Evening journal., 1913-02-13

ter received by us from Mr. Hinckiey.
which we think freely states his po-
sition, and which we enclose for pub
lioation with his consent
Yours truly
WHITLEY G JONES,
l.. S. LAYTON, JR."
The letter Of Mr.. Hinckley followsi
"Rehoboth Beach, Del,
FEB. 8, 1913.
"Messrs. Whitley. Jones 4 Layton,
Georgetown, Del.
Gentlemen: have read the adj
verse criticisms OF our bill I think
that THE EVENING JOURNAL is
simply on the alert 10 protect the pub
lie interests. / wish you would make
II clear to them that this Is intended
to be a good business proposition.
which means that both parties are
equally benefited by the transaction
let It bs clean business or let us
drop It.
There are two items overlooked by
the criticisms; present conditions and
past history. An inspection by a COM
mittee is the proper procedure for
present conditions and It should be
known that the history Of these worth
less dunes Is that they have never be-
fore be n thought worthy OF taking
up" because on an average OF every
ten years they have been completely
washed over by storm tide Mr..
Charles H. Green, one of the most re-
liable business men IN Rehoboth.
states that the fiat sands In question
are not worth twenty-five cents an
acre.
"A business proposition Is OF more
worth than a philosophical process.
There are two bills before the Legis-
laturo. We do not believe that they
should conflict Senator AndersOn's
bill Ii in every way laudable To get
order out Of chaos is the first step
towards progressive, civilization. His
bill should have been passed a CEN
tury ago for Delaware should certain
! ly know what Il has got But It is a
preparatory measure. II means get
ting ready to do business. The Pal
mer and Company proposition is a
cash proposition and It is for the leg
islature to decide whether it is good
business to accept an offer to reclaim
these fiat sands and put them on the
tax map OF the State at once and
open up new private business which
will Immediately become a source of
revenue to the state or to delay and
expend public funds with no certainty
OF the return of the expenses
I'VE do not want any invidious
epithets made and we suggest that
the Bill in Committee be so amended
that the Governor be permitted when
papers are ready for execution, to
substitute for Palmer and Company
the name of any suitable party who
will bid higher for the concession and
reimburse Palmer and Company for
costs, II being understood that Pal
mer and Company be represented and
I allowed to ovorbid the other party at
the final hearing If they are so in
cllned
What belongs to everybody. be-
longs to nobody, pays no taxes and
soon becomes neglected, a desert and
yalueless. Delaware has no land Of
fee TO permit vacant lands to be ac
/ Quired An Act of Legislature is tbs
only method by which unclaimed
lands can be claimed.
Land Grabbers? are those
who want something for nothing, like
the Napolcons of high finance The
PUBLIC BENEFACTOR isshe who
never secs anything that he does not
seek TO improve. he who makes two
blades Of grass grow where one grew
before William Morris, the English
soclalistic artist, Is a type Of that
( character in modern times Benjam-
In Franklin was the American ex-
ponent OF that principle.
"A state has no right TO hold in
definitely that which it has no in
tention Of improving. immigration
and capital should be invited Il was
on these lines that our West wa:
developed. II a syndicate OF gentle
men sees some swampy, marshy lanC
or low. storm washed sand dunes
that have lain fallow for centuries
and believes that with enterprise anC
capital they can be reclaimed anC
added TO the taxable map of the State
why should that syndicate be insultet
and called land sharps? We believe
that this is distinctly a field for priv
ate risk and enterprise. Private en-
terprise has rights that should be re
cognized i'm progressive States Wher
chance and opportunity OFFER then il
the time 10 act.
"Your most truly,
Robert Hinckley. Sec'y."
Georgetown. Del. Feb. II, 1913.