Evening journal., 1913-02-06
THURSDAY. FEB. 6. 1913.
No LAND GRAB, GENTLEMEN

NO LAND GRAB, GENTLEMEN
xArE wish to give warning TO the people OF the
w state Of Delaware, who are she eHaers OF tho
property that syndicate promoters and speculators
Is nreparing TO attempt TO obtain. for nothing, next
20 nothing, a valuable tract OF ocean front land at
Rehoboih Beach. senator Blackstone, Of Georgetown
has given notice OF the bill and its appearance is
looked for daily. IL is only fair to the senator to
say that when he gave notice Of the BILL mt the request
Of representative OF the promoters and spectators
he had no idea OF the scheme that lay hack OF II to
obtain thirty more acres Of that state land Wthin
short walk of the town OF Rehoboh Ihat he VIII sup
mort the bill after II has been introduced and its import
made clear is doubted. Opinion is expressed by his
friend, that he will not care to figure in the history
Of the State rs the father of Rehoboth Beach Land
Grab Bill or anything that sayors Of that nature IL
also is intimated that there certain men connected
with the contemplated State land deal who viii find
II exceedingly expensive to figure IN the notoricty
which will result from any cnort to work such
bill through the Legislature.
The memory OF the old Rchoboth Beach Land Grab
Bill which was beaten by widespread uprising oi
the public still is fresh in the minds OF the people
although years have elapsed since the attempt was
made to lam that notorious and malOdorous measure
through the Legislature. They are in no temper TO
have either the Senate the House pay respectful
attention 70 another such bill, should Il be introduced
They feel now as they have felt for years, that II the
state is desirous of selling the hundreds Of acres OF
land II owns at Rehoboh Beach il should have 1t
sur,eyed laid OH into building lots and sold to the
highest bidders the State reser'ing TO itself the control
Of the immediate oceanfront with the riparian rights
incident thereto. There hundreds. II not thous-
ands Of DeIawareans who would he glad to have build
ING lots and bungalows on RehobOth Reach, and who
gladly would ayaf themselves Of an opportunity such
as an auction OF the State lands on building lot basis
would supply.
Or better STILL the state might survey the lands,
lay them cut IN building lots and then lease those
building for five tenyear terms at reasonable
rentals thereby obtaining revenue and, at the same
time placing, cheapy, nt the disposal cf the people
those delights OF seaShore life In which are
co,eted by many Delawareans and which few now
have an opportunity to enjoy. by such plan the
title TO those oeeanront lands which necessarily will
become more valuable with the lapse of time, will
remain with the state the trustee for the people.
As we understand il from persons who should be
acquainted with the scheme represented by the Black
stone notice the plan is the syndicate Of promoters
and spectators 10 ask the Legislature TO give II the
absolute title about thirty Of that state land,
directly the oceanfront and inst outside the limits
OF the town OF Rehobotl. That thirty acres would
represent perhaps $50 TO 800 city building lots They
would be Situated, after bulkhead has been built,
and sand pumped thrown behind il, ON one Of the
finest sections OF that splendid beach.
We informed by one OF those pri,y TO the pro-
posed deal in State land that representation will he
anade TO the Legislature that the tract coveted
Is good now. because, at times. it is covered by
water but that il the State viii convey II in perpetuity
10 the syndicate il will convert Il into amusement
park which VIII be great boom Tor kenOO0th, anC
that Il will give certain guarantees for the performs
Rnce of the conditions OF the grant. Further repre-
sentaon win he made to the Legislature that thu
tract contains qucksand which viii have to be deal
with. short the effort will be to paint the trac
OF State land in its worst possible light IN the hop
that the Legislature will throw caution and busnes
prudence to the winds and make the land grant upO
the easiest possible terms.
Now. ii that land is such a miserable, water-soaket
quicksand-dotted tract why is this promot,e an
speculative syndicate so eager TO obtain il VIII
dry land where there will be necessity for bull
heading aud filling and where dangerous quicksand
do not exist What prompts II TO desire to bull
amusement devices, which, OF all things must be sal
( for public use, upon quicksand foundatiOnsi IN
simple truth is that the who are behind this move
ment separate the people Of Delaware from this tra
of oceanfront land think II is good proposition, m
they look to the Legislature to put It through IL
p them.
We wish to say now that this is not a Rehoboi
matters il Is not Lewes matter; il is not Betsar
Beach matter and II is not a Sussex county matte
1t something that AFFECTS the interests Of all II
people Of the State because that property belongs
all the people OF the State And the people of Il
syndicate any other syndicate walk away with the
State lands the oceanfront. Such grant Won
than thirty IT would be the esta
lishment Of a precedent whereby other syndcates wi
personal or political pull would be justified in ste