Smyrna times., 1924-05-14
PLAN CELEBRATION TO HONOR
T.C.DuP0NT FOR GIFT OF ROADS
BIG PAGEANT TO TAKE PLACE
AT DOVER IN JUNE OR JULY
Governor Denney Meets Representa-
tiOn of the Press and Others to Dis
cuss Plans to Recognize Gift


cuss Plans to Recognize Gift
In response to the call of Governor
Denney and the Executive Committee
appointed some weeks ago, to arrange
for some proper celebration of the
constructing and presenting to the
State of the DUPONT Boulevard by
General T. Coleman DUPONT, represen-
tatives from several of the newspap-
ers of the State met with the Gov |
ernor and the Executive Committee in
the Governors Office at Dover, We'd |
nesday afternoon to discuss plans for |
suitable observance of the accession. |
A discussion of the proposed celebra- |
tion was had and many valuable sug-
gestions made as to a proper obser-
vance of the occasion, all of which |
will be taken up by the committee and
acted upon from time to time.
1t is proposed to hold the celebra-
ton in Dover sometime during the
month of June of the present year and
with the view of making it a State
wide celebration it is likely that a
pageant will be arranged. Further
particulars along this line will be
given out later. 1t was decided to
employ a State organizer for the oc-
casion and Charles F. Ernst of Will
mington was mentioned in this con-
nection.
For the publicity end of the affair
it was recommended that the news
paper fraternity be represented on the
committee to act as publicity agents
in sending out material for the daily
and weekly papers. The Executive
Committee named Herman C. Taylor
and Harry C. MacSherry to assist in
this work.
Those present at Wednesdays meet
ing showed enthusiasm over the af-
fair and without the slightest thought
or mention of partisanship in the mat
ter agreed to give the entire affair
their undivided support to make the
celebration a success.
Facts Regarding du POnt Boulevard
This road runs from Selbyville by
way of Georgetown, Milford, Dover,
Odessa, etc, to Wilmington. Exact
length is 98.1306 miles. Total cost
S4,856,O98.2O. Of this amount General
T. Coleman DUPONT gave S3,925, ,230.20;
cost to the State, $3.50, 0,86800; total,
$4,856,O98.2O.
The road was started personally by
General dupont before the creation of
the State Highway Commission on
October u, 1911, and General dupont
constructed by his own efforts and in
dependent of any State organization
the road from a point south of
Georgetown to a point north of Ellen
dale
The last section of this road near
Drawers Bridge was laid October 81
1923, and the whole road is now COM
pleted except few hundred feet north
of Drawers Bridge. 1t has therefore
taken II years for the completion Of
this road.
The original estimate on the cost OF
this entire road prepared by General
duPont's engineers in 1911 was ST.,
100000 and had there been no delay
in construction at that time the roaC
would have been long ago completed
. at one-third what it actually cost anC
: without any expense whatever to thu
State. The road as a whole including
} bridges, conduits. and rights of wa!
: has averaged in cost a little less thai
: $4,000 per mile and represents tn
] most colossal gift of a highway b,
any individual to his State.
Executive Committee to Fix on Dat
An Executive Committee consisting
T of George A. Elliott of Wilmington
I J. Hall Anderson of Dover and Josep
: E. Holland of Milford has been aI
j pointed to arrange an appropriat
I celebration to be held at Dover som
time in June or July for the forma
presentation and acceptance of tn
u road It is the purpose of the CON
mittee in the course of the next tw
or three weeks to appoint sub-con
mittees in each locality of the Stat
: and the suggestion has been mad
: that all those who are intereste
! throughout the State in this celebrs
tion send their names and addresses
- Col. George A. Elliott if they resid
4 in New Castle county; to ]. Hall Al
< derson if they reside in Kent count
# and to Joseph E. Holland if they n
Ie side in Sussex county so that the!
a na,,,ec ,,oav be usnd tO nerfect IL