The daily gazette., 1875-03-03
SECOND EDITION
THE COUNTY DIVYSfcN

AHNAobA M.
The Board Of Trade held special ses-
sion last evening, President Washing
ton Hastings in the chair for the purpose
OF discussing the question of division
of New Castle County. The attendance
was large and iuolnded several members
Of the bar.
Mr.. VIM. L. Crossdale offered q substi
tute for his motion made at the last
meeting. that the Board approve OF the
plan Of dividing this county, and urp,
its adoption by the Legislature; the sub
stitute was as follows;
Resolsed. That the Board approves OF
the division of New Castle County into
two Counties, and requests the Legisla.
tSre to pass Constitutional amendment
creating two Counties--one to consist
Of the city of Wilmington and Br andy
wine and Christiana Hundreds, and the
other to consist of the remaining Hun
dredh OF the present County Of Now Cas-
tie.
In supporting the substitute, Mr..
Croasdale said that the formation of q
county from Wilmington city alone
would come nearer to just representation
than tho present plan, but this scheme
was impractieable, as it would form
county within county. He further
stated that the proposed plan did not
| mmit its adhereBts to the principle of
exact representation according to popu-
lation, nor did it array them against the
district system Of representation. 1t was
simply measure Of more just represen-
tation, and the district system could be
provided for afterwards. He again read
the figures produced by him at the last
meeting to show that comfy division
would be attended with but little if any
additional cost, and furnished further
figures, to show that the expenses for
the additional Courts which would be
created would alone be increased to any
extent, but this item would not be doub-
led. He thought by a judicious manage
nent and division Of the county proper
ty, the division Of the County could be
attended with very little additional ex-
pense. He considered County division
was the only practicable measure for 81
| curing incseased represep tation. and that
ITS chances for passage were good, should
tne people OF this city express an interest
| In the movement and urge its adoption.
Mr.. Stone offered resolution tender.
ing the privileges of the floor to the
members of the Bar present, and invit
ing them to- speak on the subject. Adop-
ted
Insresponse, John 0'Byrne, ESQ, arose
and said he was decidedly in favor of
County diyision--asa measure of Increas.
ed representation in the Legislature, and
means Of obtaining increased benefits
for the city of Wilmington, through the
lnuuence OF Levy Court more closely
| identified with the interests of the city.
Questions of city improvement-asystem
OF drainage. &c.,-would soon arise,
which should depend, for SUCCESS, upon
the action OF men particularly interested
in the property to be benefited. The
| division OF the county, he thought,
would permit of the doing away Of a Levy
| Court for Wilmington County, and the
Court expenses he thought, would not be
greatly increased.
Mr.. Stone asked whether there
would be any increased cost in the
general administration of justice, by
a division of the county.
Mr.. O'Byrne thought the cost would
not be materially increased, If at all,
after the first cost of erecting the new
Court House,
Benjamin Nields, thought the items
of increase would be for the payment
of grand and petit juries, but the cost
to the people of the proposed new
county would be even less than they
pay now for the maintenance Of the
County Courts The existence of
Court House here would save our peo-
pie much time and great expense. He
thought, county division the best and
most practicable manner to secure in
creased representation,
Mr.. Geo. w. Stone referred to the
measures now before the Legislature
granting State aid to railroadsin Kent
and Sussex counties, while three
fourths of the money to be thus voted
is furnished from this county, which
has only one-third of the representa-
tion. He favored county division,
as q measure of justice, economy and'l
increased representation.
Mr.. II. NJ. Jenkins questioned if
county division was the best measure
for securing increased representation; |
he, in part, thought it was not the best,
If it was the only measure which had
a chance Of success, then let JUS ask |
what is the best and let the chances
succeed or fail. He thought the di- |
vision OF the county was not wise |
measure, and that it would be attend
ed with increased expense. New
Castle county is not too large. He in
timated that under changed circun-
stances" (probably alluding to the
Legislature there would be no neces-
sity for asking for justice in this man
ner. = I..t.
Mr.. O'Byrne spoke further in favor
of county division, which would give
us our own county organization to
pay the the taxes which we contribute
to the county Treasury. He favored
the calling of Ia public meeting, in or
der to obtain the direct opinion OF the
people on the subject ...s
Mr.. j. T. Head favored county d.
vision in an earnest speech, mainly as
a practicable measure for securing in
creased representation. /
Mr.. III. F. Pickels said there were
but two ways to get at increased rep
resentation-by granting representa-
ion on basis of population, or by a
division of the county. The latter
plan he thought was most tangible.1
md would be attended with no addi.
ional expense, but with many in
creased advantages. He said that in
,ew years the new basin would be
/ N cha1 yhan tho rroupda - No..l !