Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-17

CONSIDERATION OF Taa ENTERPRISE IN THE BOARD
OF TRADE--REsoLUrIoN ASKING THE LEaIsLA-
TURE TO APPROPRIATE 100000, AND THE CITY
$4,000.
III the meeting of the Board of Trade, last eve
ming, the question as to what action should be
taken in reference to the Centennial came up.
Mr.. Heald moved that the Legislature be asked
to subscribe 100000, to the Centennial stock.
H. NJ. Jenkins moved that the city of Will
mipgton be asked to subscribe 100000, payable
in two annual payments of $4,000, each and the
State to subscribe S15,000., payable in two an
nual payments of $500. each, making thus,
wi a moderate private subscription tho full
quota of 1872, 400. assigned to Delaware.
Remarks were made by a number of gentle
men, Joseph G. Grubb read extracts from two
private letters written by John Welsh, ESQ, OF
Philadelphia, chairman Of the Centennial Board
of Finance. Mr.. W. earnestly urged that Della
ware should do her share of the work, and by
setting the example promptly, should help bring
the others of the sod Thirteen" States into
line. He quoted the fact that Pennsylvania had
subscribed a million dollars, and New Jersey
100000. He thought the Centennial must be a
great advantage to Delaware, probably doubling
the prices to be realized in that year from her
peach crop.
Mr. Stone favored the amendment, thinking
that @32, 400. was none too much for the whole
State to give, and that the sum could not be
raised by private subscription.
Mr.. Bradford thought the Board should not
ask the Legi- lature for more than 100000, be,
cause certain members of the Legislature had
only been talking of $4,000, to $4,000.
Mr.. Head was also afraid of alarming the
Legislature by asking too much.
Mr.. Jenkins supported his amendment as a
Just distribution of the subscription. lie
Thought Wilmington ought to give more i'll pro
portion than the rest Of the State, as no doubt
her people would be most benefited. He did
not believe private subscription TO any large
amount could be realized.
Mr.. Gibbons asked whether the City Council
had authority to vote such subscription. SeV
eral gentlemen suggested that if it were deemed
proper for the city to subscribe, an act OF tho
Legislature authorizing it might bo had.
Mr.. Oroasdale doubted whether the revenues
of tho State would permit the subscription sc
much as S15. .000 He said that by the repeal o
the mortgage tax 100000. had been taken from
the revenue
Mr.. Jenkins replied that the State was not
poor The taxation for years had been exces
sively large and the revenues moro than wer'
really needed. The mortgage tax ought to hav'
been repealed two years ago. There was, and a
all times had been, a large balance in the Stat'
Treasury. The debt was being reduced, by th
payment, annually, of much larger sums thai
the depressed condition of business warranted
| Mr. Grubb, Secretary of State, and Geo.
Bates Esq, who were present, were called upon
| and spoke in reference to the subject. Botl
| gentlemen doubted the expediency of asking TO
moro than $10, ,O00, and described the gentle
men who ran the Legislature as anxious +
| economize.
| After some further discussion, resolution
was adopted asking the Legislature to subscrib'
| 100000 in two annual payments of $4,000 each
| and the city to subscribe $5,0O0 in two annua
payments of 50, 1900 This action was not ap
parently unanimous, and tho opinion seemed gen
eral that larger sum ought to be subscribed
but it was represented that If any more was ask
ed of the Legislature nothing at all would b
| given.
On motion of Mr.. Bradford the President wa
authorized to appoint committee of five to pre-
sent the proposition to the Legislature and Cit
| Council