Evening journal., 1913-02-25
TUESDAY. FEB. 25. 1913.
THOSE BOULEVARD LAW AMENDMENTS.

THOSE BOULEVARD LAW AMENDMENTS.
rv>HERE is not an amendment to the Boulevard Cor
i poraions law proposed by General n. Coleman
DUPONT that is not both practical and necessary FOR
the proper prosecution OF the work Now that he has
expressed willingness to dedicate to the state all
profits that may arise from the operation Of the boule
ward and above the cost OF maintenance and has
said he will give ndemniying agreements to farmers
who that their properties will be injured by the
boulevard passing through them there should be no
dincuy in the Legislature and the protector of the
great roadway reaching satisfactory terms for its con-
strucuon and operation. General DUPONT has met and
overcome the two great objections, and IL common
sense be permitted rule in the legislative deliber
htions the amendments asked for by General dupont
soon will be passed. because they based upon both
common-sense and common usage in other advanced
communities.
Tho first amendment asked for is that the commits
4ioners who assess land damages to the taking Of
right OF way for tho boulevard shall certify their
dndngs under oath that there may be perpetual rec
ord such transactions What earthly objection there
can be to such sensible and hghy-necessary amend
knent II is difficult TO conceive
A second amendment provides that after the damages
to a property have been assessed and awarded the
boulevard corporation, the award has been
certified may proceed to build the roadway the land
after showing its good faith by depositing amount
of money greater than tho damages that have been
awarded of the property may be protected
IN event subsequent litigation results in giving to him
q greater award than allowed by the commission
ers. That method Is pursued in many States TO the
end that property may be protected and that
public improvements may not be blocked by conten-
tous property persons who have selfish mo
tives underlying desire TO defeat such improvements
In New York city for instance the city when Il wishes
property for public use takes title to It long before
the final OF damages has been made aud proceeds
with tho work in hand. The course is pursued
in many other places and It has been found TO work
fairly both regards the public and the private inter-
csts.
Nor is the recommendation that the law be amended
70 the commissioners shall take into consideration both
the damage and benefit TO a property crossed by the
boulevard anything else than fair. It is practice
that prevails in almost all progressive communities
IN fact In most OF them of benefit for public
improvement is established and benefits laid against
all properties within that benefited The amend
ment proposed by General DUPONT is mild when COM
pared with the law bearing upon great public improve
ments that are carried 10 completion I'm many other
rommunities
In justification Of the proposed amendment that the
crossings shall not be closer than 47O
feet so that any rapid transit utility be established
along the sides, the operation OF not be Inn
peded by many crossing cautions may be said that
Ihc public interest calls for such precautions only
Cor the protection of cross race the facil-
station Of the Of rural districts IL is
Of prime Importance that the cars shall be operated as
quickly possible and there is nothing that tends
prevent speedy operation than grade
crossings
The amendment providing for branch OF the boule-
ward the western side of the State from Dover
Delmar speaks for itself, and should think such
an offer extend the boulevard system viii en-
brace that territory would be welcomed heartily by
the public.
Now that General dupont has expressed his willing
to buy five years hence any farm crossed by tn,
boulevard for times present assessed value tn,
opposition OF land owners which has been such an i'm
portant factor i'm the situation should disappear