The daily gazette., 1880-04-23
- FnIDAY. April %, 1850.


rights at this time. 1t would add to
the taxes an uncertain sum. The
purchase of the Pennypacker mill
site and water rights would, in ad-
dition to the immediate cost render
the city liable, to keeping up the
race banks along the iBrandywine,
which might be very heavy. The
hasty action urged in this matter
is very suspicious. The city does
not need, and therefore, does not
want to purchase more water rights,
and yet an effort is being made to
force them upon it. During the last
fifteen or twenty years, at almost
any time, the city could have bought
the mill, machinery, water rights
and all pertaining to it for about
$40, 900 to $24 900. 1t was not long
since sold at Sheriff sale for about
the latter sum. .. ...
This mill with all its water rights,
machinery and real estate was
offered to the city some fifteen years
age for fifteen thousand dollars. The
city then refused it. Now when it is
evident to any one who took the
trouble to look at the reservoirs last
winter, and observed the immense
quantity Of water stored up in "Cool
Spring" and Eighth and Rodney
streets basins, to purchase at any
price above a mere nominal one
is unbusiness-like, and should not
be contemplated. Our Water De-
partment, if the tinkering at it is
continued will soon be an elephant
on our hands instead of producing
as it really should with proper man.
agement, large revenue to help
discharge the city's Indebtedness.
The owners of these water rights
have motive in getting rid of them
these rights impose upon their
owners, we are informed, the heavy
expense in, great part, of keeping up
the race banks. At present the
rights are wholly unproductive and
ON the very next heavy rain the race
banks may be washed away and
their repairs cost a large sum.
The Water Committee arc toe
shrewd, we opine, to enter into a
purchase under these circumstances
If they were buying for themselves
they would not think ofpaying such
a price as is asked for the rights.
No mill that has ever been burned
on the Brandywine in the city in the
last twenty or twenty-five years has
ever been rebuilt. There are the
ruins and sites of two mills at the
north end of the bridge, one ON either
side. The water rights never in
duced the rebuilding of the mills.
In addition there is the old Barley
Mill with its rights. All have dis
appeared and nobody wants their
sites. But in the mean time the
owners of water rights and mills al
the Brandywine have built steam
mills, one of these at New Castle
turns out, we are told, the finest
flour made in the State. They have
also secured large mills elsewhere.
These things show that these water
rights are no longer to be depended
upon for milling. But even suppose
this to be improved if the city does
not need the water rights, ant
somebody else does, it would b.
far better to let them have them
and erect thereat a building that
would give labor and employment to
such of our citizens who reside in the
neighborhood. We have hastily given
the committee the views of the GA
zETTE on this important subject. We
hope our citizens will take the matte,
in hand and endeavor to impress the
facts upon the City Council. W,
should endeavor by all means to keel
down our public debt.
Our taxes now are within a fraction
of the taxes on Philadelphia property
Taking the head and county tax ant
adding them all to the city tax, an.
omitting the tax for the public build.
ings in Philadelphia, we believe ou
taxes in many cases are quite as high
In this city there are many business
men whose business barely yield
them living who are compelled {,
pay head tax rated from 81 ZOO t,
$4,000. This alone is from Gil rs t,
$23, and is added to whatever tax i
laid on their property for city, school
county and poor taxes.
1t is just by adding little now anf
little then. thai high taxes are causet
to accumulate.
Tnnnnar1usa n-.-A