Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-13

special meeting OF the Directors OF the |
Street and Sewer Department was held Fri
night week, to hear expressions of opinion
from property owners opposed TO, and in
favor OF the granting of the petition of the
Wilmington City Passenger Railway Com
pany, for permission to erect poles and
wires for the extension of its electric line
out Delaware avenue.
Among those present in addition to the
Directors of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment, were the following Delaware avenue
property owners, and directors or stock
holders in the railroad company: William
g. Spruance, ESQ, William N; Candy, :.
J, Wiley, G. W Goucr, u. W. Taylor,
Washington Jones, A. d. Warner, Presi-
dent William Candy of the railroad COM
reny, Charles S. Rowland, Superintendent
II. II, Archer and General Manager Il. w.
Heald of the railroad company. Captain
Charles II. Smith Preston Lea, George w.
Bush, W. q. Whiteloy, Edward Belts,
Thomas S. Bellah.
William G. Spruance, Esq, and William
III Candy We're the spokesman of the prop.
orty and the principal directors, and
makers of suggestions General Manager
Head and President Candy spoke for the
railroad company i soon developed that
no one, not even Messrs. Spruance and
Candy, objected TO the extension Of the
electric line out Delaware avenue. On the
contrary they wanted it.
no one objected to the trolley and cross
wires and tile poles to hold Them il being
conceded that these were necessary evils.
The points discussed We're the kind OF
poles to be used, and the feed wire,
The project of poles i'll the centre OF the
street, between the tracks, was discussed
Mr.. Head explained that the space be
tween the tracks was too narrow for poles
They would be dangerous. The street was
too narrow and the expense too great to
move the tracks further apart.
Messrs. Spruance and Candy suggested
that the feed wire be run along Gilpin
avenue. The trolley wires would have to
be fed at six places along the avenue and
the feed wire would have to run through
side streets to Delaware avenue, This
would require extra poles and wire, and
the property owners on the side streets
would object, for they have rs many trees
as Delaware avenue.
Mr.. Wiley asked what right people on
Delaware avenue had to force the feed
wire to be put on Gilpin avenue. MIR.
Spruance said that there were better
houses on Delaware avenue. Most of the
Delaware avenue lots extended through TO
Gilpin avenue where there were stabes,ash
barrels, &c. This had prevented the cree
ton of many fine houses on the north side
of Gilpin avenue.
George w. Bush suggested that line Of
cars be run up DUPONT street TO Eighth TO
connect with the line there, hut no one
approved the suggestion. They wanted
the line on the avenue.
When asked what objection he had to
the feed wire being on Delaware avenue,
Mr. Spruance said that if it had to be put
there, il should be put on the south side,
on account of the trees and more numGr-
Gus residences on the north side But in
the future there would be more trees on
the south side, and it should not be put on
either side
lir. Head explained that the feed wire
was heavily insulated and the trees would
not have to be trimmed for it. Captain
Smith stated that bare wire of the cleo
trio company ran through trees that had
not been trimmed for four years.
MIR. Bellah, who lives on the south side
of the avenue, said that he had no obicc-
ton to having the feed wire there pro
vided south-siders We're provided with
passes. A. d. Warner had no objection
either.
MIR. Warner presented the following
petition to the department
The undersigned, residents Of this city on
the main line Of the Wilmington City Passen-
ger Railway Company, on Delaware avenue or
contiguous TO it, with the constant necessity uf
using the cars Of this company, do most
earnestly petition your department to grant
the privilege Of extending their electrical sys-
TEN OF railway IN Delaware avenue as recently
asked for by them. his extension will rot
only materially shorten the time from TINT now
required but viii remove the necessity Tor
horses in the laborious work Of street ear
traffic. Signed by Il. q. Thatcher, Lea Pnsey.
e, NJ hump, y 2; stewart, W Hastings, y II
T. Candy F. H.. Webb, 5. Il. Warner, C. 3.
Lore Charles Il. Jones, VIM Beaienkopf A..
D. Warner, James L. De You, 3 c Johnson,
seott, John S1es ,ione4 + +. Matiack, Charles Il.
Miller, James Bailey, Ellwood G. jackson.
Mr.. Spruance offered for the considcra-
ton Of the department, a resolution asking
for the granting Of the petition Of tile raj
trond company, on the following COndi-
ltious That the poles he OF wood, 0cta-on
: in shape, dressed, painted, and grouipd
firmly in the ground, and that tile feed
wire be placed on Gilpin avenue.
This brought up the subject Of poles. 1t
was learned that the wooden poles cost
about 81 and the iron poles about $40 ana
the wooden ones were the best. II would
require about three TO a block. Mcssr>.
Gouert and Cauby preferred iron poles TOR
their more handsome appearance. Mr..
Bellah asked if those who desire could IUt
in iron poles and was told that they could
by paying the difference in price
Mr.. Head explained that wood was n
non-conductor. therefore the wooden poles
were preferable the cross wires were
always insulated at the poles, but m a wet
or sleety day there was sufficient rakugl
from ain iron pile. 'rhe leakage If tht
current down iron poles on wet days WAS
sufficient to cause difference IN the run
ming Of the cars.
II was suggested that Tie tops Of tht
polcs could he Of wood, MIR, Archer ~uiJ
that this had been tried, liiit on raiBv III
sleeiy days the current still made q shari
circuit or leaked over the wooden plU! ID
the iron pole
d. w. Taylor said that wooden polp,
were being erected in Minneapolis and n
Panl, and they were being substituted i0l
Director Gewtirop said that the fran
chise of the new rupd iu hester prDyjnUT