Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-03
FIRST EDITION.
county Division.
pIscussioS Of THE SUBJECT BY MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD OF TRADE.

Al adjourned meeting Of the Board of Trade
Was held, last evening, for the consideration of
the subject of division OF New Castle county,
| President Hastings in tho chair.
There were present some fifteen members of
| the Board, and number of other gentlemen.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Croasdale, at
the previous meeting, to approve the measure
now pending in the Legislature for dividing the
county was withdrawn, and he toffered the fol-
lowing
Res0lced That the Board approves of the di-
vision OF New Castle county INTO two counties,
and requests the Legislature to pass constitu-
tional amendment, creating tive counties, one to
consist Of the city of Wilmington and Brandy
wine and Chrlstiana hundreds, and the other Of
the remaining hundreds of the present county
of New Castle.
Mr.. Croasdale spoke at length in support Of
the resolution, going over much of the same ar
gnment in his speech of week ago. He ad-
mltted that the proposed division would not
completely remedy the existing inequality in
representation, but insisted that it is the nearest
approximation to it which the Legislature
will concede us. The adoption Of
the resolution, he claimed, would still leave
any advocate OF equal representation in situa-
ton to urge that by whatever measure he
thought best. The principal item Of expense to
the new county would be the first cost OF its
new buildings, but he thought that an equitable
division OF the county property in the aims
house, the public buildings at New Castle, and
the Hare's Corner farm. would almost entirely
compensate for this. He then declared the
Board committed to ali expenditure equal to this
by its advocacy, two years ago, of the removal
Of the county buildings to Wilmington; re-asser-
ted the necessity for solving the problem of in.
crease by constitutional amendment;
reviewed the several plans proposed,
concluding with some remarks as to his person.
al knowledge Of the feeling of the Legislature
upon this, as he claimed, the Governors own
measure, and giving the assurance that If Will
mington will but demand it,county division may
be had.
On motion of Mr. Stone. the courtesy of
speaking on the subject was extended to MEM
bers OF the bar and others present who were not
members, when John o Byrne arose and express
ed his decided faycr of the division scheme, for
reasons other than the mere idea Of an increase
in representation. The main cause Of the pres
ent trouble lies, he thought, in the Levy Court,
which stands in the way OF the development of
the resources OF Wilmington. The bridging of
the Brandywine, at Washington st., he said, is
prevented by the objection OF Appoquinimink
hundred. He then remarked the dissimilarity of
the three hundreds from the others from Which
it is proposed to separate them and their iden-
titles in interest and expectations, arguing that
Wilmington will want the country round about
in Few years for drainage, and that she ought
to control the approaches to the river. He could
not see the necessity for Levy Court in the
proposed county Of Wilmington, and with some
alterations in our laws was Of the opinion that
might perform the duties of aims house trustees
IN addition to the experimenting of the roads.
Mr.. Stone asked OF the members Of the bar
who were present whether, after division the
administration of justice in Wilmington county
wonld cost more to the people residing in it, than
IL now does.
Mr.. O'Byrne thonght ii would. The business
OF the COURTS no doubt. would be greatly in
creased, il they were located here. Much bnsi
ness is now lost or foregone, on account OF the
trouble and expense of going to New Castle.
MIR. Neilds thought it would cost no more, and
proceeded to urge the injury done the people of
this county by equal representation.
Mr.. Jenkins aaid he had not intended to speak
do 30. He thought the Board, under all the cir
should not give its endorsement to
the project
Messrs. Head and Pickels favored it, and Mr..
l. @. Grubb urged that it would have several
good results il would settle courthouse reno
val it would settle equal representation and
it will break up tile combination of the two
lower counties against this, thereby defeating
such schemes Of plunder ~ that for railroad aid
which is now pending.
The resolution was then adopted, by about
fourteen votes in the affirmative, none being in
the negative.
pointed to call public meeting on the subject.
Mr.. Bradford thought the Board had better not
do this, and the motion was withdrawn.
Mr. Croasdale then moved the appointment Of
Il committee Of ten to press the matter at Do
YER, which was adopted and Messrs. Croasdale,
Bradford, Pickels, Nields, Stone, Warner Head,
Lea. Baird, and Capele appointed Mr.. Warner
declined and the Chairman of the Committee
was authorized to fX any vacancies on it.