Smyrna times., 1920-02-11


carry out the plans made by his mu-
nificent gift to the State of Delaware,
the Wilmington Sunday Star has
this to say in part: at was the even
ing of March 10, 1911-almost nine
years ogo-that General DUPONT, who
is known to every one in Delaware
as IT. c. first appeared before the
members of the Delaware General As
sembly and interested citizens o. the
State at a public meeting in the Dover
Opera House and explained to them
fairly, simply and frankly why he
wanted to build and donate to the
State and citizens of Delaware
modern highway extending the full
length of the State. 1t was due to
his desire to contribute something of
real and permanent value to the State
and its people. He had considered
several public needs and had decided
the need of good roads was the most
urgent He desired to set the exam
pie and furnish the pattern. He said:
In building this road l want to say
l have no Interior motives whatever
All he asked of the State was permis-
sion to build the highway.
"The nine intervening years have
been years filled with the opposition
Of the most discouraging character
the opposition of indolent public SEN
timent. of small pickering minds; of
itching avarice, of malicious polite
ians. A gift so munifcent in it's sum,
so public-spirited in it's purpose and
so utterly devoid of any possible sell
fish return as to attract attention and
comment throughout the length and
breadth of the United States was
secuted and fouted by those to whom
and for whom it was made The de-
tails of that opposition are as famil-
lar to the State as they are humiH-
ating to its pride and reputation.
'In the meantime the things he
visioned have come true. A State
wide interest in good roads has been
created. A State Highway Depart
ment has become an actuality. The
material benefits of improved high
ways have been proved to every COM
munity. Farmers have been brought
nearer to Cheir markets, their church
es, their doctors, their schools and
their neighbors. Long before the
words Community Service became a
slogan, Coleman dupont conceived
whipped into concrete shape and fl
nanced the great community service
of lifting a whole State out of the
mud and placing it's feet on a firm
highway that administered to its ma
terial, social and spiritual wants 36E
days year.
GAS final answer to those petty
minds and soggy souls which have
been trying to find anwers to theiI
own What is Coleman du
Points game?' What is back of hi
gift 'Whot strings are there to it ?
What does he expect to get out O.
it?'-General DUPONT announces h,
has placed in the hands of trustees
in a trust fund sufficient money t,
guarantee the completion of the roa,
undertaken so many years ago. TIL
conditions of its expenditure hav
never been changed; it is to be use
to pay for~the construction of a pub
lie highway, to be located where tn
people and the authorities decide, O
material and construction approve
by best modern road engineering, t
be donated when completed, withou
any if and ands, to the State of De
aware and the people of the Stat
for their use forever, without let G
Mndrance. The only thing Gener;
dupont can get out of his gift is tn
satisfaction of having performed
great public service for State an
people"