Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-02-19
LsVY OOURT.
Levy Court Hears the Counsel of
the ID. & r. and the w. q N.
y. III. Rodney Elected Attorney
Imfl Phynfefau.

the u. & r. and the w. q N.
y. III. Rodney Elected Attorney
JaiR Physician.
In the levy court on Thursday Presi.
dent 5halloToss presented the reslRpA alton
Of George Gray as attorney for the court.
The resignation was accepted, and ]. II.
Rodney, Beg elected to fill the vacancy.
DR.. John J. Black Of New Castle, was
elected physician at the county Jail for
the ensuing year.
John B. Leisvre was elected collector
OF taxes OF PsncAder hundred.
The committee on the evision OF the
Blsckbird hundred tax lista reported the
completion Of Its work 767 names and
az dogs. On motion the assessor was
discharged.
In the levy court Friday the COM
mite on the revision OF the assessu en,s
Of Appoquinimink hundred reported
Of Mill Creek hundred, 1,187 names and
entries and 408 dogs.
The levy court met Monday and
devoted Its time TO the assessment list
revision.
The levy court met at the foot Of Fourth
street Monday afternoon for the purpose
Of viewing the proposed sites for new
Iron bridge TO span the Christisna. Viii
liam q. smith, right Of way agent for the
Baltimore q Ohio RailroAd Company and
Enoch Moore with other property owners,
attended the meeting. The erection OF
the new structure directly ACROSS Fourth
street was first dismissed. 0pposi
tion to the site was made by
Captain Smith on the ground that
the south end Of the bridge
would cut Of considerable part Of the
B. Il o. Company's wharf and destroy
the whole property, as depot Of supplies
and shipment. This, he claimed, could
mot be replaced for less than s35, 900,
which sum would be asked as damages
He held that the new bridge should be
built on the site Of the present one, 1t
the Fourth street crossing WAS imprAoii-
cable. He pictured Wilmington's future as
being above ChristisnA avenue, hence the
greater needs Of bridge aoross the river
at Third street instead Of coming down
further. Subsequently. however, he
agreed that II the court determined to
come ACROSS Fourth street 10 give hs
much property where the bridge would |
Gross on his lands, for the same amount |
which would be vacated upon the re.
mOVAl OF the bHuotuf6
Enooh Moore opposed the erection Of |
the bridge directly across Fourth street |
on the ground that 1t would practically
destroy his Launching places, and render |
his yard useless for ship building. Also |
the approaches to the bridge would out
him on from the street. This would |
neosssitate the expenditure Of n consider
able sum in dsmAges.
Other sites were sugg' sted one to con- |
struot the bridge Just above Fourth
street, which would not give Mr.. Moore |
claim for damages, but would take part |
Of the p, W. q B, Railroad Compsny's |
property.
There is . general sentiment fAvoring
Fourth street among the members Of the |
court, but they desire to put the bridge |
where the oitizsns desire 1t.
Levy court met at 10 O'Clock Tuesday
morning with President HAman in the
chair. After half hour, during which
nothing Of Importance was done, Mt |
Hickman moved that Victor dupont, Bsq,
counsel for the Wilmington Il Northern
Railroad Company who was present, be
heard, on the proposed change Of looA.
tion OF the Third street bridge.
The motion was carried, aud Mr.
dupont said ave understand that the
levy court ia about to consider the
question Of the change Of location Of the
Third street bridge. The change Is
matter Of consideration for the Whining
ton & Northern Railroad Company. All
Its extensions and location Of lines,
sidings, stations, &c., were made with
reference to the existing state Of things.
A change, therefore, would neoessitats q
serious injury to our property and bust
ness. II the change be made,
and the approaches to the
new bridge be different from the present
ones, It will surely injure the property Of
the W. & N. railroad. Because Of the big
expense that would be incurred were
such change to be made, We thought It
our duty 10 protest. II the approaches
Of Fourth street bridge were TO be made,
as we think they would be, either the
city or county would have TO pay dam
ages to the railroad companies. Auy
amount, however, that you might pay
them would not compensate them for the
injury done"
Col. Henry DUPONT, president Of the
Wilmington & Northern Railroad Com
pAuy, explained to the court chart OF
the oompAny's tracks and Land over The
bridge, which would bs effected by the
proposed change.
Levi c. Bird, Esq, counsel Tor the
Baltimore & PhilaisiphiA Railroad Com
pany folio we'd. Ia the course Of he
remarks he said: st It ia not ont OF
order, Mr.. President, may ask who these
parties are that want the change. ste
great deal about 1t In the newspapers. l.
It's scme land speoulRtor We saould
like to hear his reasons. We should |
like to hear the REASONS Of anybody |
wanting IT," Continuing he said
"Rvery important improvement on
the eouth side OF the Christiana
was made with the belief that that
bridge was to stay at Third street. When
thu B. & P. railroad bought out the little
Delaware Western II began to look for |
wharfage room firm whence to ferry |
freight to and from the various manu-
featuring places along the stream. II the
proposed change Of location oil the brldg- |
ia made, no matter whether the AppoAch,s |
to It connected with Head street or lew |
Castle avenue, they are bound TO
greatly ipjure the railroad property |
Another strong point Hgainst 1t, the city |
Of Wilmington hAs very foolishly allowed |
every street above Fourth to be cut Of |
from the water front by manufacturing |
establishments. II you put bridge a.
Fourth street you out of the only wide |
and coed approach to the river, leaving
Third as the only place whore boats can |
lie and have wharfage. The people OF
Wilmington will not oountenanoe such
move. don't mean people who write to
the newspapers, but business men who
have an terest in the matter" In COIL
olusion Mr.. Bird said Of course the rail
road company would have to succumb to
the rights Of the oour ty. ..aa
Captain Smith Of the B. & P. company,
followed Mr.. Bird with q few remarks
He said that, in the event Of change Of
location Of the bridge, the B. Il P r r
Co would be ont oti from all connection
with large manufacturing establishments.