Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-05-24
Water street AnnIn,
shAtt II IN WIpHNtD 20 Oh 80 FEET ?--TRsT
tOTR IN pofranrF

shAtt IT IN wIDBNtp 20 Oh 90 FEET ?--TRsT
VOTE IN COUNCIL.
The question Of the widening Of Water street
was very unexpectedly brought up before Coun-
ci last evening" on motion by Mr.. Febiger to
take the report of the Commission for widening
the street 60 feet out Of the hands OF the Com
mittee on Opening Streets, (of which he is chair
man, and refer II to a special committee
appointed for that purpose. His object in re-
ferring the report to special Committee was
simply to ascertain the sense Of Council upon
the two propositions before it. viz: to widen 30
feet as suggested by the p. W. Il b, II. r. Co.,
and Interested property holders, or to widen to
the full extent OF 60 feet, as originally proposed.
IL It was the intention Of Council to still adhere
to its previous determination, he thought II was
useless to incur the trouble OF second interview
with the P. W. b. Co., and the property hold
ern along the line Of Water street. He wished
Council to give some definite indication Of its
feeling with reference to the widening Of this
street.
Jno G. Baker reiterated his preference for
the 60 #. plan, but inquired what the induce
ments were to reduce the number Of feet to 20
or, in reality 20 feet2
Mr. Febiger replied that it was a very easy
question to answer. The Commission to widen
60 feet had already assessed the damages al
sl39 ,2S0, while by the plan suggested by the Z.
W. d B. Co. it would not cost 800 Besides
this, 1t would secure to the city Union Depot
"a blessing which former council had unwit-
tingly suffered to escape. These were the in
ducements Afforded by the reduction in the num-
Der Of feet from 60 to 20.
Mr. Paynter would not like to be forced to
vote at this meeting He thought there was
yet another plan which seemed to him might
settle the difference between the friends OF the
two propositlons-a compromise upon 40 feet
The widening Of the street to this extent would
benefit both the Il. II. and the business inter
ests OF the city by atording driveway. He
was unwilling to pledge himself to any policy
until he knew what 40 feet would cost
MIR Quinn couldn't perceive that opening the
street ~ feet would benefit anyone but the r.
X. Co. and the property holders along the line
Of the street. He did not regard any vote which
he might cast upon the motion to refer as pledg-
ing him to any future policy
Mr. Febiger replied to Mr. Paynter that il the
40 feet plan was accepted the city would have
to pay for every foot of land taken from French
st. out. BY the 20 feet plan the city have to
pay for one-third OF the property taken.
Mr.. Pickels said that tho h. II Co. had made
proposition and stated that II the street was
widened 20 feet from it's southerly track, it
would give the land free. 1t had also submitted
some verbal propositions, both OF which seemed
to meet with general favor. He didn't under
stand why Council should be be called upon to
vote on part and not all of what was to be sub
mitted. He should vote to refer the report but
would not be bound thereby for future action.
Mr.. Foulk also refused to be governed in his
future votes by his vote upon this motion to
refer.
The ayes and nays were then called as fol-
lows Ayes-Joshua Baker Febiger. Finegan
Hayes, Hsusted. Lichtenstein, Mcdowell
Pickels, Phillips, Quinn, Shortlidge and Presi-
dent Maris, 10 Nays. e. Baker, Foulk,
Mention, Paynter, Taylor and Underwood, 6.
The motion to refer was carried. The special
committee will be hereafter appointed.