Evening journal., 1890-08-09
TRUSTEES OF THE COMMON
THE COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER
THEY CAN SELL The LAND.

DR. bAcDeflttS Request Zoe Land Refused
Because tho Trustees Can Not sen the
improvements TO the causeway
Completed.
Special Correspondence EvEsISo JOURNAL
NEW CASTLE, August 9.-The Trus-
tees Of the Common met in special sss-
sion last evening and, after passing
some bills for repairs to Model, jefferson
and Penn farms, tho report Of the spe-
cial committee appointed to con fer with
James McDevitt was read by the chair
man, John H. Rodney, Esq. The report
stated that after careful consideration.
the committee had decided that Mr.. Nc
Dewitt wanted the land, on which to
establish his plant for the separation
and recovery of original metal from tin
| plate, for a greater length of time and
with clearer title than the board was
| legally able TO give.
| TtMr. McDevitt, who had bean asked to
attend the meeting, made few remarks,
stating that he did not intend to ask any
thing illegal from the trustees, and that
while they would have nothing to lose,
the chances are, that it would be more
| profitable move than they had ever made
| inasmuch as the establishment in q few
/ fEaio WuuAA AuJtbNbc III Nblut lub sur
rounding property to more than three
times its present worth The report Of
the committee was adopted, the mem bers
of the board assuring Mr. McDevitt that
while they reflected nothing on his pat
ent, his plans, or his character. they did
net feel at liberty, as trustees of the
land, to grant his request. or allow the
/ land to pass into other hands.
William II. Clark appesfed before the
board and asked for a reduction Of 81 per
acre. in the rent of several lots which he
now holds, and on which the crops had
been very poor for the past two years.
On motion of Mr.. Maxwell the rent was
| reduced.
In the deed to the twelve farms, known
as the New Castle Common, which were
| given 20 the town by William Penn in
| 1887, a clause states that the land shall
nevsr be sold. For several years, however,
the land has been paying very little, and
many citizens have expressed the opinion
that, as the land is very fertils, it should
be sold, and the money received from the
sale expended on several public institu-
tions, improving the streets, and in
many other ways that could make the
city both beautiful and comfortable, For
this reason the question as to whether the
land can be sold or not has been taken
into the courts and will be brought up
in the Court of Errors and Appeals at
Dover in January next, when final de-
cision in the matter will be made, and
the trustees will, no doubt, be empow-
cred to sell the land at any time aud on
any conditions. 1t is believed by many
prominent citizens that the intention of
Penn was to give the people of the town
Ill &c lcv,I NH ol .
feet liberty to pasture their stock on,
cultivate and raise produce. His idea
was, it is thought, to have it exactly
like the old English common.
Large Contract Completed.
Allison Truitt completed the work OF
cutting three canals along the causeway
below Dobbinsville known as the river
road, last evening. The work has re-
quired large force of men, which has
been engaged for several weeks. One
canal, thirteen feet wide. was cut on thu
western side OF the road, running from
the avenue leading to the Riverside Roll
ing Mills to Armstrong; creek. On the
other side Of the creek two canals, each
thirteen feet wide, were cut, and run
from that point down the causeway to a
turn, several hundred yards below
These canals will drain the marshes in that
J locality and greatly improve them making
several acres tillable. The earth that
has been dug from them has been thrown
on the caussway, and leveled and packed
Ia few weeks this will be covered with
cinders and furnace Stag. When this is
completed the road will be splendid one,
and will have an elevation of two feet
above high water mark in the river,
thus making it impossible for On ordi
nary storm to submerge it. This was
! done last winter and for weeks the road
could not be travelled over at high water.
The great Improvements to this road will
be OF almost priceless bene6a to the
farmers and everybody who have to
U travel over It.
A number of New Castle people, mem
3 bers or admirers of the G. A. R., will
leave on Monday next for Boston, to
attend the national encampment in that
city. Many young people will also avail
themselves of this opportunity to visit
y the Hub Joseph E. Vantins and
wife, Ira Lunt and wife Eihu Wallace
D and wife will leave on the g. 5 train on
Monday morning. They will remain
until the close of the encampmsnt.
Nearly every available hack or convey.
ance has been engaged to carry people
= from this city to Brandywine Summit
II Camp tomorrow. Last year severa
hundred people attended the camp from
' lere on big Sunday, and it is thought
. that the interest has not fallen of
great deal this year.
j. Walter johnson has established
n rapid transit stage line running to all
y steamboat landings and stations.
Rev. DR.. Hubbard has returned from
j the Woodlawn Temperance Camp, wher,
d he delivered lecture yesterday.
The Riverside Rolling Mills shut dowI
!, this morning for repairs, and will prob
ably remain closed for several days. L
was rumored that there was some diff
Guilty between the firm and its employees
n but inquiry made at the office elected tn
I fact that there was no truth whatever il
. the report, and that the mills were oHl,
closed while some necessary repair:
4 were being made.
d Mrs DR.. Merritt and John Merritt ar,
}. visiting relatives in Warren, Pa.
Mrs ]. B. Manleve is visiting relatives
near Mt. Pleasant.
} The election of delegates to the Demo-
!. cratic State Convention will be held a
y the old Court house this afternoon.
e The ATLAS GAME POSTPONED.
j, Camping sParties-A Handsome zach