Evening journal., 1917-09-27
General dupont Offers TO
Build New State Highway

the city Of Wilmington, including
route, width, character Of con-
struclion, etc, are to be determined
by the State Highway Department
in accordance with the law Great
ing Il.
"should this offer be accepted
will tender my resignation as
member OF the State Highway De-
partmont so that my presence IN
this department shall not em-
barrass any member, in the exer-
else of his independent judgment" 4
Governor John @. Townsend, Jr.,
Josiah Marvel, Walter o. H0necker
and Joseph e. Holland are the other
members OF the Highway Commission,
and they referred the offer OF Cen
aral DUPONT TO Attorney General
David j. Reinhardt fof an opinion as
10 whether there are any legal OBJ
stacles 70 the acceptance OF the oner.
Based on estimates for road con-
Btfuciion recently submitted to the
Levy Court, General dupont offers
TO build, az his own personal ex-
pense, for the State a highway that
viii cost In round figures TWO mil
Hon dollars This estimate IS based
on the construction Of an entire new
road between Wilmington and NIL
ford Il Is exclusive OF what ne has
spent and is spending on the DUPONT
Bouievard.
The Levy Court OF New Castle
county recently. awarded contracts
for the Lincoln highway 70 be con-
strncted OF Warrenlte on concrete
base al more than $40. 600 a mile for a
highway Is feet wide. The bid for
q solid concrete road the same width
was somewhat under $4,000 a mile.
The distance from Milford to Will
mihgton BIZ road Is 20 miles, so It can
Be figured that II the state Highway
Commission accepts General duPonfs
offer, and specifies an entirely new
1S-foot vide cohcrete road from
Wilmington 70 Milford. the cost Of 4
would be about two million dollars.
Tha. is the amount General dupont
would have 70 pay under such condi-
tons. and the State would receive
the highway as a gift
tinder the law passed by the last
Legislature creating the State High
way Commission. Il Is provided that
bonds shall be issued for road con-
struction, the interest 20 be met and
IAE UUuNH 10 UN NtAlU 0n WIN ANHa
from automobile licenses The state
Highway. It has always been felt
would be the most costly road 90 DO
constructed, and the lowest estimate
ever placed upon Il. for fnaoadam
construction, was S75o.0OO which did
not include roads already built by
New Castle county.
II the State Highway Commission
should take over the completed por-
lions Of the New Castle county state
Road and make e part OF the State
Highway system, Il would reduce the
amount General dupont would be
called upon to pay out Of his own
pocket considerably Il would mean
he would be CALLED upon TO pay for
nbout 40 miles Of highway across
Kent county and also 20 construct
portions OF the road now hncompieted
along tho State Highway IN New
Castle county. which would cost any
where from $500. 900 10 $1,000, 900. &C,
cording TO the width OF the road an,
materials used in construction for thu
entire project.
n the Highway Commission, how
ever, should decide upon entirely
new concrete or warrenite construc
ton for a State road from the Ken
county line 70 Wilmington, the cos
Of such a highway as General duPon
piers 10 build would range from
n.500,000 TO $4,000, 900. It Is estimated
General DUPONT did not attend the
Highway Commission yesterday IN
Dover, but sent his formal offer which
Is as followsi
September 20. 1917.
10 the Hons. John @. Townsend, Jo-
eiah Marvel, Walter o. Hoffeckei
and Joseph e. Holland, Members
OF the Slate Highway Department
Of Delaware.
Gentlemen: With the adven, o.
the automobile, / realize the wonder
f1l development Of which our little
State is susceptible and that the FRS
essential for this development IS {
we'll laid out system OF modern nigh
ways traversing all the sections o.
the State. It was obvious from The
beginning. that the backbone OF Hucf
system must be a main North and
Eouth Highway.
Familiarity with the great boule.
wards Of Europe and those that havt
IN recent years been constructed IN
this country was the foundation foI
me conception OF great Longitudinal
boulevard as the backbone Of the
highway system for our state, wide
enough 10 carry a road for vehiculal
IsVei, and when the development
tnat Is bound 20 follow demands this
Two roads, one for travel in eaci
direction, and also wide enough e
carry the public utilities which mus
come WIN inc development and in
crease In population.
As you know. following necessar
legislation and after many survey
all summer, in the autumn OF 1911
organized private corporation. cal
ed Coleman DUPONT Road Incorp
rated" for the purpose Of buildir
such boulevard for the State e. I
own expense. Ny original in.entlc
as frequently stated, was that {
State should ultimately control a
have the benefit Of this bouleva
when fully developed and as rapil
as each part might be developed,
road for vehicular travel to be Fl
built upon It being required TO
conveyed to the STATE upon &C
pletion. Unfortunately, some Of
people of the State failed 10 see
praciicability or the value TO
the State Of such a great main tn
highway. Other persons imagii
that soma personal profit might
suit to me from the project. For tn
and possibly other reasons opp
ton to the boulevard arose in SC
parts Of the State and resulted