Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-04
WIDENING TENTH STREET
City Council and the Board of Trade
Committee Discusses the SIatter-Act
of Assembly 10 be Prepared.

Board of Trade Committee on the widen
lug OF Tenth street. President Farra
was in the chair The committee. com
posed of Colonel Milo w. Locke, George
4. kirkman, James l.. DeVou, Charles b.
Lore, Thomas Mitchell. l.. c. Vande-
grift Esq, II. $. Christy and John II.
Dandy occupied seats in front of the
presidents desk.
The calling of roll Of members was dis
pensed with to save the city the expense
Of 81 per member.
Mr.. Hawkins offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That this Council considers
the widening of Tenth street from Mar
ket to Tatnall, great improvement to
the city.
Mr.. Quinn moved that the members of
| the Board of Trade committee be heard.
L. G. Vandegrift, ESQ, then spoke in re
| gard TO the matter. He said one reason
| why the Improvement was necessary was
because Delaware avenue was the pas
sage way TO the western part of the city.
The property for one-third Of the dis
lance is owned by an old man. 1t would
soon fall into other hands and when II
had been improved the widening of the
street would cost an excessive sum. The
Friendship fire engine house and the
| Hardness building were now the only
structures Of much value. Mr.. Vande-
grift spoke on the matter, meeting all the
objections that had been raised.
Mr. Lore then addressed the meeting
| He stated that the Board of Trade and
citizens came to the Council as the repre-
sentatives of the citizens to get their
views, which would largely determine
the matter. He described Fourth and
| Market streets as the business streets of
a manufacturing and commercial city.
The impression Of the alley from Market
street TO Delaware avenue upon SIR myers
was very poor one The blocking up Of
Market and Tenth streets, when a car
turned into Tenth street was described a
worse state Of affairs predicted as the
citys business increased. Every one
with whom he met said the work ought
to be done and done now.
James l.. DeVou then addressed the
meeting. He referred to Bancroft's and
Riddles mills and the DuPonts works.
and said the bulk of the hauling went
through the narrow portion on Tenth
street. He considered that there was
danger from a crush in the street.
Colonel Milo w. Locke said he was
only TO speak as a witness to what had
been said. He spoke of the danger Of
accidents to vehicles in passing through
the narrow street He referred to the
incaleuable benefit certain bridges over
Jones Falls in Baltimore made. He did
not think there was better time to
widen the street even if the money had
to be borrowed to do II.
H. s. Christy, of the Board of Trade
committee, spoke briefly on the subject.
He spoke of the danger of accidents ow
ing to the narrow space and of the bene
fits to be derived from the widening of
the street.
At the close of Mr.. Christys remarks
Mr. Quinn offered the following resolu-
ton and moved its adoption:
Resolved, That the Law Committee
Of Council be instructed to prepare an
act TO present to the General Assembly
at the present session, empowering the
City Council Of Wilmington to borrow
a certain sum Of money for the purpose
of widening Tenth street from Market to
Tatnall street, also to widen Walnut
street at Fifth street and Shipley street
at Front street, the debt to be paid from
taxation at rate OF 8 cents on the 800
Of assessed value of the city.
Mr. Quinn then stated that the assessed
value of the property ON the north side
of Tenth street that would be affected by
the widening of the street was S53. 700
All that he had talked with did not think
il well, in the matter, TO increase the debt
of the city. He was opposed to doing
that. But If the matter could be ar
ranged in some other way he was heartily
in favor of it. He then proposed tc
amend the resolution by putting the
drawing up OF the act into the hand OF
the Board of Trade committee and Law
Committee of Council jointly Mr.
Quinn spoke of the great improvement
the widening Of King street had been.
Mr. Chambers thought that the street
should be widened and gave his reasons
for it,
Mr. Baugh was in favor Of the resolu-
tion, especially because II proposed 10
widen Front street He knew from ex-
perierce and observation that it was
necessary
Mr. Roberts was glad to see the matter
brought up, but would be opposed to il
If 1t would increase the funded debt of
the city He thought that Eleventh
street should be extended through from
; Madison to Adams street and Trenton
Place opened to Delaware avenue. Also
that Delaware Avenue Baptist Church
should be torn down aud Tenth street ex
tended through. He moved to amend By
adding that Eleventh street should bt
opened.
Mr.. Quinn said that 1t would take al
act Of the Legislature to open Eleventh
street, and that the Delaware Avenu,
! | Church people might object TO having
their church torn away.
Mr. Sharkey thought there was M
doubt but that the widening Of the stree
would be a great benefit 10 the western
: part of the city, but he did not think thu
2 city could afford t. The car tracks coul,
y be removed to some other streets AM
q more room made in that way.
Mr.. Bower though he approved tn
resolution, thought the matter had com
up suddenly and believed that post
ponement to give the members time I
y think over IT, He moved postponemen
ID until next meeting night Of Councl
d which was seconded.
is Mr. McGonigle was in favor OF openin
Tenth street. but was afraid that tn
proposition to improve the other street
would endanger the doing of work O
= Tenth street. He also called Mr.. Quin
" TO account for speaking slgbtingly 9
he Mr.. Christy as a contractor
After some discussion on the motion {
postpone the motion was put and lost
% The amendment putting the DRAWN
Of the act into the hands Of the La
~ Committee of Council and the Board
In Trade committee jointly, was the
adopted after which the resolution W,
Al -. 4 "A