Evening journal., 1917-05-10
rHAr nrLlMARE AYENur mrReyFMENT.

Ill Wilmngionians should give moral support to the
A project OF widening Delaware from Tatnall
street out to Van Buren, street 10 is enterprise
designed for the good OF the community, and every
citizen should regard it in that spirit.
There are many reasons why the avenue should be
videned Tho chief OF them are that 1t is too narrow
al present to meet with comfort safety the tranc
demands made upon it, and that no time so favorable
as the present for carrying out the work will present
itself
Both property owners and the public at large should
approach the project patriotic spirit and stand upon
the broad and secure base absolute equity in deal
ing with IT,
There should be no disposition the part Of the
city to gougo the property owners and there should be
no disposition the part OF the property owners to
eouge the city,
Scientific steps FOR tho ascertainment Of values have
been taken and they should be permitted to- weigh
heavily in whatever controversies may arise incident
TO the acquisition OF The private property needed for
the improvement
The present width OF the between curbs is "a
feet and inches.
The proposed width Of the avenue between curbs is
54 feet and inches.
The increased width would be twenty feet or suni-
cent for the accommodation between curbs Of two rail
way tracks and also for automobiles two abreast, ON
each side Of those tracks.
It is proposed that the additional twenty feet Of
space shall be acquired MS follows. Reducing tho
width Of the south sidewalk from n feet and inches
10 - feet thus gaining feet and inches reducing
tho width OF the north sidewalk 10 tho same extent;
taking feet and inches from the fronts of private
properties on tho north side OF the avenue between
Tatnal and Van Buren, streets but leaving the private
properties the south side OF the avenue untouched
Eleven special reasons for widening tho avenue are
advanced They follows:
delaware avenue Is the main artery OF travel east
bcfuv N{vtb
and Brandywine creek, because the Wilmington and
Brandywine Cemetery cuts all other cross streets
delaware avenue is part OF the Lincoln High
way-a outof-town travel through Wilmington tray
erses the avenue
3-Pennsyyania avenue and Eleventh street are
added to the normal Delaware avenue travel
4-rhe widening OF Delaware avenue will help pro-
tect the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery from
being cut through by cross streets.
with the two lines OF street car tracks and the
present motor traffic, the is congested and
dangerous.
e-The widening viii add to the beauty dignity util-
ity and commercial value Of the avenue
7-Between the outer rails and the curb on either
side there viii be for two cars abreast
S-Deaware avenue viii shortly be repaved curb TO
curb and the street tracks reset so that the pres
ent is the appropriate time for widening or the pro-
ject must be abandoned for years
"a few years hence many costly structures will be
built on the present north building line and the cost
OF acquisition may be prohibtive
lo-lf the city continues to grow apace the narrow
avenue will seriously curail the normal development
OF the city
1.-THE opportunity may never come again for hay
ing this great Improvement without cost to the city
In fact, it would be serious mistake for any VIII
mingonan to nterpose any obstacle designed to pre-
vent or delay the making OF such a much-needed i'm
proyement