Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-23
BELIEVES GOVERNOR
SHOULD Be BOOSTER
Executive Of Delaware Sets Ex
ample by Writing Of His
Own State.

That Governor Townsend is helpine
te bring Delaware Ia the attention of the
rest II the world is evidence by the
following, clipping from the New York
Times:
Chambers of commerce and other COM
merical and civic organizations are ex-
scllcnt institutions and contribute much
o. the progress of American communities
but the governors of commemorative
should give "A hand" occasionally in
exploiting the advantages and attractions
of such commonwcalths, is the opinion
OF John c. Townsend, Jr., governor of
Delaware
we may get just rs much fun and
profit out of living In a State whose total
income up 20 1919 was less than million
and a bali dollars as IN a State where the
financial overturn In the public treasury
amounts to many millions" writes the
chief executive Of our next-to-thc-smallest
State In an article IN the July issue of the
Old Colony Magazine, the official pl1blica-
ton of the Old Colony Club Of New York,
of which he Is a member of the national
advisory board
"Delawares l,o60 square miles and
220, 900 people can be just rs we'll govern
ed and Just as prosperous he SAYS.
"rhere Is even considerable advantage
~ the average citizen, who in Delaware
comes much closer To the real problems
and advantages Of citizenship than in the
larger States The whole State is Of
necessity home to him, and because
of its small area and population very
broad range OF interests and activities
fall 20 one man or woman.
PAYS rRIRurE TO WOMEN
Delaware didn't pass the suffrage
amendment for which many of us
earnestly hoped and worked. but the
women Of the State have contributed
their share, like the men, over wide
field of activities They are good sports
and JON with the men IN regarding
experience IN public affairs in the small
state OF Delaware rs an asset for service
an what all beneve will Re the best years
of our Statehood, from 1920 on.
Delaware has the distinction Of having
started It's reconstruction program before
the war. AZ the beginning of 1917
enough public sentiment had crvstallized
% support an income tax for increasing
State revenues, more equitable taxation
for school purposes and an inheritance
tax for educational and road purposes
\ survey Of State education was authoriz-
ed a minimum salary for teachers and
teachers expenses at the summer school
was provided by the State; State High
way Department was created.
As these improvements had grown
out Of very general conviction on the
part of the people. they are the best
and most definite indications that progress
IN the state will go Soundly and steadily
ahead IN spite OF drawbacks and even
temporary setbacks. Ii can't be said that
q real advance has any easier road 10
travel IN Delaware than in other States.
We have had all the usual ups and downs.
We want to be sure. and we sometimes
make mistakes Once having decided to
advance IN the handling Of State prob
lens. however, We may disagree about
the methods. but the State forges ahead.
and Just now there is probably no State
which has similar promise TO the State of
Delaware IN All Of the things which make
Tor healthy. happy and usefui citizenship.
MANY PROBLEMS DEALT WITH.
Health. education, Americanization.
the special care OF children, good roads.
agriculture. industry. labor and capital
and government, State and local, are be-
inc actively dealt with. Concentrated
on these problems are steadily growing
groups Of citizens who may lose today
but win tomorrow on every essential
point OF their various programs. On the
whole they are winning and whatever
groups We may choose to work with or
support. life Is never dull among the
great body OF citizens interested in the
development, Of the State.
The Delaware State Highway De-
par'ment has Inaugurated a program
which Is well on its way toward perfect
lng the go miles of Its State system and
which will ultimately affect the 1888
miles Of public roads throughout the
STATE. Delaware Is building concrete
roads IL builds them on a straight line
rom point 10 point, going around the
small towns and not through them.
The state roads have a right of way of
Eighty feet, both sides of the roadbed
10 be planted with shrubs and trees.
state money available for road build
inc IN 1920 i about 81 500 600 An equal
mount provided by General Colem an du
pont will make the fund 100000. All
income tax revenue above S250,00 goes
% roads and also automobile receipts,
fees for registration of vehicles |
md fees for licenses Of drivers.
The State gives aid 10 the counties |
or building roads Seven hundred and |
lfty thousand dollars will be set aside |
or this purchase in 1920. The construc- |
ION of these county roads is under the |
'eneral supervision of the State High |
ray Department and therefore State |
tandards viii be observed
Delaware has recently published a |
@mphlet 20 tell all Of its citizens how
vel the State is managing TO keep the |
'he~ls turning on the country roads
TIMELY GOOD ROADS PROGRAM
AS transportation is essential to a