Delaware Democrat. (Wilmington, Del.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-17

This W. tAx.- cts.sat- -na.s-~ss.rsss-.-srrrts
ing ut the City Hall, called for the purpose OF de-
Gliding this "questio yexata," when some of our
most prominent citizens favored M with their
views upon the subject With the result of the
meeting, however. we were very much dissatis
fed, and had some thoughts of expressing our dis
satisfaction at the time, but being .sunaccustom-
cd 10 public speaking and moreover not very
we'll endowed with the "gIt of the gab,n VIC con-
cludod to express our views of the matter through
the columns ofthe Delaware Democrat
There can be no reasonable doubt We think, in
the mind of any rejecting citizen, that Water
street should and must be widcncd, either now or
At some future period. As il is at present, il is
Wholly inadequate to the wants Of our business
iuen. and the evil Is steadily increasing, as the
business Of the oity is extended. The interest
exhibited on the subject by our merchants, manu-.
iaoinrefs, &a, is popl positive of the truth OF our
Insertion, This being granted, every ono must
Know that cnicser be widencd al less EXPENSE
ilan at the present time. The value Of property
ID oar city is steadily on the increase, and the
longerit is deferred, the greater will be the OK.
Psnse l, il therefore important in pccuniary.
aswelps a business point of view, that the street
should be widcned at the earliest possible day.
The only question then is, how can il be done
Various methods of getting over the difficulty
kase been proposed, the most of them uns,tisfac.
tory o. ini,iraetioafc. II has been proposed Tint
hc1t'ity Council should compel the Rail Road
Company 70 widen the street Mt their own ex.
Ipnse Even allowing that this could be done, il
sonid obviously be unjust and injurious 10 the
Interests ofthe city, which are identical and ever
must be with those Of the Rail Rond company.-
ouicrs have proposed that the property holders on
the street should bear the expense This woultl
also be unjust as the benefit will be- cnioyed far
more by she city at large, than by the residents or
propsry holders on the street, though the Latter
would doubtless be greatly benefited. Oilers
thlnk Tie city should bear the expense, or at least
Oh. greater portion of il. The proper mode o
overcoming the difficulty, we think, is to consid.
CT whoa 10 be benefited by the improvement.
MD how much benefit each party will receive
Laauestionahly, all will be benefited, directly or
iofrse,lyf Tins Rail Road, by the increase OF
busluvss IN That neighborliood, which wunld re-
SUI, aud tho consequent incrcasc of their own bu.
aiess. Besides, the railroad Is at present ustlrp
ns'ihe fsit'hl property of our citizens, and OBJ
strsisdine our streets, and should be willing TO
compensate us ior our permission to do Sc. The
property holders would undoubtedly, most ofthcm.
&c greatly brnchttcd, by the rise in the value Of
'llcir properly which would accrue. They shouLf
be willing, nicrciorc, to share the expense but
unfortunately Gre not. The city would, we think.
derive the greatest part Of the benefit and should
tbcrsiore be willing to bear the greatest part of
tho expense. And this, We think, our citizens
VIII be willing To do, when the matter is properly
set before them.
Inc whole expense Of Widening the street, ac.
.eorang to TIC report Of the committee, would ex-
coed @iL006, of this The Rail Road Coinpany
generously offers to give 81, OON, beside their pro-
Perty, amounting 10 several thousand more
The property holders propose to give the mag.
nhccnt sun OF s405, leaving the city 10 pay 81
e55t This our citizens very properly refused 10
do A isnoibng like an equitable division OF the
eKPcnso, andsthe property holders know il. They
Should give, in our opinion, as much as the Rail
Road Company, and the city would be, or at least
should be willing 10 foot the remainder Of tic bill
ny pnh,g ai'daller iurJ Oh The street, the dana.
gee weaid probably be reduced to Sl3,OlO, in.
ifead,sf @tsDOtsss at present, leaving the whole
tSPeilse 81 Sl50O0, or 5000 10 each of tho
PARTIES interested This Is the only way in which
thc. very reasonable proposition of AIr. Head
coald Be errcd oa,, and had he shown ii,o IL,
lssesic&Ale n.aiI pfohaiaity The llnsstinq lwoula
lave adsPteait Esiiptifl ihcsproperty holders re.
isassAo copsEibuie tlsn amouni.. how Won ask arr
We % sppPel tlle'n Obviously by, PREVAILING
ppoinui Leg iAidure 10 authorize The INV Conn.
11i0 'erg d tdf 10 ilit amount upon said proper.