Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-08-12

This same ratio, no doubt, he said, runs
back, how far he had not time to examine.
Where had this money been spent? He
called for the proposals for grading on
Fourth street, between Rodney and Broome;
and on jackson, between Eighth and Ninth,
but the clerk, after fruitless search, could
not find them. The work, Mr.. F. said, had
been done by the day. On each street
Was 1000 yards of grading, that must have
amounted to more chan $50. No contract
was ever made for either In reference to
the grading of Elliott avenue, over 800
worth OF work had been doue before there
was any visible improvement, and yet no
contract had ever been made. The work
was then dropped, and proposals asked.
Mr.. F. then gave the following little in
cident to show how the men worked Nine
men and three carts were employed. One
day Ziba Ferris found the carts backed up
on the pavement and the nine men lying
under the shade of tree. He remonstrat-
ed That night Mr. Ferris had writ served
upon him to appear before Mayor Whiteley
to answer a charge of defamation of charse-
ter, but the Mayor wisely dismissed the
case. Mr.. Febiger then gave his reasons
why he did not attend the committee meet
ipgs which were that it was no use, as his
opinions and advice were disregarded.
MIR. McMenamin tried to explain and said
on Jackson streets being oyerestimated, and
the work costing more than he expected
He also said the opening of Delaware Ave-
nue. necessitated the grading of the cross
streets, and then he was about to take his
seat, when Mr.. Febiger wanted him to an
swer to all the charges, and how about the
the money charged TO the appropriation for
Opening Streets
Mr.. Farrell, seeing tho cad predicament
of the chairman of the Street Committee,
came to the rescue, but disclaimed endors-
ing his errors. He accused Mr.. Candy, of
beng candidate for re- election, and making
a campaign speech the night before, and Of
taking the advantage of man even like
MIR. McMenamip. MIR. Febiger, also prob
| able candidate for reelection, was trying
the same dodge, he declared.
Mr.. Febger said that 80 far from saying
that the Chairman of the Street Committee
had no brains, he thinks and acts as il he
had brains enough for himself and the
whole Council. He asked Mr.. Farrell il he
/ did not say that they would grade Claymont
street when they pleased.
Mr.. Farrell said he had no recollection OF
it.
Mr. Febiger said it was very convenx xnt
| for him to have a bad memory.
Mr.. Paynter said the action upon Clky
mont street had skipped his memory, "biW
| he thought report should have been madV
| to Council when the work was commenced
Mr.. McMenamin said thel grading wal
done to give it time to settle for curbing iII
| October.
Mr.. Febiger. The curbing is set now and
the gentleman knows it. n
Mr.. McMenamin. Part of it is.
The resolution was then passed unan
mously, by 18 yeas, the opposition fir
manifested having entirely evaporated |
Mr.. McMenamin's miserable, weak defencI
Mr.. McMenamin then called up for thkW
reading the ordinance to pave WalI M
| street. W
Mr.. Febiger gave his reasons why
should vote against the ordinance at 4
time, when business is utterly prostrf
and the city not in financial condition
do the work and anyhow he would haT
regard the remonstrance of ia prop
holders in preference to 13 petitioners. W
Mr.. Murphey, to the great surprise
everybody, made vigorous but weak
for the ordinance, He thought it stran
that people all over the City were so deep
intert sted in Walnut street. 1t extend
from navigation to navigation. he said, an
it is burning shame that it had not bee 4
paved twenty-five years ago. He charad;
terized the remonstrants as gentlemen Wild
roll in stliuence and wealth on French