.
for Il much cheaper than he coul,
built the road. Two million dollars
will go long way i'm the purchase o
acreage at prices such as prevail n
the state outside OF town and cit,
limits. Mr. dupont could buy a chaii
Of small farms from one end of th
State 10 the other. take from then
the land he needs for his right OF wa,
and then sell what is left to advantage
for truck farming. II is only
question Of a few years when Della
ware will he an endless chain Of trucl
i farms from the Pennsylvania line t.
the ocean. Then II will produce TWEEN
! ty times as much as now and Tho
1 value of land will increase in value
= accordingly;
what Delaware should be directl
, interested I'm is the great profit tina
the roadyaw would provide for all q
! the States citizens and the wonder
: ful growth and progress Of Delawar
} that would accrue from new noule
, ward. As for Mr.. DUPONT looking {
! the making of more money, that cor
2 tention is foolish. as he already pol
I sesses more wealth than he know
what TO do with. hence seeks m
boulevard means OF outlay as n
greatest public benefit that he ca
bestow on his fellow citizens. and q
n a lasting monument 10 his memory.
General dupont has put IL square
+, up > the people 10 say whether q
road shall be built and received in II
spirit that prompts the gift, OF abal
doned because Of lack of appreciatio
He should let the Delawareans igl
the question out among themselve
When the fight is over. he also shou
let them come to him and ask tn
n construction work be resumed"