Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-21
HOW THEY JUMPED OMIT
Death of the Delaware Avenue
Extension Boom.
THE SUNDAY STAR KNOCKED OUT


ually Killed Its Frantic Struggle.
Many prominent citizens, taxpayers
and property owners of the city received
postal cards in the last two Gays, invit-
ing them to attend meeting at the
Builders Exchange rooms last night 70
consider the feasibility Of extending Della
ware avenue through to Market street.
Thecards were not signed and no one
knew who had taken upon themselves the
weiQhty responsibility of calling meet
ing to consider so important and yet so
impracticable project. 1t is said that
the self constituted committee of public
improvement were Jerome B. Bell, editor
OF the Sunday Star, Frank Wooley, bust
ness manager Of the same paper, and ].
Eldridge Pierce.
Sunday before last the Star bloomed
out with an article proposing, with the
proper flourish and bombast that be-
longed to 50 important project, the ex.
tension of Delaware avenue to Market
street. Little notice was taken Of so
wild a scheme, and the boomlet Ian.
guished. Last Sunday the Star again
preached the subject, and gave detailed
estimates Of the cost of the proposition.
and map Of the proposed improvement,
showing how many Chinese puzzle-like
triangular blocks of various shapes and
sizes it would make Of that section OF
the city bounded by Ninth and Tenth and
Market and Tatnall streets.
Still the public thought ii was only an
erratic ray from the Star that would
family glimmer while and then 20 out
But when the mysterious postal cards
were sent about, the public considered 1t
its duty TO have its say in the matter, 50
between fifty and sixty men gradually
gathered in the rooms Of the Builders
Exchange last evening. 1t was repre-
sentative gathering of the solid men of
the city men who pay large proper
ton Of the taxes.
Those present were James w. Ware,
Colonel Milo w. Locke, Alfred Gawthrop,
]. Newlin Gawthrop, of the Street and
Sewer Directors, Councilman William
McMenamin, ]. Wesley Hawkins, George
r.. Roberts, NJ j. Sharkey and Thomas
johnson, +. b. Frazer, Casper Kendall,
John b. Johnson, J. ID. Ssler e. w.
Pyle l. r. Quigley, DR. r H. Jones, DIR.
@. H. Lawton, William Lawton. w Stew
art Almond. w Scott Vernon Merris
Taylor, DR.. J. A. Draper, David Parker,
David Lemon, Samuel Murphey, II. Har.
vey, r. l. Rice, Jr., James johnson, Alex.
ander j. Hart, j. r. d. Seeds,
Thomas McClary Milton G. Laclxey,
Thomas Mitchell, Francis $. Bradley,
Henry Wilkins, Archibald Given, John
g. Baker, George w. Remington, Colonel
John Wainwright, Joshua l.. Pusey, J.
Eldridge Pierce, A. r. Tatnall, George
Boclgius, A. s. Reed, w. b. Sharp, George
w. Mckay, Frank Woolley, l.. G. Vande-
grift Esq, George Churchman, David IT.
Wells, George T.. kirkman, j. Paul
Brown, John II. Dandy, A. H. Smith,
Frank T. Clymer, J. B. Bell, James Dill
Ion, Andrew Carey, A. A. Capelle, II f.
Dure, William " Swiggett, James
Dandy, Horace G. johnson, Thomas r.
Lally. M B Culbert s. IL. Baynard, Job
III. jackson, Thomas McCorkle, Mayor
Harrington and John s. Mullin, Jr,
The crowd walked about the room ask
ing each other what they were there for
and who asked them to come. An en-
larged edition Of the Sunday Star map Of
the proposed, but now defunct Delaware
avenue extension, hung ON the newspa.
per rack. and this the crowd examined
cariously and suspiciously. Some thought
the meeting was scheme TO kill the
widening of Tenth street, sprung by
few persons opposed to II, and the way
the project was jumped upon sat upon,
shook, cuffed, hooted and laughed at in
the meeting that followed was
amusing TO the last degree.
When the meeting adjourned
after jumping on the boom for 40 hours,
it was so fat that it could be put between
the pages Of the Sunday Star and no one
would ever know it was there
At o'clock no one called the meeting
to order.
At 500 o'clock Colonel Milo w. Locke.
seeing that the crowd would soon go
home. moved that ex Senator James w.
Ware take the chair which motion pre-
vailed. Then j. Eldridge Pierce and
Merris Taylor were nominated for secre-
sary, but both declined TO serve, saying
they could not stay until the end Of the
meeting Alfred Gawthrop also declined
to serve, and Jerome B. Bell was finally
nominated.
Everything was then ready for the
fun which followed The only drawback
toIthe perfect enjoyment Of the evening
was the absence Of Councilman William
II. Quinn, who would have made
speech, and the painful silence Of Coun-
Gilman Michael J. Sharkey.
Mr.. Ware stated the object Of the
meeting as printed on the mysterious
postal cards Mr.. Given inquired by
whose authority the meeting had been
called and the chairman Areplied that he
did not know.
Jerome B. Bell said THAT several per
sons to whom he had spoken about the
extension Of Delaware avenue had been
favorable to 1t and J.. Eldridge Pierce had
issued the notices.
Councilman Thomas Johnson said that
the men who had called the meeting
ought to explain it. Mr.. Given wanted
to hear from Mr. Pierce.
Mr. Pierce said he read Of the project
In the Sunday Star and considered il a
good one People with whom he had
talked spoke favorably Of il and he had
issued the mysterious postal cards.
Mr. johnson then remarked that some
one should show how much money would
have to be raised and how it could be
done. and whether anyone was in favor
of it.
AR. Bell then said that he was not
ashamed to claim the honor Of originating
the project in his paper. After diligent
search he had found a sentiment in favor
of calling r meeting and with Mr. Pierce
had done so. He prepared the map on
exhibition. Both sides Of the question
were present. According to the city as.
sessment the value Of the property af.
fected was $252, 600 The industrial and
beautifying effect of the improvement
was also dwelt npon.
E. w Pyle. president of the Eden Hall
Company, opposed the project. His com
pany had purchased lot for s., 800. and
contracted for $50, 600 building. The
iron girders and stone for it were ready
and some Of the rooms in the proposed