Evening journal., 1889-08-03
"YE ANCIENT T0WNE.7
A GENERAL LIST OF IMPROVE
MENTS NEEDED THERE.


Meeting Of City Council.
Special correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
NEW CASTLE, August 3-There is
little news in New Castle at present.
Among the many improvements needed
perhaps the pavements are the first. 1t
is almost impossible for anyone not
familiar with the city to walk out at
night without stumbling. especially on
certain streets. On Water street be-
tween Delaware and Harmony, on Market
street between Harmony and Chestnut,
on Delaware, Vine and Sixth streets the
condition of the pavements is terrible
The cutters also need extensive repairs.
Most of them are either in muddy con-
dition or the bricks are sunken.
Safety gates should be placed at the
railroad crossing at the depot, on the
road to Dobbinsville, across Delaware
street AS it is, there is not gate in
the city. At meeting of City Council
a few months ago the subject Of compel
ling the railroad company to place these
gates at the crossings was considered,
but as yet nothing has been done in that
direction.
Something was said during last winter
in regard TO the advantage and accommo
dation it would be for the people here If
the railroad company would erect shed
over their platform at the battery.
People are compelled to stand on that
platform awaiting the arrival Of trains
in both sun and rain 1t is very unpleas-
ant an the winter time to have to wait
even for few minutes, on this platform
for Jrain. AS stated in a letter last
week a shed over the steamboat landing
la I
and one which would be heartily appre-
ciated by the citizens and by the steam.
boat companies whose steamers touch
here
To made the New Castle harbor con
venient one both sides of 1t should be
dredged out and the middle pier removed .
This pier is a source of annoyance to the
steamers which come to this wharf
A reading room in the city would be
very much appreciated during the coming
winter. There is seldom anything going
on during the long evenings.
The Methodist church is about to un-
dergo extensive repairs. In speaking of
improvements it would not be amiss to
hint that there is great deal of room
for improvement in the different church
choirs of the city. At all the churches
except the NJ +. church. there is lack
of alto singing, while in that church
there is often too much alto. The want
of male voices is greatly felt in all the
choirs.
There is crying need for a systematic
FIRE service. New Castle has one of the
best fire apparatus in the state and many
good firemen. They have no horses,
however, and whenever ERE breaks out
the engine has to wait until enough peo-
pie gather at the fire eompany's head
quarters to draw the engine to the fire.
The city could afford to purchase tnree
horses and engage a man to attend to the
room, horses, engine, etc. The head
quarters of the Lenape Fire Company
are very convenient and situated in the
most accessible portion Of the city
Another thing needed is a livery stable
with all the different teams necessary tC
accommodate the public. First class
single teams may be hired here but It Is
impossible to hire double team of any
kind.
small street market where vegetables
country produce, etc, could be bought
would be very handy for the housekeep-
ers.
1t would be a great thing for New
Castle If the B. q o., or some other rail.
road company would run track to this
city in opposition to the p, w. & B rail
road company. Perhaps il they did, this
company would pay little attention to
accommodation and comforts of the pub
lie A drink Of water cannot be obtained
within several squares of the railroad
/ station.
A good deal of improvement could at
one time have been made in the training
of some of the girls who make a practice
of walking the streets both at night and
day. and acquainting themselves with
any strange men whom they may meet
More police officers are needed here One
for Dohbinsville, one for Shawtown and
another for New Castle. 1t would take
one officers time almost entirely up
to keep the crowds off of the corners
and along DR.. Leslies lane
1t would take good part of another's
time to keep the colored girls quiet who
walk the streets at night using insulting,
profane and indecent language and TO
keep the colored men away from Frazier
store and the Gilpin House arch.
Last. but not least, New Castle needs
some one to enforce the cattle ordinance
They still roam within the city limits.
The City Council met last evening in
Mayor Hanson's office, with President
James B. Lancaster in the chair. The
members present were Messrs. Herbert,
King, Lancaster and Clerk Frank E.
Herbert.
The following bills were brought up
and ordered paid: William ]. Hunter,
crossing stone and fagstone. $47 So;
William A. Gordon, oyster shells, 81
John NJ Burke, work on streets, $11.25;
David Bryson. putting down crossing,
| IS 90; Wilson s. Baymore, laying cross.
ing, $l3 80; Alvan Allen, 1000 hard
brick, $17.60; New Castle Brick and Lime
Manufacturing Company, bricks, $14, 40;
New Castle Gas Company streets lamps
gas, $202 90; Platt & ELLINGTON, sup
| plies for mayors Office, $21. .46.
The report Of Mayor Hanson was read.
1t showed that only 81 for licenses had
| been collected during the past month.
Mr.. Lancaster reported that the Lamp
Committee had received one dozen globes
from Joseph Minor & Sons OF New York,
for the street lamps.
Mr.. Herbert reported that the amount
of money In bank to the credit Of the city
is $946 81.
Tax Collector Barr stated that the
superintendent of the Delaware railroad
had written TO him and asked him about
the assessment of 500, 900 on the old
Frenchtown railroad. The matter was
referred to the Finance Committee.
Receipts were read from William j.
Ferris, city treasurer, for 81, 900 for the
school and city taxes.
The ordinance preventing the cattle