Daily Republican., 1885-08-28
Tne Third street Brldge 0.

The Third street bridge question re-
eeived . thorough ventilation In the
Levy Court on Thursday, and the
course of Chairman Hickman and his
com mittee was sustained by q very
decisive majority of the Levy Court,
only three members ont OF eleven vot.
ing against 1t. Mr.. McOracken, who
IL decidedly one Of the most forcible
speakers Of that body, made several
attempts to show that the bridge COM
mittee was censurable for daring to
attempt to spend nearly $4,000 In re-
pairs to the bridge without authority
from the court, bat the tables were
turned upon him in every instance by
Nessrs. Mackey, Haman and Hickman,
who most oonclusively said that the
COMMITTEES WAS only pursuing the well-
beaten course nat every member OF the
court hss herr fore pursued, and which
Mr.. McCrAcken was even now pursu-
ing In P,noa Ter, the Hundred he
represents.
The pan purued by the court when
bridges are to re built or repaired in
tho respective Hundreds Is something
like this: Each memb makes an
estimate OF the cost OF any needed new
bridges or repairs to bridges In his
Hundred for the ensuing year. He
then asks the Levy Court for an appro-
priation OF the amount OF money re-
quired for such new bridges or repairs.
The court considers the matter and
grants or refuses the request as 1t
deems IL necessary.
The member from Brandy wine Hun
dred may want $500 the member from
Christlans may want 81, 900 the mem
ber from Pencsder, 81 500 the member
from White CLAY Creek may want
q, 600, and the rasu her from Whining
ton may want $50 900, and 30 on all
through the eleven Hundreds OF the
county. The court in Its wisdom
grants the amount asked for, whatever
1t may be, and the granting Of 1t be-
comes the endorsement to whatever
purpose the money Is applied, 30 1t be
the building and repairs OF bridges
Zach member OF the Levy Court hss the
disbursing OF the money Appropriated
for his Hundred. While Mr.. Grubb, OF
Brandy wine, has the righ. to spend his
$500 for bridges In Brandy wine, and
Mr.. McCracken his 81 800 in Pencader,
Mr.. Hickman with equal force OF srgu.
ment has the same right to spend his
$40, 900 In Wilmington for the building
and repairs of bridges. The amounts
We have used ara imaginary, the real
amount appropriated for Wilmington
Hundred is $15. 600.
Last year Mr.. Foblger's appropria
ton VAS $50, 900, OF which some SIG, 900
or SIT 900 was used to pay back clAi q
ON Market street bridge, 30 Chairm NJ
Shallcross informs US, and some $l0, ,00t
was turned back into ths Treasury, th
repairs in oontem plation not beinl
made last year.
Now, then, Mr.. Hickman fnds him
salt with SIS 900 to the credit OF Wi
mington Hundred, to be spent
repairs OF bridges. No bridge needle
repairs as much as Third street bridg
The only thing the court decided o
was tina. new bridge should not b
built this year, bat 1t was decided ths
the oh one should be repaired.
These Instructions Mr.. Hickman
carrying out. There Is no differen ce
his course Of procedure from the cour
OF the member from Brandywips or Il
member from PenoAder. The only di
parity is In the amount Of money to
expended. Mr.. Hickman has $3.50
to expend, while some rural meEb
may not have any, or small amou'
Ut least. We say this much, tina. pc
pie who talk great deal about I
bridge question may know how t
ease stands.
The first thought Of the public on
announcement that $1,000 was to
spent In repairing Third street brid
was that 1t was useless extravagsn
but when 1t Ia generally known I'll
the contemplated repairs are really
commencement of a new bridge,
estimated cost of which ia to be, as .
Hickman states, about $4,000 WI
finished, publio censure will materis
modify. The repairs this year, CT
sisting OF al iron abutment, pier q
IN iron span, which are to cost IS @
will be, when flashed, really a par
tho now bridge, Next year the 30
end OF the bridge may be repaired
the same manner, and then all I
will be left will be the draw, wi
may be furnished either next year
the year after, when the bridge viii
complete.
The only objection that can be III
with force against these extensive
pairs, which are to end In new bril-
is the locality. The majority OF
people, no doubt, would prefer ha'
it located at Fourth street, with
elevated crossing over the p, w.
Railroad, but the cost of such an Ell
pri Sc, including the damages the COZ
would have to psy to the various
road mpanies' Improvements on
south side, seem to extinguish
idea of building q bridge at Fo
street. Under these circumstance
choice naturally had to fall upon
old location.
One other thing urged by Mr..
Cracksn against Mr.. Hickman a
was that proposals were no. asked
by advertising in the newspaper
create q competition, but this obje
was readily countered by M
Haman and Mackey asking Mr..
Craoken IL he asked for propose
build the bridge In Pencader. Mr.
Cracken had to admit that he did
and consequently the force OF hii
lection WAS lost. Mr.. Hickman,
ever, stated that his committee
careful estim 4tes made OF the CO
everything, and found that to d.
best they possibly could it woul
49, -. ~.
have made with Mr.. Hyde to con
the whole for little less than $8,
HTh,s, we bslieve, is about the
and substance Of the bridge que
which, when properly understood