Evening journal., 1915-05-27
General DUPONT to Build Road
From SeIbyvilIe TO Georgetown;
Hopes TO 90 Through The State


big enough to allow big man to do
something big for the state"
Former Senator Young, of pocomoke
City. Md. a county commissioner. said
the county desired TO see the boulevard
built.
Colonel Townsend told General DUPONT
that IT he would build even the stretch
from Georgetown to Selbyyille the pres.
cnt generation and their childicu's chill.
drcn would bless him
General DUPONT. who had listened pa
ticntly, replied TO the various speeches.
when said three or iom years ago
that ! wanted TO build the road meant
IT, and mean 1t yet he asserted
AS soon as litigation or the possi-
bility Of litigation over the right of
way Is removed ! am willing TO start
10 build at the drop Of the hat
am perfectly willing TO build II the
right OF way Is secured in proper
shape"
General DUPONT went on to explain
that under the law the boulevard cor
poratiOn has a right to condemn and
acquire property for the right of way,
hut there is no way OF telling how
legal contests OF such condemnation
might terminate He raised ques-
tion as TO whether or not. IL the Su-
rrome Court of the United States
should declare the boulevard law un-
constitutional. muddle might not
result and the right OF way required
by condemnation revert to the ori-
glna owners.
1T seems TO me that the title for
the rights of way for the present
should be in fee, simple" General du-
POnt remarked Il would be per-
fectly willing that IL should be hy-
pothecated on put in escrow unth
the sections Of the road are complet-
ed General DUPONT expressed the
belief that it would be unwise TO build
on a condemned right Of way until the
law is declared constitutional. "The
road would not be as valuable as the
right of way in future years to the
State of Delaware" said General du-
Pont.
IF the right OF way is obtained
clear. am perfectly willing 10 start
work tomorrow. even II through the
entire state, or from Selbyville to
Georgetown"
Robert II. Richards at this juno
ture took up the legal questions in
volved in the Clendaniel suit that
halted the boulevard work There
still remains the risk of the Supreme
Court declaring the law unconstitu-
tional." he said. IF it should be de-
clarod unconstitutional the road pro-
osition would be left in the air" Mr..
Richards said il would be impossible
to foresce what the result would be
after considerable portion OF the
road had been built. If the law then
were declared unconstitutional. The
question of maintenance Of the road
then would arise he said.
Suppose, by litigation or other
wise. the entire right OF way could
not be obtained through the State
then the only chance that would be
| taken in building from Georgetown
| TO Selbyville would be that of main
tenance." asked General DUPONT
"Hes," replied Mr. Richards.
Then I'll take that chance" Cen
eral DUPONT stated, amid applause.
II then developed that eighty tracts o
land were crossed by the boulevard righi
of way from Georgetown 10 Sclbyvillc
Through a few of these properties th,
right of way had TO bee condemned. Th,
damages were paid two years or NOR,
ago, and the proceedings have been
closed. 1t developed that deeds have not
been obtained TO these properties. II
was pointed out bv Mr. Richards and Mr.
Cullen that the securing OF these deeds
would be but formality, as the prop.
critics have been paid for
Obtaining the deeds will leave the
entire eighteen miles of right of way
in fee simple. against which no legal
question could be raised. and as soon
as the deeds are presented General
dupont said he will begin construc-
tion of the road
"And as soon as the right Of way is
secured clear nOrthward the boule-
ward will be built northward." General
DUPONT added He emphasized again
that possibility OF litigation over right
of way would have 10 be wiped out
before he would begin construction
work. and that he is anxious TO build
the entire road from the northern to
the southern boundary.
Il feel We hive made history today
for Sussex county" exclaimed Colonel
Townsend.
(which ] have been waiting TO do
for three years" retorted General
dupont
Then all went down to the Hotel
dupont as General duPonts guests
at luncheon.