Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-22
CITIZENS IN OPEN DEBATE.
a wrangie in the Street and Sewer De
pnrtment Rooms Monday Nioht

pnrtment Rooms Monday Night.
A delegation of residents from the
new Eleventh ward filed into the head
quarters, of the Board of Street and
Sewer Directors Tuesday night and asked
for hearing upon the matter of street
Improvement. A petition over u yard
long preceded the delegation, and when
the board had assembled the residents
were there to meet the issue. Josiah
Laurence was their spokesman, and he
referred to the board the improvements
asked for in the petition, as follows /:
That Maryland avenue be graded from
sixth avenue to city limits; be brought
70 grade and the stone thereupon be
placed on Brown and Cedar streets; that
tree in front CT Michael Costello's
mouse, on Seventh avenue, be removed;
that a sidewalk be laid on Seventh
avenue, from Duncan to Brown streets;
that Fifth and Sixth avenues be brought
TO grade; that Cedar street from Mary
land avenue to Brown be paved with
Belgian blocks.
Everything moved peacefully and
serene in the department while MIR.
Laurence was speaking until the speaker
referred TO the trees in front of the resi-
dence of Michael Costello, on Seventh
avenue near Brown street. The speaker
said, the trees had long been an obstruc-
ton to passing teams and repeated
efforts had failed to induce Costello to
cut them down. This considerably
nettled Mr.. Costello. He could endure
the mention of the other Instructions In
the ward, but when the speaker referred
to the sacred oaks, studding his resi-
dence as an Objectionable and danger
Gus obstruction to vehicles passingalong
the avenue, he boiled over with rage.
jumping to his feet and approaching
Mr.. Laurence he pointed his digits at
that gentleman and in loud, sonorous
tones informed Mr.. Laurence that his
trees were not nuisance and that the
speaker failed to comprehend what he
was talking about, If he denounced his
lCostello's) trees as an obstruction. He
tCostello) always paid his taxes
promptly, whenever urged by the tax
gatherer to do SO, and that was more
than some of his neighbors could truth
fully say. He also paid more taxes than
any member in the ward, and it was to
be distinctly understood that he strenu-
ously opposed the movement to cut
down those trees. If Mr.. Laurence
would attend to street improvement and
aid In helping the ward along and never
mind his trees, he thought that gentle
man would do more good for his ward.
The heated argument caused sensa-
sation in the Street and Sewer Depart
ment rooms, and while the debate was
in progress the members of the board
suspended business. The Board of
Health meeting was just over, and
hearing the Juror in the department
across the corridor they hurried into
the meeting which was already con
vulsed with laughter. The directors
told the delegation that they were
pleased TO learn of the interest taken In
public matters by the residents and
they, the directors, would see to it that
the improvements were made as soon as
practicable.
Ex-City Auditor ]. Frank Ball re-
ported collections Of all liens amounting
to $306.24 in full. Permission was
given the Homeopathic Hospital to drain
tho hospital. The bond Of the Will
mington Coal Gas Company was salts
fed. The auditors assessment for tele-
graph poles amounted TO $1,973.75. The
bond of John Jacoby for faithful per-
formance of duty in paving, with
Patrick Carberry as surety, was ac-
cepted.
Permission was given the Hartmann
& Fehrenbach Brewing Company to
enter the intercepting sewer at cost Of
$6O0.28. The company had been asked
to pay $1,000 for the privilege, and the
board claimed that the late Messrs.
Hartmann q Fehrenbach had offered as
high as $4,000, but Messrs. Carpenter
and Chambers thought that according
to law, only SCOOPS could be reasonably
charged.