Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-12
NEW CASTLE COMMONS.
Election of Officers for the Ensuing Year
discussing the $4,000 Annual Rental
Paid to the water Works Company
n.I,n,, Una;nnsa

Election of Officers for the Ensuing Year
discussing the sR;S, 900 Annual Rental
Paid to the Water Works Company
Other Business.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
NEW CASTLE, March 6.--'fhe Trustees of
the New Castle Common held their most
important meeting Of the year last night.
Dr. j. j Black presided, with the follow
ing other members present: Messrs. Rod
ney, Mahoney, Maxwell, Shaw, Ferris,
Challenger, Borie and T0man. AS il was
the annual meeting, the election of officers
for the ensuing year was gone into. Dr.
Black was unanimously chosen president.
For the office of secretary and treasurer
there were three nominations, William
Herbert, Michael King and w. j. Ferris:
Herbert received two votes King one and
Ferris seven The latter was declared
elected. John @. Mahoney, Michael King
and George A. Maxwell were elected as
members of the acting committee whose
duty il is to look after the interests of the
nine commons farms. As the Office of
secretary and treasurer was merged into
one by the election of Secretary Ferris to
the treasurcrship, Mr. Challenger moved
that the salary be reduced $50, which will
make it $3.50 per year for both Offices. This
was adopted.
'rhe secretary was instructed to draw
orders for the salaries for the treasurer,
y
annual appropriation was granted John n.
N.Platt, for keeping the city clock in repair
The new treasurer was requested to keep
set of books and also give bond for $1,000
A committee consisting of Messrs. Rodney
and Maxwell was appointed to look after
them. The bank account was also ordered
to be kept in the name of the treasurer of
the trustees of New Castle Common.
Messrs. Challenger and Ferris were ap-
pointed by the chair to credit the accounts
of the late Treasurer William Herbert.
Several applications for the position of
ianitor of the commons chamber were
read, and Bennett +. Lancaster was chosen
for the office. Messrs. Rodney and Ferris
who We're appointed to draft suitable reso-
lutions on the death Of Paul Barr, late
janitor, reported; the resolutions were
read, accepted, ordered spread on the min
utes and copy forwarded to the family of
the deceased.
Mr.. Challenger, chairman of the COM
mittee on public buildings, read his annual
statement and asked for an appropriation
of SO to make minor repairs to the city
hall. The statement was accepted and the
amount desired granted.
The matter of renting the Penn farm
from March 25th next was referred to the
acting committee with instructions to rent
it to the best advantage and report at
future meeting. A communication from
ministrators of Louis B. McElwee whose
family are the present tenants of the above
farm, asking that the rent, S775.50, might
be reduced to $500 for the past year for tho
benefit of the widow, who, the letter stated,
would be left almost penniless after the
rent was paid, was read and also referred
to the acting committee to investigate and
report.
The secretary read communication
from city council, referring bill for rent
of the Lenape Fire Company's headquar-
ters, $3.50 for the year, to the trustees for
payment. According to an agreement the
fire company is allowed an appropriation
of $500 annually including the above $3.50
from the commons. Mr.. Tomun claimed
that they had received none of the money
for over year. The chair appointed
Alessrs. Challenger and Ferris to investi-
gate the above matters and report at the
next meeting.
The statement of the fire company from
March LIST, 1889, to March 1st, 1901, show
ing the total receipts as S5l3.0S and a
balance on hand of S170.32 was also read.
Mr.. Mahoney presented drawings and
specifications which he had executed for
the new barns that have been erected on
several of the farms, and he was allowed
SIS for the work. A bill of $50 from the
trustees of the market square for one years $
rent of the commons chamber was ordered
paid by the treasurer.
There was some misunderstanding be-
tween the members Of the acting commit
tee in regard to a bill of J. Il. and l.. Il.
Eliason for lumber, and the matter was
laid over until the next meeting for APP
proval.
The semi-annual appropriation of 81, 800
to the New Castle Water Works Company
due January lst was ordered to he paid.
This is the subject it will he remembered
that was so ably protested against at the
citizens meeting held two weeks ago. The
agreement between the trustees of the
common and the Water Works Company
in regard to the annual appropriation of
$4,000 is summed up as follows: The com
mon agreed to pay annually the above sum
to the Water Company from the time the
works were established until the revenue
from the said works exceeded 5000, or
until the Water Company failed to give
sufficient quantity of water in case of fire.
The latter it is claimed has never been
lived up to. According to the report of the
Water Company for the past year the re-
ceipts have been but 50, ,10S over the rum
ming expenses, not up to the $1,000 mark,
and of course the matter of cutting off the
appropriation could not be acted upon,
ut the meeting Last years reports of
the financial condition of the
company showed the amount of water
rents unpaid as $500, and the operating
tAIltilSe hIlu ltltTtdse pI H6drly
$1,000 over the preceding year. The past
years running expenses were declared in
loud terms by both Messrs. Rodney and
Challenger to be extortionate and that the
voice Of the people demanded that these
things should be Investigated at once, and
on motion Of Mr.. Challenger committee,
consisting of Messrs, Maxwell and Challen-
ger, was appointed to examine the books
of the water company, as to their correct
ness and present full report at the April
meeting, when the matter will be more
fully discussed Every citizen who has the
interests Of the city at heart will rejoice at
this action Of the commons. The meeting
adjourned at 1915 o'clock.
Robert G. Gordon and William j.
Hunter will hold the election for three
members Of the board of education to-
morrow. The polls at the Old Court House
will open at and close at p. M. Both
factions of citizens reform party have
agreed on the two tickets mentioned yes
terday, and il is likely that there will be
quite contest. William c. Worthington
who is on both tickets will no doubt be
elected.
The members whose term of three years
expires are Messrs. Worthington, c. W.
Eckles and George NJ. Riley. Both the
former are candidates for reelection.
SEIZURE BT THE SHERIFF..