Evening journal., 1889-01-25
A BROKEN CONTRACT.
City Council Discusses at Length just
Claim of the Wilmington and Phiiadel-
phia Turnpike Company Petitions aud
Communications.

At the regular session Of City Council
last night, the city treasurer reported
balance IN bank to the credit Of current
expenses Of $l55, 059.77; park fund,
$427. GA received of l.. p. Moody, $745;
NJ j. Mealey, 1928.
A communication from City Solicitor
H. G. Turner stated that he had made
arrangements with the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Turnpike Company for set
Element in their suit against the city.
The terms were to confess Judgment for
300, collection TO be postponed until
next July. Mr.. Quinn explained that the
suit was for damages done the turnpike
and for loss of tolls The city contracted |
with the turnpike company TO cut down |
the turnpike at a certain point, aud leave
il in good condition The cut had been |
made but the stone had not been replaced, !
consequently for long time the turnpike |
was almost impossible and the toll gate
had 20 be thrown open to allow vehicles
that could. to 30 through. The turnpike
company finally repaired the turnpike
itself. The case was ordered settled over
year ago. Mr.. Quinn moved that the
solicitor be authorized to settle the case.
Mr. Sharkey moved TO amend by post
poning the matter for one week. and that
the original petition to have the work
done be read Mr.. Roberts also made
few remarks, and the city solicitor asked
leave to speak. He stated that the con
tract had been made under the regime Of
Levi Garrett, chairman Of the committee
on opening streets. The city contracted
to do the work, but had not done it right.
Then the turnpike company did the
work and the suit was to recover
Mr. johnson and Mr. McMenamin re
membered the bad condition of the road.
Mr. Hawkins said the turnpike lost over
81 600 in the matter. City Solicitor Tur-
ner had 10 explain TO Mr. Mckenny
that the contract had been broken. Mr..
Mcbride and Mr.. Baugh also spoke on
the question, which was the motion to
postpone IL was then put and lost by
vote Of 10 TO 49,
The city solicitor was then, instructed
to settle the case by vote of Fl to 3.
| Before the vote was taken Mr. Quinn
stated that the reason Levi Garrett had
been so lenient TO the contractor, MIR.
/ Keogh. who kept hotel, was because he
| (Garrett) was vender of meat and had
supplied Keogh with beef. Mr.. Sharkey
still objected and Mr.. Bowers favored
the motion.
Mr.. Forrest presented a communica.
tion from William T. Retting, claiming
$25 for damage done to his furniture by
water thrown by the Friendship Fire
Engine Company at the fire at Tenth
street and Railroad avenue ON Sunday
last. He claimed that his house was
twenty wards from the fire and that the
fremen deliberately threw the stream
into his premises After a few remarks
by Mr.. Quinn the communication was
unanimously laid on the table.
p Ford pettioned to have bill
drawn authorizing the sale of part of
the sand lot to him. Ii was referred to
the law committee with instructions to
prepare the bill
A communication was received from
Representative George w. Gray stating
that copies Of the report of the Finance
Committee had been received and distri-
bnted to the members of the General
Assembly. A communication from Sena-
tor John p. Donohoe stated that the bills
in reference to the city had been re-.
ceived
t A communication from George w.
Bush. +. N. Buck. G. w. Weldin and i.
) @. Vandegrift was read. These gentle
men are committee Of the citizens asso-
citation to suggest legislation for the
benefit Of the city They requested a
committee of council TO meet them on
4 SATURDAY evening NJ Ant hiltNN VI AtAdAANAN
e and Vandegrift A motion instructing
p the Legislative Committee of Council ia
5 meet them was amended. The communi
cation was filed, and the citizens com.
mittee asked TO meet Council as com
mittee Of the whole on Saturday evening
next Iat oc ock ia Il Council chamber.
A petition from some OF the largest
firms and corporations of the city was
read urging the reappointment of Fred
! eric H. Robinson as chief engineer OF
+ the Department of Engineering and Sur
I veying. The petition was received and
5 filed.
( Mr. Forrest presented resolution au-
/ thoiizng the city solicitor TO employ as
! sistant counsel TO aid him in the cases
pending before the Superior Court at the
February term.
Mr. Baugh offered the following reso-
luton, which was adopted by a unani-
mously rising vote.
Whereas. in the early morning hours
2 of January 20, 1889, a serious fire oc-
Cured on the property Of Kent Weeks
and others, which necessitated the con
2 tinuous work Of the Fire Department fol
5 over ten hours in the biting wind and
? snow. The men, wet TO the skin and
+ covered with ice, worked with will, feel
e ing the great responsibility devolying
4 upon them, and knowing the great dan
ger that threatened the surrounding
9 property If the fire was not subdued
, quickly
+ And whereas, the engineers and fire
e men Of the department worked not al
D. men work who are doing it for the pay
a they receive, but from the feeling thai
Y they are volunteer firemen, striving Il
II retain the good name that the depart
q ment has, and TO feel that their services
IS given freely as they are, are appreciated
2 by all therefore. be 10
e Resolved, That the City Council il
, session extend its highest praise for tn
+ noble work done upon the occasion by on
Y, worthy firemen And we say to othe
<, cities with pride that the Wilmington
I Fire Department is one of the best in tn
n country We feel it a public duty as tn
4, representatives of the whole city to sa
that they repose the utmost confidence il
ie and feel a safety at the hands of the Fir
"a Department Of this city
y In speaking on the resolution Mr. Quin
1. took occasion to say that he hoped LAY
r would soon be made levying a tax on tn
e. insurance companies represented in thi
d, city to help maintain the Fire Depart
H. ment
f. On motion of Mr. Baugh the city sole
n tor was directed to proceed, at the ne,
Is term Of court, with the case of Broo
\. Foster VS. the city.
]. Counpil then n1iOnrnad