Evening journal., 1913-01-09
Peoples Column
.SEAFORD MAN
HAS PLAN FOR
STATE HIGHWAY

To the Editor of THE EVENING |
JOURNAL
Sir:-After giving serious consider
alton to the condition Of the state and J
county roads throughout Delaware !
and the means for bettering them, l
have invented a scheme whereby l
believe Delaware can enjoy the satis-
faction of a state highway to stretch
from Wilmington to Delmar, taking
in the main line towns and then east
ward across the state from Harring-
ton to Dagsboro passing through Mil
ford. Georgetown and other import
ant towns.
The plans and specifications Of this
imaginary road involve the construc-
tion of nearly 15O miles of fourteen
foot wideJ stone road with asphalt
binder with a total cost of $1,5O0,000,
This immense sum is not to be
shared equally among all classes Of
taxpayers, but is to be constructed
by the state government at the ex-
pense of such people who need the
improvement most, and those who are
fully able to hold up their end of
the expense.
Suppose, for instance, that bill
requiring the construction of such
! boulevard should be introduced and
passed at the present session of the
State Legislature Then suppose that
duly authorized gold bonds for the
required one and one-half million
dollars were issued This vast debt
could be taken up within ten years
after the completion of the highway
iby the following method: Say there
will be 5000 licensed automobiles to
operate in Delaware every year for
the next ten years. Suppose that in
order to use the highway for travel
each owner would be taxed the sum
of $50 per year for extra road license
In ten years this license fee would be
sufficient to take care OF the princi-
pal involved in the road building.
Now the question will arise as to
how will the interest on the bonds
be paid and how will the improve
ments on the road be kept up? Con-
slider what a highway of this descrip-
tion would mean to our Diamond
State. When you consider this
blessing. don't it seem reasonable
that most every wealthy man in the
state would contribute a liberal sum
to support this proposition? Yes;
and furthermore I believe each town
that this road extended through would
obligate itself TO raise a certain por-
tion of the expenses and when this
and that are added together you
would have a good deal of money that
you never dreamed you could get
Then look what would be the diff
erence in maintaining this modern
highway in comparison to the cost
or the upkeep of the sandy-bottom-
less roads we now have. All this
surplus road tax could be utilized i'm
reducing the initial cost of the high
way, which, \of course. would make
it much easier on the automobile
owners.
The question might arise as 10
whether this imposition upon the
automobile owners would meet with
their acceptance or not From what
know of them | believe they would
be only too glad of the chance "a
drop this sum every year for ten
years for the sake of this great boost
AnE UA At'A0M az
Then. too, property owners living
along the course of the highway might
subscribe literally TO the improve.
ment because of the vast increase il
would naturally bring to their lands
Or they Nigh be induced to accept
the imposition OF a slight increase In
their annual road tax.
However, I firmly believe that the
State of Delaware can build and main.
. tain a highway of this kind If II
: feels so inclined II may be neces.
Y sary TO vary slightly from the plans
have outlined, but what matters Sc
b long as we could have the road?
: Is there any member of the pres
: ent Legislature who has the nerve
and energy to consider this PROPOSE
ton seriously? If there is one.
. should like to hear from him eithei
by letter or in person. There is M
Il better time than the present time e
. get the good work started and ! an
s willing to give my entire Efforts al
TO a try-out of thfs project Thank
/ ing THE EVENING JOURNAL and III
editor for the space of this communi
( cation, l am,
Very Respectfully,
( CLYDE c. THOMPSON,
Seaford, Del. Jan 6. 1913
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