Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-01-30
THIRD STREET BRIDGE.
WHO BUILT IT AND WHY MR.
TOWNsEND WANTS TO BE
RElMBURsED.

W NV nGAAA H nm - " II u u ~
TOWNSEND WANTS TO BE
REIMBURsED.
As there has been much said about
the Third street bridge question and a.
there have been as many misrepresenta-
lions as we'll about IL, represen tative
OF the REPUBLICAN saw Mr.. b. r.
Townsend, the gentleman most interest
ed in the bill now pending before the
Legislature, and got from him In sub
stance about the following facts in re-
lation to the bridge
The question OF building q bridge
across the Christiana at the foot OF Third
street, was first suggested and agitated
by Mr.. h. II. Townsend himself, as far
back az 1866. He had 90 acres of
land on the South side, and the Viii.
mington Rolling Mill Company, of
which George X. Townsend was . MEM
Der, had built large " orks on the same
side of the creek.
There was no way OF getting over into
Wilmington except by going up the
bridge, which was very inconvenieut.
Lots were sold and iuildings went up
rapidly in the new settlement, and to
have a bridge at Third street became an
absolute necessity. Mr.. Townsend. per.
sonaliy feeling the want Of bridge, and
anxious to see the community improve,
sat about circulating petitions asking
the Legislature 10 pass an act author
izing the Levy Court of New Castle
County to build bridge, which would
cost the same as Market street bridge,
- 600 or thereabouts.
A numerously signed petition was
presented to the Legislature Of 1867,
but it was confronted there by a strong
Opposition from the Harlan Hollings.
worth Company, Charles Warner &
Company, and one or two other
man utacturing firms on the Chr ist-
lana Creek. The bill passed the
House and was,sent to the Senate, where
the opposition was fully developed and
1t was soon discovered that 1t could not
pass that body in the shape in which 1t
came from the House. James Ponder,
Speaker Of the Senate, and afterwards
Governor of the State, told Mr.. Town
send that il he aud those interested
with Kim would agree TO pay halt the
cost of tue bridge there would be no
obstacle to the passage Of the bill, as
there was an objection 10 the County OF
New Castle paying the whole
cost where private parties were so di-
rectly interested az Mr.. Townsend was.
The Speaker furthermore said that il
the bridge proved q public benefit, he
had scarcely any doubt that the county
would reimburs him for the money
he paid.
l Mr.. Townsend, believing that the
bridge would be pubic benefit 10 the
lefty OF Wilmington AZ well az 10 the
County Of New Castle, and that other
Iprivate individuals would be as much
benefitted as himself, promptly rejected
the proposition, when the bill was put 70
a vote and was defeated. After con-
sultation with his friends over the inaI'
ter, and considering the great need OF
the bridge, MIR. Townsend appeared be-
fore the Senate and succeeded in hav
ing the vote by which the bill was de
fcsted re- considered, Mr.. Townsend
agreeing to pay the whole cost of the
, bridge in the expectation that the coun
, ty of New Castle would reimburse him
and accordingly the bill passed and be
came law with a proviso incorporated
that he should give bond to comply
with the provisions of the bill to the
Levy Court of New Castle County.
Mr.. Townsend then made apl licatior
to the Levy Court OF New Castle County
to have the bridge built.
Through the influence of John W
Hawkins, then leading meDlber of the
Levy Court, H. was agreed that the
bridge should be built, and proposals
} being advertised, Thomas NJ. Og and
Abel j. Barrett put in proposal tc
build it for 81 200.
The bridge was TO have 81 feet draw
! and TO swing on n pivot in the centre oi
the stream IL was then that the late
Philip Quigley came 10 the front, and
having the car of the Levy Court asked.
:" why not build bridge that will ba q
credit to fast growing city, one like
the Penrose Ferry bridge across the
Schuylkill, nnr Philadelphia, even ii
IL did cost rnore?"
The committee listened to Mr.. Quig-
ley's proposition aud agreed To build a
, bridge something like Penrose Ferry
, bridge &C cost of SIS, 900. Ogle IL Bar
ret wanted TO see the specifications and
plans to enable them to make a bid, but
these being in the hands OF MIR. QuiR-
ley they were denied access 10 them.
These gentlemen then as last resort
went up and examined Penrose Ferry
bridge minutely for themselves and
after doing 30 sent in proposal to
| DulIi tno Dllhkc ticjuoob
the stone abutments and filling up the
approaches at both end-. Moth with
standing all this, Mr.. Quigley was en-
Iployed TO build the bridge At his own
price, $18, 900, the Levy Court agreeing
TO build the centre stone pier at cost
of $500.
Mr.. L. to the best of his recollection
thinks there was no written con
tract between the building COMMITTEES
and Mr.. Quigley, and, consequently y
inothing binding by which that gentle
man could be compelled to build the
abutments and fill up the approaches q,
a part of the work included for the
price Of SIS 600, as Ogle & Barrett had
lageeed to i'll their proposal, for $l5, 900
Arrangement ts having all been com
pleted with Mr.. Quigley to build the
bridge, the building committee Of the
lL-vy Court, Mr.. Townsend says, de-
manded that he should give bond to
pay$l8, 900 for the building of the bridge,
assuring him at th~ same time that II
was mere matter OF form, that 1t
would nevar be collected, that the
county was richer than he was, and
more able to pay ,and that 1t was n mere
compliance with the act of the Legisla-
lture,
!, Mr. Townsend said nobody was more
Gun phatic in these declarations than Mr.
Hawkins, though he seems now 10 have
forgotten that he eyer said anything of
the kind.
| Under these circumstances, Mr.. Town.
send, George ID. Lobdell, Zadock Town
} send, Lucas Alrich and Richard Jack.
soa united, and gave mutual bond for
ISIS, 900 for the faithful compliance with
the required act of The Legislature,
though the cost of the bridge was raised
by the Levy Court 10 900 more than
was contemplated when Mr.. Townsend
Iapread To nav for building bridge ike