Daily Republican., 1882-02-28
DEATH OF q. BROADBENr


|. TDo UOtovo IRE SsotO Aost0fy - DOo
Interesting "reminiscences .
she Past.
The death of Stephen Broadbent, ST..
who committed suicide in Baltimor
last week by throwing himself unde
the cars, calls 10 mind some interest
ing "reminiscences of the past. Mr.
Broadbent came to this city from Bal
timore, land in conjunction with Mr.
France, . very wealthy gentleman o.
the same place, succeeded by the lavish
Expenditure OF money, la having the
Legislature enact bill which wa,
known al the Della ware Lottery bill
pnrporting to be for the encouragement
of internal improvements. This bill
was passed on the 9th of January,
1859, and IN consideration Of the State
granting France & Broad bent the exclu,
sive privilege to conduct a lottery for
twenty years, they agreed 10 pay TO the
state Treasurer for the State the SUN of
$4,000, in annual ins,allments of $50,
600, the firm giving bonds for the pay.
ment OF the money.
The Legislature also provided how
this $4,000 should be expended
and passed supplementary bill
approprlating $l06,OOO, towards the
construction Of the Delaware Railroad !;
$4,000 to the Delaware and Mary land
K. r.; $4,000 to the Mispillion and
Choptank K. II $4S, 900 to the Freder.
lea K. r.; S276,OOO to the Breakwater
Il Junction K. r.; $4,000 to the Muir.
derkill Navigation Company; $4,000
TO the Academy at FELTON,; 81, 900 for
the improvement of Duck Greek; SO,
900 for the improvement of Leipsic
creek $40, 900 for the academy at Con-
cord $1,000 for tank and storehouse at
Townsend station on the Delaware II. |
r.; $4,000 to build Methodist church |
at Tow nsend; $1,000 to fence the Della. |
ware X. H., in New Castle county, 10
prevent cattle from being injured by |
the trains; $1,000 to each OF the Eleven |
school districts in Appoquinlmink hun
bred, and vi 900 to the Levy Court OF
New Castle county, for the purpose of
building a New Court House; making
a total of 1928, 600 or 5000 more than
the State was W receive from the com.
pany.
Shortly after the passage OF the bill
the firm commenced operations, by
taking possession of the building on the
Southwest corner of Third and Make.
stress, which they raised one stofyl
higher, and Established their OIL Ces and
room for holding the drawings. They
also occupied part of the building on
he Northeast corner, which il now
known as the telegraph building, where
he tickets and other matter were
printed. |;
TIE lottery was success for time
md the proprietOrs continued to pay
he bonds as they became due, until at.
or the commencement ii the rebellion.
The greater part of their customers DO
ng from the South, their receipts be-
IAN to decline, until finally M. France
Vas compelled to draw OH his private
ortune to pay the bonds and keep the
business gong on.
AT last this was all expended and
he firm collapsed, leaving Mr.. Francei !
and their charter was declared
Some time after ward the
legislature passed the non.r resident
lebtor law, and when Mr.. France was
IL visit 10 this city, he was arrested
or the non payment of the bonds, ana \
Imprisoned for some time in New Cas-.
lie jail. AT the time the bill authoriz
lg the lottery was before the Legisla.
ure, Mr.. BrOadbent was conspicuous in \
Do LOBBY, and scattered money like
'ater to secure its passage.