Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-03
HICKMAN sUsTAINED.
The Court Stands Hy His New
Bridge Schenie-An AInshouse In-
yestigatIng Committee AppoInted.

vestigatsng Committee Appointed
The levy court met Thursday mornin
in special session at 10 o'clock. Presi
dent Shallcross and all the members O
the court were punctually in their seats
After roll call and reading of tn
minutes of the previous meeting, th
chair stated the purposes Of this meeting
to obtain committee to wait on tn
trustees Of the poor for an inspection o
their accounts. The president then in
yited the members TO make any sug
gestion in regard to the business on hand
Mr.. Cheairs arose and asked whether
there should be committee of the cour
or one composed of citizens outside the
levy court. He would be willing if the
| chairman appointed committee of three
or FIVE, or three outside the levy court.
Mr.. Haman was OPPOSED to AN outside
committee, and suggested one of five
members of the court.
Mr.. Taylor was in favor of citizens
committee. Mr.. Mackey, in reply to the
last speaker, said that, supposing an out
side committee was appointed, the public
would even thea accuse the levy court
of appointing their own partisans, and
endorsed the course of the chair appoint
ing the committee.
Mr.. Cheairs suggested composite
committee of Democrats and Republicans.
Mr.. Taylor replied that the levy court
was abundantly able to cope with any
business that came within its line of
duties.
Mr.. Grubb thought it best to get q
committee that would endeavor to act
oonscientiously, whether of citizens or
courtmen, and stated that he believed
they were obtainable.
Mr.. Human then made the motion that
the chair appoint a committee of five.
MIR. Toy seconded the motion.
Mr.. Cheairs then initiated discussion
us to the priority of his motion as to a
composite or outside committee. The
chair ruled that Mr.. Cheairs' prior state
ment was in the nature of suggestion
and not Il motion.
The question was put by the chairman
whether the court should appoint five
of its members on the committee. The
result was Yeas-Messrs. Haman, Hick-
man, Grnbb, Morrison, Mackey, Nc
Cracken, Rothwell and Toys. Nays
Messrs. Cheairs and Taylor-2.
The chair then appointed the following
1ltb5ib.
Cheairs, Taylor and Grubb.
MIR. Taylor then moved, and Mr.. Roth
we'll seconded, that the chair be one of
the committee. Mr.. Shallcross begged
off, and amid much amusement the presi-
dent was excused.
THIRD STREET BRIDGE.
A recess of few minutes followed
when, on the reconyening of the court,
Mr.. Grubb got up and said: II see
good deal of newspaper talk and outside
talk offensive to Mr.. Hickman and other
members of this court. All here are cog
INFANT of what l refer to. Mr.. Hickman
is present-we should like TO hear him
speak"
Mr.. Hickman-'tWhen we looked into
and determined upon what was to be
done in regard to the Third street bridge
business it was the intention and advice
OF the committee to go ON and repair the
bridge, placing abutments on the north
side. We had the assurance of the COM
mittee that we were endorsed by them"
Mr.. Haman-'In regard to the site, that
was thoroughly settled last spring. The
| court invited the citizens opinions. With
the exception of one man in this court all
were in favor of the Third street site. The
bridge will not cost over 1886, 900 to
| $40, 900. At present we are building an
approach to the bridge. Our idea now
is to do what we are doing in permanent
manner, to put up something that will not
be torn away by and by"
| Mr.. Cheairs asked whether it is true that
the intention is to build new abutments
on the Wilmington side to cost $8, 900 !;
also, whether it is true that there is a con-
tract existing for $3.50, 900 bridge, and
what credence is to be put in the rumor
| that ferry is to be established during
the construction of the bridge. The
speaker finished by asking the court to
decide whether the committee had acted
within their powers or exceeded them.
Mr.. Haman stated that the committee
is building no new bridge, but merely
putting in repairs.
Mr.. Cheairs then asked for descriptions,
plans, &C., of any work contemplated
that the levy court as body may have
some intelligent idea of where they stood
in the matter.
Mr.. Hickman said he. would state for
the benefit of the taxpayers that the
work at the Third street bride would have
SOoo WI,obp Aio1U uttu ~ Dbtl uOht Dy tu6
job. The estimated cost of the new iron
bridge at Third street, for which the
present abutments and approaches are
being prospectiyely constructed is, ac-
cording to the architect, $48, 900.
Mr.. McCracken-"I see it is reported
that the committee has contracted to
build bridge without advertising for
proposals, when this is to be built under
specifications.
Mr.. Hickman-"We didn't ask for any
proposals because we calculated from the
first to build it by the day. We asked
Mr.. Hyde what it would cost and gave
the job to him without any other COM
petition"
Mr.. McCracken, with great indigna-
ton, stated that he was i'll emphatic OPP
position to this movement.
Then followed somewhat heated dis
cussion between Messrs. McCracken and
Haman, in which the latter gentleman
attempted to show that the former had on
a previous occasion erected bridge,
engaging the job done by the day. Mr..
McCracken conceded that he had done SO,
but that there was n great difference be-
tween $4,000 and $240, the cost of the
work he had done, and which he had
| himself personally supervised.
Mr.. Hanmn then inquired how it was
that Mr.. McCracken, who had coincided
with the committee who made the con-
tract for the new bridge with Mr.. Cooper
of New York, now opposed the measure
Mr.. Mackey thought that the building
committee were acting conscientiously fol
the good of the citizens of New Castle
county in building the permanent ap
proach to the bridge. Money will bt
saved by the course they are taking. Hi
could not see what all the hubbub il
about. The committee is not building
new bridge but an abutment only.
Mr.. Hickman said that some of the oil
retired levy courtlnen with whom he hat
consulted thought he was entirely right il
supplying the bridge with new abut
ment. He thought he had done right ant
honestly by the citizens. He felt sur,
that if he had done the work by contrac
it would have cost $4,000.
Mr.. Mackey-"Is there any Lev,
Courtman here who thinks that tn
bridge could be built anywhere else
Can it be built at Fourth street ~
Mr.. Cheairs reminded the speaker tina
the question under discussion was one o
repairing not building. He asked whethe
it was not the intention to build tw,
piers with iron; whether the committe
have not given out contracts for ne,
piers, iron work, &C., and what, h
asked, would be their cost ?
Mr.. Hamau-"$7, 200 odd"
Mr.. Cheairs-"Then the newspaper
were not so far out of the way. Yo,
know" he said, addressing the court, ''i
was understood that the bridge was to b
repaired for $2,600."
Inquiry was then made by member il