Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-06-11
The AntI-Parls Movement.
j. X.

THE MEETING AT THE CITY HALL, LAST EVENING"
sPIRIrLEss AssEMBIAaE-THR sPEEoHEs AMI
RESOLUTIONS.
Ihe meeting at the City Hall, last evening, in
opposition to the action of Councils in purchas.
| ing park upon the Brandywine, was attended
by fair-sized audience, Of whom about one
| third were friends OF the park movement, but
wisely refrained from participating in the pro
ceedings.
JOHN W. Hawkins the pioneer of the anti
park movement called the meeting to order,
and on his motion e @. Stotsenlerg was elected
President and s, Hersey Secretary. THE latter
is friend of the park
Mr. Stotsenberg, upon taking the chair, thank.
ed the audience for the honor conferred and
stated that although he was not opposed to a
| city park he thought Council had made great
| mistake in not submitting the proposition to
vote of the people. The price was exorbi-
tant, being about four times the real value OF
| the property. Council should contne itself tu
its legitimate sphere of action; keep the taxes
| as low ~ possible. and keep down the water
rents 80 rs to induce manufacturers To settle
here, and develop the business capacity of the
| city. The people should be consulted.
and if majority of them were in IA
vor OF the movement his opposition would
cease. The argument is advanced that the
park would benefit the poor man, but his obser-
vation led him to believe they were for the benz
etit of the rich man. They were patronzed
uillelly people III Costly carriages. eXpen-
slvely dressed ladies' and children accompanied
poodle dogs. He thought also that the indul-
gences offered in q city park would depopulate
the churches and detTact from the cause OF re.
ligion and morality Mr.. s then stated that the
meeting Was ready to hear remarks or entertain
any business which might be brought before it
On motion of Jshn W. Hawkins a committee
of five was appointed to draft resolutions ex-
pressive of the sense OF the meeting The follow
ing named gentlemen composed the committee;
I..l.V. tss. MI
pies, Thomas McCoTkle and Thomas Darli gton.
The Committee having retired to deliberate
several persons were called upon for imprOmptu
speeches.
Joseph l.. Beggs stated that although be had
not thought much about the matter, he was
with the meeting in opposition to park
William H. Reynolds, farmer, but residing in
the city, said that amongst many other things,
1t would increase the rental value OF property
increase the city taxes, and oppress the poor
man He had several tenant houses, and al
though he could have received more rent, it was
already 80 exorbitant he was ashamed to ask
more.
George Day had not given the subject sufficient
thought to enable him to form an opinion, but
assured the meeting that be WAS with them il in
the right, aud opposed to them If IN the wrong.
The committee on resolutions having returned,
the following was read
ReSOiret As a sense of this meeting, that the
City Council have overstepped their powers, and
We don't believe that they have any right by law
to increase the city debt under any circumstan-
Cos, let alone 10 buy Park therefore. your
committee recommend that this meeting appoint
a committee to take legal advice and proceed to
put an injunction on the proceedings of Council
and do any other thing that may stop the pro-
ceedings OF Council and hinder any other Ooun-
ell from committing the same bunder.
On motion Of Mr.. Hawkins, the resolution was
adopted, but few voting in the negative The
following committee was then appointed to carry
out the provisions of the resolution John VI
Hawkins Henry + Dure Jesse Sharp, Henry s
McComb, George W. Sparks.
Several objections were raised by w @. Lei
brant, and Others against the wording OF the res
olution, but upon the assurance of the President
that no construction would be made of it contra
ry to their wishes, the objections were with
drawn.
The meeting then adjourned to meet ON Tues
kay evening June l7th.