Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-03-15
CITY COUNCIL.
MO ~ ToG FOR AN INTER-
CEPTiNG SEWER.
A Number of Legislative bills Recon-
mended-Electric Wires to go Under
ground - Sunday and
Cigars.

A regular session of the City Council
was held last night, President Farra,
prosiding.
The City Treasurer reported 81 "a ,6S4. 20
In the Union National Bank to the credit
OF the city, and the City Auditor affirmed
the report.
Collector Moody reported collie tcted In
taxes, SlO70 tor 1883, and $500 for $lSS7.
communication from Senator Dona-
ho was read stating that the bill for
opening Tenth street had passed the Sen
ate aud had been sent to the Committee
on Corporations, and that very strong
opposition was manifested against the
passage OF the bill.
Mr.. Quinn moved that the bill asking
for an Increase of appropriation to the
Street and Sewer Commissions, laid upon
the table on Tuesdvy night at an adjourn
ed meeting OF Council, be taken up for
consideration. The melton was agreed
to, when on motion any member OF the
Street and Sewer Commission present
was given permission 10 speak In favor of
the bill II he desired to do so.
Joseph l.. Carpenter, In a few brief
words, stated that his object In such ac-
tion taken wss TO see If there were not
some plan upon which both sides could
agree. The Street and Sewer Commis-
sion, he said, had no other object In view
than to act for the btst interests OF the
city.
On motion of Mr.. Quinn, the bill was
then referred to the Law Committee,
Mr.. Quinn then offered the following
resolutions, which were read:
WHEREAS, There was an appropria-
ton made at the beginning OF the present
fiscal year OF a large sum of money for
the redemption OF bonds falling due with
in the year; and
WHEREAS, It "sss afterwards discoy-
cred that payment was provided for BY
means Of the Sinking Fund, whereby said
appropriation now is aud will remain un-
expended; and
WHEREAS, An intercepilng sewer
along the Brandywine Is now In anticipa-
,ion; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, BY the Council, to wit:
That it Is the sense OF this Council, that
II the sewer be determined upon, then
payment for The same shall be made out
OF the sad unexpended appropriation
as FAR as the same shall go, rather than
that bonds should be issued to that ex-
tent, thus increasing the interest bearing
debt OF the CITY,"
AANhNhhtl bsaAh ulu uuI
stand the resolutions and wanted them
explained.
NJ. Quinn then entered into an expla-
nation, and said that at the end of tho
present fiscal year there would be sur
plus in the treasury of from 500, 600 to
90, 600. AS the Street and Sewer Com
mission wanted about that amount to
build an intercepting sewer from the
Rattlesnake run sewer down the brandy
wine to about Poplar street, 1t was pro-
posed to divert this surplus from the pur-
pose first Intended and apply 1t to the
construction of this interceptlng sewer.
he stated that the surplus on hand WAS
originally intended to pay of a loan
coming due during the year, but 1t was
| afterwards ascertained that the Sinking
Fund Commissioners had the power and
authority to issue certificates to meet the
loan, and therefore that appropriated by
City Council would not be needed. He
thought II would be very GOOD plan to
use the money for the interceptlng sewer.
though he did not believe It would be
constructed in one or two years, and In
stead oil ouly costing about SIS. ODO IL
would cost three times that amount
lie made the motion for the purpose of
testing the sense of the City Council upon
that question.
Mr.. Moore wanted to know OF Mr..
Carpenter whether he had ever had any
estimate made of the cost of the sewer.
Mr.. Carpenter replied that The city
civil engineers he'd made survey aud
estimat,d d the cost at SSl, 900, but he
tCarpenter) did rot believe it would
cost that much as most of the owners of
property on the proposed line would give
the right OF way irce.
Mr.. Chambers thought II would be
wisdom on the part Of the City Council
to pass the resolution. He did not be-
lieve either that the sewer would be built
in year, but II IL took more money than
the surplus he would favor an appro-
priation next year and each year until
the sewer would be built without making
a permanent loan.
Mr. Quinn presented an act concerning
the terms of City CouDcilmen. BY this
act the number OF Couucilmen is reduced
to q PRECEDENT and twelve members, one
from each ward. These members are to
be elected for term OF three years, and
the present members shall cont nue. In
Office until July !, 1891. The city so
| licitor is 10 be also elected at that time
and to continue in Office for three years
He must be a lawyer of Il ve years. stand
| ing, and counselor in the Superior
| Court and Cou,t OF Chancery. On mo-
| tion OF Mr.. Quinn 500 copies OF the bill
| were ordered printed for distribution.
Mr. Roberts wauttd to know what hal
become of Mr. Quinn's resolution about
| the surplus.
The chair stated that 1t was still before
| Council.
Mr.. Roberts moved the reference of the
resolution to the Law Committee.
Mr.. Quinn said he knew that no refer
ence was made, but he intended to let
them lie over and refer them IN bunch
with other matters yet TO be actfd on.
Mr.. Roberts thought 1t was best To
finish one thing alta time, and pressed his
resolution, which was adopted
The act jdst offered by Mr.. Quinn was
also reieI red to the Law Committee.
Mr.. Quinn launched another act before
Council compelling all Telegraph, tele-
phone and electric lighr wires to he placed
under ground. The act spccill,s that after
blank date all wires must be plat ed
under ground under u psnalty of 500,
and the same amount for each additional
| day they were allo we'd to remain atoyc
ground. The conhuits ia which these
wires are laid are no. to be further than
iour feet from the curb. The uonduits
| must be laid go as not to Interfere with
gas, water pipes or sewers, ard that the
company who owns the conduits is to be
responsible for all damages resulting
thereirom. The streets are rot to he torn
up for putting dawn wires longer than
blank days. The fine for this shsll be
$50 for each case.
This act was also referred to the Law
| Committee.
Mr.. Quinn ready for another act pre-