Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-06-06

New York to-day, where the lsboring Glasses are
dying, because huddled together in small tene-
ment houses He regarded the life OF the work.
ingmen worth far more than the money which
ii was proposed to expend on this park. Public
squares he said, were good places for prostitu-
ton and referred to an Instance IN Philadelphia,
at 7th and Walnut, where special policemen
were kept stationed to prevent it, II Whining
ton would sell it's public square out 9Th street, in
building lots, it would almost pay half the cost
of the park, and it's square on Market street was
worth 100000. The tax upon the poor man
would not be 8 cents annually for this park. Mr..
Quinn said that he owned his horse and carriage
now, but some day he might be bankrupt, ard
want park to walk in. He had no friends to
reward or enemies to punish in this matter. but
should vote for the report for the benefit of the
people.
Mr.. Lynch explained that he was not opposed
to the park, but thought tile city could not az
ford it. He wanted to fix up the city first and
buy the park afterwards He expressed the be-
lief that 900 would be made by n little ring
in Council through this purchase.
Mr.. Febiger thought that the prices were
high, and said that had this thing occurred before
the assessment it would have made vast Diff
renee In the assessment, in the 9th Ward alone.
But he was now and always had been in favor OF
park not from motives of personal interest, but
eff public good. THE city, he said, il to derive all
its drinking water from the stream which courses
through the proposed park, and II the land is
sold for building lots. it must then become the
receptacle for the drainage Of the city built
upon the hillsides In grass the drainage would
fail to reach tho river. He alluded to the killing
of the fish in the Brandywine only the day pre-
vious, and argued from this TO show that the tity
must not extend down the hllsides park had
become necessity in PhilAd slphia for this very
reason II the present OPT ortunity ID allowed to go
py,we may have repetition OF past experience.
The city Is eventually bound to buy that ground,
and il it is built upon first, our situation Will be
similar to that of Philadelphia in ts purchase OF
the WiHsahickon.
Mr., Hayes while acknowledging the accuracy
OF Mr. Febiger's reasoning, thought the city
would ultimately be compelled to go beyond the
Brandywine for its water supply. The city must
extend further up the stream, and the protection
of the water could not be made scheme for
the purchase of this park. He would vote for
the purchase il the city was i'll a condition,
financially to acquire II.
Mr.. Baker was in favor of the purchase be-
cause he belived it to be necessity. Whining
ton, he said was not tho poverty-stricken city
which the gentlemen would have us believe, and
by careful computation, he showed that the city
was in u sound condition financially and able to
meet all it's obligations. The removal of the
Water Works, AZ proposed, would cost far more
than the purchase of Ibis park, and il the city
did not obtain possession OF it, there would be a
necessity for the condemnation of land along
the Brandywine for sewer, which would also
cost more than the park
MFR. Richardson defended the report OF the
Committee as a member OF it, and said with
reference to the cry of taxation that there were
two classes who grumbled the most-those who
lived on their money, aud those who pay no tax
es. The bankrupt condition OF the city had al
ways been urged against all measures since he
knew anyt ing Of Council, but the city is still
solvent 80 900 have been appropriated for
the purchase Of this park and if not spent for
this purpose it will be expended in other ways.
The previous question then called and
the vote taken by ayes and nays, as follows :
Ayes -Messrs, Baker. Candy, Febiger, Foulk,
Huested, Mcdowell, Mendinhall. Phillips, Pick
els, Quigby, Quinn, Richardson, Underwood and
President Maris-l4; nays Messrs Bickta,
Finegan, Gilbert, Hayes Lynch and McIntire--G.
The purchase of the park was therefore order
ed, and the Committee will at once proceed to
acquire the title to the same in the name of the
city.