Smyrna times., 1917-05-30
SMYRNIANS JOIN OTHERS
IN PRAISE OF BOULEVARD
WITNESS SECTION OF DUPONT
ROAD TURNED OVER TO STATE
sedction Between Georgetown and the
Maryland State Line Below Selby-
Vile Ideal-Ceremonies Held

Rev. George G.. Williams, Hervev P
Hall, George W. Turner, and others
from Smyrna, attended on Thursday
the ceremonies at Georgetown at
which General T. Coleman dupont
turned over to the state of Delaware
his first stretch of concrete road of
twenty miles. The day was ideal and
the occasion was notable. The SMYRNA
contingent had only one criticism of
the road. ''It is too narrow. The
IA feet width hardly gives enough
room to pass cars and teams going in
an opposite direction. The ride over
the boulevard as we'll as the luncheon
on the lawn of the dupont House in
Georgetown, the construction head
quarters for the DUPONT Boulevard
Corporation, were greatly enjoyed by
more than one hunded guests of Cen
eral DUPONT which included good road
experts from a number of States. The
special train which took the party
from Wilmington to Georgetown ar
rived at the latter town at II o. clock.
Charles M. Upham, enigneer in charge
of the boulevard work, and his assis-
tant, Samuel Knopf, Delaware Col
lege graduate, welcomed the visitors,
who entered automobiles at once for
the trip over the road. General du-
Pont was accompanied by Mrs. DUPONT
and their son, Francis V. DUPONT.
Several of his automobiles were
among those waiting at the station to
take the party on the inspection trip.
Twenty-siX large machines had been
provided. Governor John G. Town
send, Jr., with his car, and Secretary
Of State Everett C. Johnson, met the
party in Georgetown.
Visitors Taken Over the Entire Course
Only few minutes were spent in
Georgetown before starting out on
the inspection trip. The twenty-mile
run to Selbyville was made in good
time and without stop. At the end
of the road stop of half an hour
was made before returning. General
dupont and the engineers were asked
many questinos about the road by the
visitors and the construction and ex-
periments that were made in the
building of it were explained. The
road was in excellent shape from
Georgetown to Selbyville. Erection
of fence on each side of the road for
safety wherever there is a steep in
cline from the road, was commended
by many persons in the party. The
visitors, and they included members
Of the new State Highway Commits
sion and state officials, were greatly
Interested in the large blocks Of con-
crete without break in them at diff
erent points along the road. One of
these is 361 feet long and is the long
est slab of solid concrete without
break in the world.
Run Over Sand Drew Comparison
After the proposed road TO be built
by the Maryland authorities to con-
meet with the DUPONT boulevard had
been explained to the visitors, the re-
turn trip was started shortly after 1
o'clock. To give those in the party
some idea of what the sandy roads in
that section of Sussex are like and
What the farmers had to haul through
before the boulevard was built, the
return trip from Selbyville to Frank
ford was made over the dirt road. In
many places the machines had trouble
in getting through the sand and to
run more than fifteen miles an hour
was impossible. On arrival in George =
town about 2 o'clock the party went
to the DUPONT House, the headquarters
for the Boulevard Corporation, where
picnic luncheon was served on the
lawn. Following this luncheon Gen
eral DUPONT presented the deed of the
completed stretch to the State and 1t
was accepted by Governor Townsend.
Best Stretch of Concrete in U. S.
Judge Conrad presided and made
an excellent address. Other addresses
We're made by State Senator Orlando
Harrison of Maryland, Thomas w.
Simmons, Secretary of State of Mary
land, and several Delaware men.
Senator Harrison in his remarks per-
unently said: Maryland now has
national reputation for the progress
she has made in good road building
and is especially proud Of her con-
crete roads, but this is better piece
OF road than any we have. In fact
this probably is the best stretch OF
concrete road in the United States. =
Continuing further he explained TO
the pleasure of residents of both
states that in Maryland "a contract
g.. rr1u