Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-03-30
The Washington Street Bridge.

Every Erening charges the probable failure to
secure the appropriation for the erection OF
Washington Street Bridge" from The Levy Court
at its present session to "Col. Febgefs attempt
to subordinate the interests of the two constitu-
ences he represents in two different capacities. TO
the interests of himself and few others whose
property he would have benefited If successful
to the extent of over $50, 600"
Col. Febigcr holds two offices, but he does not
represent two constituencies, inasmunch as Viii
mington City and " ilmington Hundred embra-
ces precisely the same area and the same popula-
ton. If. therefore, he represents the city in the
Council and the Hundred in the Levy Court. he
represents the same constituency in both bodies.
1t is true that the members of the Levy Court are
elected on a ticket that is voted for in all the
Hundreds, but as the members are required to be
residents of certain Hundreds they are the repre-
seutatives of those Hundreds, ana their oonstitu-
cncies are therefore the residents OF said Hun
dreds. This is of small account, however
But the real cause, no doubt, of the failure, is
in the fact that the people do not perceive the
necessity Cor expending seycntyGvs or eighty
thousand dollars for bridge at this time Every
Epenin9 presents another reason why the bridge
is objected to- which is that Washington street
has been detected eastwardly from its direct
course instead Of being allowed to bear toward
the west and meet the travel from the upper part
Of the county and those who come by the Concord
Pike from Pennsylvania Even this objection
might be remedied But then the fact stares the
Court in the face that the expenditure would be
fully ten or fifteen years in advance OF its necess-
sity, and in all probability, the bridge ii erected
would require rebuilding before it was used to any
great extent by the travelling public.
The Court is bound to consult economy and the
Interests of the county and not to into extrsv-
agance. BY careful and prudent mauagement.it
has reduced the debt immensely. BY about the
tst of May II will, we think be able 10 show
that the debt of New Castle county, notwithstand-
ing the extraordinary outlay account of the late
disastrous flood, will only be about twenty-five or
MVty thousand dollars 1t was over eighty thou
sand when the present Democratic Treasurer
went into office. Had it not been for the disas-
trous food last year, IL is likely the whole debt
would have been extinguished by July next
Although we feel deeply interested in the mat
ter of bridging the Brandywine, we cannot but
think the Court is acting very judiciously in with
holding its sanction to the erection OF the bridg,
at Washington street foI while longer until the
people Of Wilmington have time to ponder thu
question more fully and to ascertain whether il
would be best to place it at Washington street Oh
as far west as Rodney or even Lincoln street
There might perhaps bs difference of the small
matter Of ffty.thousand dollars in the cost o
erection of bridge at these points, and this i
worthy of consideration
ia inn hat,
Council is bent on increasing our debt aud ou
taxes that the county shall economse, as it ha
done and endeavor 10 make the taxes AS light a
possible.
We don't know that Col. Febiger is personally
interested in the building of this bridge Hi
residence and property lies principally on Marke
street, in the Ninth Ward, and while the rea
part of it might be somewhat benefited, tn
front would very likely be retarded to as great al
extent