Evening journal., 1912-03-26
TRUTH ABOUT THE BOULEVARD.

II OBERT II. RICHARDS. formerly Attorney General
of this State and recognized of its leading
lawyers has written open letter to the Every Evening
that shows clearly the unfairness and naccuracy of
the Morning News in dealing with the question of the
dupont Boulevard the proposed amendments to the
Boulevard Corporations Act aud the separate pro-
vding for bridge for the boulevard the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Mr. Richards
and Daniel o. Hastings now City Solicitor framed
that and the proposed amendments. So much un-
fair criticism has been made and so much msinorma-
tion has been given to the public by both the Every
Evening and the Morning News that We deem it our
duty the public lay before it the full text of Mr.
Richards letter which addressed the Every Even
ing. 1t is as follows:
Your paper is opposed TO the DUPONT Boulevard but
that take it, will not prevent your printing letter
which my Of fairness mpels to write.
When Thursday morning March 2l saw the two
column headlines ON the front page of the Morning
News of Wilmington, ANNOUNCING that it, the News
presents facts to the Boulevard and that II therein
prints the first of a series of articles bearing upon
the proposed highway through the State with the idea
presenting the people of Delaware the facts in
nection with the dupont Boulevard project was in
terested.
When "a newspaper assumes to present to the public
"the facts about matter of public importance the
public has the right to anticipate that the newspaper
viii all the facts the subject or at least
that It will present an the facts that learn of by
conscientious effort its part. The public has right
10 rely upon newspaper doing this much. If. the
fails in this respect IL is an unreliable agency
for public instruction and entitled to no influence IN
moulding public opinion. When the same newspaper
"A
effort to ascertain the facts bu fails TO present peril
nent and Illuminating facts within its knowledge Sc
convicts itself of attempting so deceive the public and
follow
In reading the first of the Morning News series of
articles the Boulevard, ! surprised at the ap-
parenty wul suppression of pertinent and iluminat
ing In connection with the specific matter treated
by the article of the first article is devoted TO
the proposed bridge across the Chesapeake Delaware
Canal than any other single thing in connection with
the Boulevard The article refers TO the proposed act
for fha an"
the Boulevard law H. OF course, is not an amend
ment7 of anything but is a separate and Independent
act complete i'm itself This, however. is matter of
no importance The article obviously attempts create
the impression that by this proposed act if it should
become a law, the canal company would he unjustly
oppressed and harshy treated The article pretends to
print proposed when in truth and fact il omits,
without acknowledgment mention considerable
part of the act The proposed act contains between s
title and section 1, preamble of four paragraphs
which is follows, viz:
dupont Road Incorporated, has been organized under
the General Corporation law of the state OF Delaware
for the purpose of locating building, constructing MAIN
tanning and operating Boulevard extending from or
the city of Wilmington in said state 10 or near
the town of Selbyvile, In said State; and
Whereas, Said corporation is by law required TO
construct upon said Boulevard well-built road for
vehicular travel and to convey the same to the state
whereas, The said corporation has begun the iocat-
ling building and constructing OF its said Boulevard and
has begun the construction thereon OF the SAID road Tor
Vehicular travel; and
Whereas Section 1e Of an act entities An act "a
incorporate company for the purpose OF cutting and
making a canal between the Chesapeake Bay and Bay
OF River Delware the waters thereof being Chapter
rs Of Volume Of the Laws Of Delaware. provides as
follows, wit:
Section 16-And be il enacted That whenever sa
canal shall any public it shall be the dutl
of said company at the proper expense of the same
10 make and keep good and sufficient bridges th
said canal TO prevent any Inconvenience in th
usage of said road roads by reason Of said cana
crossing the and that il shall be lawful for tn
Legislature Of this State at all times herafer to
laws for the erecting and maintaining bridges
the said canal the expense of the said company
TO subject the said company TO forfeiures pains
penalties for not complying with such laws p"
This omitted part Of the act makes ii clear that II
the canal company's charter which is a contract be
tween the canal company and the State there is a