Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-06-11
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COUNCIL . -AEXfRAE IL AASck- sAfERohA ANTS \
AND MECHANICS IN TOWN MEETINo-buak-
NESS MEN AND LADoRHEa WEE RRoTnsrKNG
AGAINST THE ENORMOUS PRICE or THE
PARK. THE SEAL OF CONDEMNATION SET
UPON THE RECENT ACTION OF COUNCIL.
In response to n call published ln the city
papers, the citizens Of Wilmington, ,irreSpe
Of party or position, assembled in public meet
ing, at the City Hall, last evening tor khe
purpose of obtaining the sentiment Of the peo-
Pile, in regard to the recent action OF the City
Council in deciding TO purchase, at an enor-
nous price, a quantity OF land along the
Bandywine, for park purposes. In Few
minutes after the opening OF the meeting, the
Hall was crowded with thoughtful and in.
ttlligent audience, composed of men Of all
positions in life, from high to low. The mer-
chant was there, the mannfactuter was there,
the mechanic and lab0rKg man Were there, All
fully alive to the Importance OF the occasion
and firmly resolved to prevent, II possible, the
enormous outlay. which the City Council pro.
posed to make. Mothers with, babies " not
only allowed their husbands to 60 to the anti
park meeting, for the purpose Of preventing
the city from buying shady place, but
doubtless urged them to CO. and thus endeaVor
to prevent heavy increase OF Their taxes. 70
be paid out of their hard-earned wages
wages which are barely sufficient in many
cases, 10 afford them , comfortable living:
Tie meeting was CnlIed'te order By John
w; Hawkins, and on his motion, Evan Z.
StOtsenburg, Esq, took the chair, Solomon
HerSey was appointed Secretary. 5
Mr.. Stotsenburg, ia announcing the object
Of the meeting, said he consented to preside,
because he thought Council had made mis-
take in this matter in not submitting the
question to the taxpayers OF the city, who, ~
they have it TO pay, should have an OppOrtun-
ity to express their opinion in regard to such
an immense outlay of money.
He said he was not really opposed to park,
at q reasonable price. but the sum asked for
this land was four times its value. And, fur
ther, the financial condition of the city does
not warrant the Council in making this pur-
chase. The city now has y Heating debt Of
S6OeOOO the payment Of which will absorb a
considerable quantity of the July taxes. With
out great economy, our city debt will be added
to year after year, and thus cripple our ener-
gies and fTuStrate Improvement.
The true policy OF our city government
should be, low taxes, aud the making Of all
necessary improvements. The water works
should be improved and perfected, so as to en-
courage manufactures to settle among us, and
help build up our city.
But this park question Is q question for the
people, Even II the majority Of our people
desire park, at this price, their opinion in
regard to the purchase, should be asked and
obtained. The consent OF the Legislature had
to be obtained 70 Improve the water works,
and yet this purchase, an equally important
even consulting the people.
Besides, the park is Intended for rich men aAd
not poor men,. Go the diferent parks of the
country, and you viii find that The great majority
Of the visitors consist Of rich men and ladies,
e'aboratey apPArelled, riding in their fne convey
ances and accompanied by poodle dogs. zap
plause) When the poor man returns from his
labor, at night, he is generally tired enough TO
rest at home, and docs not desire to tramp mile
or two, to rest In our city park lie has no con-
tO tax nd he
to hire one. On Sundays if be wants recreation,
let him take his family and 60 to church. II
this park is intended for q Sunday resort which
will greatly decrease the attendance at our
churches aud Sunday Schools, then it is bad
thing, aud should not be supported BY the rcli-
giOus aud respectable portion OF our community.
Mr.. StOtscnburg then invited those present "a
give expression to their opinions, and sat down
amid much applause.
Mr.. John w, Hawkins moved that q commit
tee Of Eve be appointed 10 draw up resolutions
expressive Of the sentment of the meeting.-
Adopted.
Tne chair appOiuted the following committee
John W. Hawkins. ThOs. Alahafiy, Thos. McCor
kle, ThOs. Darlington, John Peoples.
The COMMITTEES Immediately retired.
Loud calls were then called for Pref j. l.
Beggs, TO address the meeting. He responded by
saying "This is a subject gentlemen, about
which l know very little, and came here TO find
out more about it. Eut as far as do know, am
VIM. II. Reynolds denounced the action of COun
ell in consenting TO pay such an enormous price
as Outrageous in the extreme. 1t would be felt BY
the poor people In m incEease of taxes and il-
crease Of rents The idea of the park land increas
ing SO rapidly in value, lie secuted as prepostsr-
GUS
Geo. w. Day was loudly called upon, ami re.
sPonded by saying that, as the question had sud
denly sprung up, lac was not yet tally posted. But
the price OF the lapd seama exceedingly high, and
Is proper snlJeCt. Tor hVdsigation lie had been
told that the price was far beyond the Legitimate
value OF the land. and II this is we should, a
citizens, consider the matter, and see that we dc
not have forced upon US debt that will burden vi
| for years.
The Committee on Resolutions returned and re-
ported the following:
ReSoiUed, As the sense Of this meeting, that The
City Council have oVerstepped their powerr, anG
We do not believe they have any right, by law, Il
| increase the c1ty debt, under any circumstances
much less to buy park. Therefore, your commit
tee recommend that a committee be appointed Il
legal advice, and proceed to put an injunction
on the proceedings Of Council and take any Othel
action that may stop the proceedings OF that body
IN regard to the purchase Of the park, and preVeh
lsny other Councils from making the same blun
der.
The resolution was unanimousg adopted, AMI
the following committee was appointed BY th,
chair, and subsequently confirmed BY the meeting
John w. Hawkins, II. i. DuFe, Jesse Sharp, H
5. MeComb, Geo. w. Sparks. The President wa
added to theGOmmittee p fWF.ff #s
On motion, thqmeetIng adlonFned until Tnesds!
evening next, at The same time and place.
| -.tt
POSTAL cARDs.-Td 10000 postal cards or
dered Tor the Wilmington Postofice arrived yes
terday, and with the exception Of about 1000 ar
already disposed Of Thirty thousand more haV
Oesn 0fue'eo' ana va. va. arLive soon. nns q
CANBRIc DRRssRs.-A voman alvava I.oA,