Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-25
CITY COUNCIL.

Tho City Must Pay Sf00 for Damages =
Other Suits Against the City Assistant
Counsel to be EmpIoycd-Petitionin
to Have Chief Engineer Robinson Re-
tanned Thanks to the Firemen.
All the City Councilmen were present
at the regular meeting Of that body last
night except Mr.. Sawdon, from the Elev-
enth Ward.
The city treasurer reported balance 10
bank to current expenses, Sl55, ,959. ~;
lector Z. 2. Moody, t745; NJ. j. Mealey,
1925.
Mr.. Quinn presented communication
from City Solicitor Turner, in which he
stated that he had met Mr.. Eli II, attor-
ney for the Philadelphia Turnpike Com
pany, and that they had agreed TO COM
promise the suit Of that company against
the city for damages arising from grading
Market street from Twenty third to
Twenty-seventh streets for t400, and he
asked that an order be drawn for that
amount.
Mr.. Sharkey wanted an explanation
made, ss he and some other members
were not posted.
Mr.. Quinn explained, that the damages
claimed arose ircm cutt ng through q
hill, back as far as 1882, by which the
company could not charge toll while the
work was in progress, and that the work
was SO indifIerently done that the COM
pany had to do 1t over again. The case
was ordered settled more than q year ago
rs Council could not afford TO stand q
suit at law.
Mr.. sharkey moved that the matter be
postponed one week and that the original
faattftnp IN m tim xunrk 1nna ha
duced. He said the work was asked to
be done by the stockholders and there was
not farmer in Brandywine hundred who
could say that the turnpike was ever OBJ
stEucted.
Mr.. Roberts also favored postpone
ment, ae he wanted to know more about
the case. AS the turnpike company
wanted the work done he thought there
might be another side of the case not
fully set forth.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Hawkins
City Solicitor Turner made a statement,
In which he said that the work Was done
under Levi Garrett when he was chairman
of the Opsning Stret ts Committee. Mr..
Keough was the contractor who kept q
hotel, AID Mr.. Garrett wss butcher
who furnished Keough with meat. Be
tween them the work was delayed and
the turnpike was not put In the condition
promised. This part the company had to
do at Its own expense, besides losing toll
for all the time the work was under way.
The Law and Street Committees and
counsel for the company met and decided
upon 1850 as the damages to be paid.
This was some four years ago, but for
some causes 1t was never paid which was
q surprise 10 him. The interest on the
annnnt a NunnlI ms In a. mr. than eAnn N.,
this time.
Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Hawkins both
testified to the horrible condition in which
the road was left. This latter said the
turnpike company lost more than 81 900
by delay and imperfect work.
Mr.. Sharkey said the work was done
according to contract, az he knew, be-
cause he was employed with Mr.. KeouRh
at the time, and the most prominent
stockholders in the company asked Coun-
ell to do the work.
Mr.. McKenney wanted to know who
gave the turnpike company the right to
repair the road.
City solicitor Turner explained that
the company could do as 1t pleased with
its own property.
Mr.. McKenney said then they should
keep It in order without bringing In bill
against the city.
Mr.. Turner had farther to explain, and
show Mr.. McKenney that contract had
been broken.
Mr. shsrkey still objected to the pay
ment OF the bill, saying the work cost
bers of the turnpike company had made
$1,000 by II.
Mr. Mcbride thought the bill was just
and should be paid.
Mr.. Baugh did not think either party
would be injur,d by laying the matter
over for week,
Mr.. sbarkey's motion was lost.
The original motion to pay was then
carried by yea and nay vote, only
Messrs. McKenney, Sharkey and White
voting against 1t.
Mr.. Forrest presented q communiea.
tion from William Redding, asking S25
for damages done to his goods by q
stream of water thrown Into bis house on
January 20, during the fre in houses be-
longing to the estate of Richard Roe.
Redding claims that the Friendship Fire
Company had carelessly thrown q stream
OF water in bis house, which was some
distance away.
A motion to refer the communication
to the Law Committee was met with
some Indignation by Mr.. Quinn, who
wanted TO know when thtse claims were
to cease A motion made by him to lay
the communication on the table prevailed
unanimously.
Communications were received from
George W. Gray and John p. Donahoe,
stating that copies of the Finance Com
mittee report had been received and dis
iributed among the members of the gen.
eral assembly.
A communication was received from
the Citizens Association asking that
Council appoint q committee to meet
George w. Bush, II. N. Buck, L. G.
Vandegrift, ESQ.,, and G. W. We!din, a
committee from that association, to con-
slider what legislation for the interests OF
the city should be laid before the Legis-
lature.
On motion Council agreed to meet on
Saturday evening In body for that pur-
pose, and the cl rk was instructed to
notify the Citizens Committee to meet
with them.
A communication from Peter j. Ford
was read, asking Council to prepare and
have passed by the Legislature, q bill
legalizing his purchase of the sand lot
from the city. The communication was
referred to the Law COMMITTEES with in
structlon to prepare and present bill as
requested.
On the motion of Mr.. Forrest, the City
Solicitor was authorized to employ addi-
tonal counsel to aid him In defending
the prosecutions against the city for dam.
ages at the approaching court.
On motion the City Solicitor was In
structe to proceed at the next term of
Cou I In the case of Brooks Foster against