Middletown transcript., 1873-03-15
Removal Of the County Seat.

Oo w WcJuesuay last ohe mouse OF nep-
sssss,asives at Dover passed the bill intro
dsssd By Mr.. Msris. for the removal Of
The County Seat Of this county from its
prsseut site to Wilmington, with an
snendment providing for the submission
of the question to the decision Of the peo-
pie Of the county at special election to
Be held for ,ha, purpose on the frs, Tues
day Of May next.
Should this bill pass the Senate the
question would be virtually decided. for
while large majority Of the citizens, tax
payers. Of the various hundreds would
doubtless vote against increasing the bur
den Of their taxation, for the qualification
Of the lawyers Of Wilmington and some
others who may occasionally have business
u the county seat, yet their vote would
not be sufficient to overcome the large ma
jority that could be given for this meas
ure. under powerful influence, by the
qualified rioters of Wilmington city
This submission Of an important meas
ere Of this nature to the acceptance Of the
people would seem to be bu, fair and rea-
sessbls; yet, when We take into consider
ssieo the fact that the population Of Will
.isgtos far outnumbers the population Of
the rest Of the county, that this is
measure sought almos, solely BY her peo-
pie. and that, therefore, the submission
to the people would be but little more
sbas an invitation or permission to the cit
iscns Of Wilmington to decide upon
neasure for their own benefit, it dee, no,
look quite so fair aud reasonable,
BY the last censu, and assessment Viii
mingtou's average proportion Of the taxes
paid for county purposes was. we believe.
about ~ per cent. while her proportion Of
the popular vote is much greater. and il
this question of removal should be lief,
to tho people," this non tax-paying (be-
yond poll taxi majority could be induced
TO vote for the removal but when the
funds have to be raised to dcfray the ex.
pcnsc necessarily attendant upon this spe-
eid election aud coasequcn. change Of the
lsestion Of the seat uf Justice, the major
part Of the taxes sil be paid by the peo-
pie outside Of vi nington
The question sri.es, arc the people of
sAsse Hendricks willing to incur this in
creased burden Of expense for this pur-
pose? Will the advantages arising from
The increased hotel accommodation aud
other facilities be sufficient to counterbal-
snce the necessary expenditure!
Bot. this is not all 1t is considered
BY many tina, the division Of New Castle
cosnty is but question Of time, and the
very able gentleman who has len, his pow
erfal aid to the accomplishment OF this re-
noval project said that ",he division of
this county would be wise act" Now
II this is to be done, it appears to US that il,
would be far better to do it first. and then
The other would need no decision. II is
ssia. on high authority, that should the
buildings ut New Castle now used for coun-
y purposes be vacated, the ground on
shish they stand would revert to the town
Of Nee Castle. II this be so, the removal
Of the seat Of justice would be rather ex-
psnsive undertaking. and should the coun-
~ Be eventually divided the lower county
would lose the advantage Of possessing the
court house aud Jail. which would be suf-
6eisnt for its purposes for many years to
come.
We trust the questions will be carefully
weighed by the members Of the Senate
and that their decisions on this subject
will be In accordance with right and jus.
sioe. visk the future as we'll as the present
10 view.