Middletown Transcript

J. W. ENDEAN ASKED LEVY COURT FOR PERMISSION TO CONSTRUCT ROAD HERE

When J. W. Endean, representing the Smyrna, Kent County and Delaware Bay Traction Company, appeared before the Levy Court Tuesday morning to ask for a franchise to build a trolley road along the state road from Delaware City to Duck Creek bridge, that body voiced its objection to the roads of the county being used by private trolley companies, and the matter was held up for advisement.

In making the position of the company clear, Mr. Endean said he was willing to guarantee to maintain a 40-foot driveway on the road by purchasing enough private property along the side to admit of that width. In answering the question why the road did not buy its way straight through private property, Mr. Endean explained that it was necessary for the tracks to follow the roads on account of the sources of profit that were thus acquired. He said the road would build all its culverts and bridges and would keep in condition ten feet of the road and was willing for the county to insert clauses in its franchise providing for the starting and finishing of the work.

Another objection to the granting of the franchise at this time was the fact that the company has thus far failed to obtain a charter from the state for the building of the road. Mr. Endean explained this by saying that the company would not deposit $33,000 with the state until the company was satisfied that it could get the desired franchise from New Castle County for building the line.

There was additional objection because the company had failed to make a survey of that part of the state road it desires to use as asked for in a previous resolution by the court, and all the objections operated against the granting of the franchise. The subject was continued, however, in the hands of the committee on Wilmington hundred bridges.