Evening journal., 1913-02-17
EXPLAIN The
BOULEVARD
AMENDMENTS


Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
STATE HOUSE, Dover, Del. Feb.
1.-THE largest attendance at any
session of the Legislature, including
during the fight for United states
Senator, was that when the General
Assembly, in joint session, this after
noon gave a hearing to General T.
Coleman DUPONT on the Boulevard
proposition. Every inch of available
space in the House chamber was oc-
cupied by men from all parts of the
state. 1t was 105 o'clock when the
Senate joined with the House for the
hearing The five legislatives steno-
graphers took a report Of the pro-
ceedings for future reference.
An air of suppressed excitement
prevailed when the session opened.
Parliamentary usage Will obtain
announced President pro tenn Mar
shall. He said Robert Richards would
represent General DUPONT as counsel
and Henry Ridgely would represent
the other side Mr.. Richards in OPEN
ing said neither he nor General du
Pont anticipated that there would be
a general debate today He explained
that they had asked for a hearing to
try to clear up misunderstanding and
some grounds for objection.
1--WE came here to frankly discuss
the situation" said Mr.. Richards
I'VE are not here to advocate accep-
tance of this boulevard"
Mr.. Richards then called on Cen
eral DUPONT to speak
General DUPONT said he was not
prepared to make a speech. But /
am prepared to build the boulevard if
the State wants it, he said. He then
invited questions from any member,
or anybody Henry Ridgely, for the
opposition, suggested that General
DUPONT could direct the procedure
along more beneficial lines by a
statement rather than by him being
subjected to questions.
Senator Reinhardt asked that the
amendments to the Boulevard Cor
poration law be explained.
Mr. Richards explained them along
the lines of General duPont's recent
letter to Governor Miller which was
laid before the General Assembly
One amen lment would provide for a
boulevard extension down the west
, ern side of Sussex county. Another
amendment, Mr.. Richards explained,
, was in regard to the condemnation OF
J land for the boulevard. The only pur-
pose he said would enable record
: to be kept of the condemnation of
land which unfortunately is not done
! now.
A second change proposed embodiei
J the idea of permitting the Boulevard
Lao
) by FIVE commissioners. to go aheaC
and build the road after putting NJ
a bond to cover any damages. Al
{ appeal can be taken for a sherif1l
jury of twelve to view the same Ian,
f. but, Boulevard construction could e
on pending the appeal
The third change proposed is il
= the method of determining the amour
e of the award IL empowers the con
p demnation commissioners to take int
/ consideration the actual value of tn
, land, the detriment to the remaining
= land that might be caused by tn
d Boulevard route and also any benefit
[ that might come to the land.
THAT method is not unusual
{ fact it is usual" said Mr. Richards. II
= said it was followed in condemnin
t the right Of way for the elevate
d railroad in Wilmington and also 70
r condemning streets. Mr. Richard
e also explained a proposed amendmen
: giving the owners or tenants of abut
! ting properties ingress and egress. Z
y and from the Boulevard such road
p and lanes for ingress and egress to b
D not less than 47O feet apart MI
! Richards pointed out that 1t woul
( be impractical TO use. these latera
D strips for railway purposes If th'
roads or lanes could cross the Boule
v;rd at indiscriminate intervals.
Mr. Richards said the distance q
e 470 feet was agreed upon by Genera
r dcPont and Senator Monaghan at
= conference a year ago, when a specia
7 session OF the Legislature was talke
s over
:. General DUPONT was questioned a
d length by Senators Reinhardt. CORN
J. ley Walls and Representative Bar
r. nard
"I'll give any man through who's
n farm the right of way goes five time
the present assessed value Of tn
. farm five years hence,' said Genera
! DUPONT But he'll have to agree nov
to sell it,"