Smyrna times., 1915-07-07
DUPONT PLANS TO BUY
LAND FOR HIS BOULEVARD
THIS LATEST PUBLISHED AN
NOUNCEMENT PLEASING
Proposes Now to Build His Road
Gradually - Working Between
Georgetown and SelbYville.

Gradually - Working Between
Georgetown and SelbyVilIe.
General T. Coleman duPOnt's an
nouncement that he has not given
ND the project of building a State
long highway through Delaware, but
on the contrary, has taken the pre-
liminary steps towards Tesuming op-
erations on the boulevard was re-
ceived with great pleasure by the |
many residents of the State who hope |
to see il a reality, and even those
persons who objected to the project
at first are not opposed to the plsn as
the General proposes to carry 1t
through this time.
Instead of passing through farm
er's land with or without his consent,
bv the condemnation procedure, Cen
eral DUPONT now proposes to purchase
the right Of way for the boulevard
by buying the deed TO the property
needed. which should prove satisfac-
tory to everyone.
Several years have passed since the
announcement was frst made that
Delaware's powder magnate intended
TO build a State long highway to be
known as the DUPONT boulevard, at
cost of several million dollars. which
he would present to the State as a
! substantial monument TO himself.
This announcement was hailed with
ioy. and the press of the entire eoun-
try congra atul ated Delaware upon hav
ing such a generous millionaire as
benefactor.
II was not long. however. before
strenuous opposition developed.
Farmers who found that the proposed
route of the highway would pass direc-
tly through their property, in many
instances dividing farm almost in
half. raised a loud howl of inGigna-
tion. Many of them refused to sell
their property. while others asked
exhoTbitant prices for it. Objection
was also made to the conditions at
tached to General duPOnt's offer,
which would have given him a wide
stretch of ground along the entire
length of the boulevard. to be used
for almost any purpose he desired.
An effort was made to pass a du-
Pont Boulevard bill through the Del.
aware Legislature in 1913. whereby
General DUPONT could. by condemna
tion procedure, with certain restric
5 tions. acquire the land he needed TO
the right of way. There were to,
e amny farmers in the Legislature tina
y year, however. and despite strenuou
n efforts on the part of General duPon
i and his attorneys. the bill was de
e feated. A half-hearted attempt wa
IS made to revive it at the 1915 session
e but it also failed.
IS Several of the property owner
y whose land was needed for the boulC
'e ward carried TIE matter to court, an
y while the litigation was pending Ger
' eral dupont suspended operations.
IS The announcement of his new plal
% to build the road gradually, buyir
10 the right Of way. in fee simple. hi
ie once more revived interest in the pr
10 ject. There is no doubt but that
ne highway Of the kind contemplated
Ah General DUPONT would be of gre
o. value to the State, even were it he
as as private road. At any rate
e one can object to the building of Il
road as long as the General sticks
has plan of buying the deeds to {
a necessary property. with the conse
nv of the property owner. and those pc
o. sons owning property abutting up
lse the boulevard should eongratuls