Evening journal., 1917-06-06
Peoples Column
LINCOLN HIGHWAY AND
WILMINGTON TRADE.
To the Editor of THE EVENING
JOURNAL:


JOURNAL:
sr-An article in your issue OF
yesterday indicated that the Southern
end OF the Lincoln highway feeder
through Delaware would be construc-
ted first and might consume the-whole
proceeds OF the bond issue of half
million dollars
As the general public and especi-
ally the business men of Wilmington,
are intensely interested In this con-
struction, it seems appropriate to
mention some facts regarding the
highway north of this city.
For the past fifteen years the writer
pas averaged two trips daily over the
Philadelphia pike and at no time dur
Ing this period has this road been
repaired to last over a month or two
10 has always been the most-used and
poorest road entering Wilmington
At this time, beginning at Thirty
third street. within the city limits.
the double trolley line begins IT'S high
II rail over which vehicles cannot
drive and the road Is narrowed down
TO strip about fourteen feet wide.
When half a dozen automobiles and
a stream Of pedestrians to and from
Shellpot Park all fight for room on
this narrow strip there is always i'm.
minent danger to life and limb un-
less some driver yields and bumps
his car cver the high trolley rails.
All the way to Shellpot the condi-
ton Is very little better. The road
is narrow and rough and in order to
dodge the Misunderstanding holes
the drivers have to diverge from side
10 side. This with the headlights of
the trolley cars. pedestrians walking
all over the road and the careless
crowds at the park entrance waiting
20 board cars going both ways makes
this peculiarly dangerous evening
drive. especially for a stranger enter
ing Wilmington for the first time
The second peril follows hard on the
first. being the dangerous ascent Of
Penny Hill.
The road is very narrow and we'll
crowned on one side is the trolley
with high powered headlights. on the
other a deep. uncovered, rocky raw
inc Everybody wants 10 stay on the
round strip of smooth road IN the
middle. everybody wants to make the
hill on high gear and with this COM
bination it is not hard to see why II
Is an almost every day occurrence "a
see the remains Of a smashed auto.
mobile being dragged out OF the ditch
nj this point. Automobiles and horse.
drawn vehicles passing over this dan.
gerous and most important entrance
10 Wilmington Will average. by ac-
4ual count. over one minute foi
hours together. Some of the heaviest
trucks built trucks that we viii
. charge this year as much as 500 foi
a license, pass continuously over this
stretch hauling material from this
city to suburban districts. requiring
a road OF ample width and lasting
construction.
From the top Of Penny Hin % tho
State line the road Is in its usual bad
condition though lacking the eXtrom,
danger points as mentioned above.
I'm the section between ClaymOn
and Chester millions OF dollars arc
being invested I'm industrial plants
and a vast population Is flowing in
Most OF these enterprises are OF
permanent character. and new
monoy-spending community Is read,
10 buy In Wilmington IL properly at
tracted IN this direction.
These facts would seem 10 indicat
the imperative need OF the fines
highway we can construct, a dOubl
tracked trolley system and ever
other facility to entice trade 20 onto
Wilmington from this section.
Already through automobile TRAIN
is being diverted to the north Of u
and many farmers who should com
here haul their produce to the Ches
ter market on account Of bette
roads
These facts seem 10 show a erwin
need for the early construction OF III
Lincoln Highway 10 accommodate
this heavy traffic. so vitality impoT
tant to the business interests Of WI
mingtOn.
Very truly yours.
p. r. VBASEY.
HrH.f