Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-22
WANTS SlLYERBROOK CONDEMNED.
Peter J. Ford's Appeal to the street
and Sewer Directors.

water Right III 15-inch Pipe Is Kun
to the Big Mill.
Director Gawthrop was absent from
/, the meeting of the Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department, Tuesday
night.
The balance in hand to the credit Of
current expenses was reported to be
$1S,S45.SS; intercepting sewer, 1924,
746.97. Auditor John A. Mitchell re-
ported collections of liens amounting to
$4374; Secretary Carpenter, permits,
&c, $3.50. The weekly payroll, amount
ing to S14922, was passed.
Peter j. Ford of the Ford Morocco
Company, and Willard Salisbury, Jr.,
Esq, representing the Jessup & Moore
Company, owners of the Delaware pulp
works, were present to discuss the
matter of the condemnation of Silver
brook as sewer.
President Carpenter picked up COM
munication regarding the matter from
Peter J. Ford, and handed it to the sec
rotary to read. The secretary began
the reading, but soon turned it over to
Mr. Ford, who finished it. The com
munication gives Mr.. Ford's views in
detail and is as follows;
the sewer, commonly known as Silver
brook comes before your honorable body
for consideration, this evening, | submit
the following as proper reasons why it
should be condemned:
First-That the natural growth of the
city must necessarily and does certainly
pollute and discharge large quantities OF
sewage into the said stream.
Second-That all landowners contiguous
TO the boundaries of the city must be bene-
fitted, and the value of their lands have
been enhanced by the present city growth,
to the extent that it is selling at the rate of
from $1,000 to 5000 per acre, and the
more rapid advancement of the city is
being retarded from the fact that persons
cannot locate manufactures on the stream
excent at the risk of a suit at law.
Third. The property along this stream
will be further enhanced in value by the
condemnation Of this stream by the loca-
ton OF more manufactures and houses
along this stream.
Fourth That the promotion Of thee
growth is fundamental feature to be CON
sidered for whatever tends to the natural
and healthy growth of a city adds to the
general prosperity of its citizens.
desire to make a few remarks in answer
to an article i'll one of our papers, which
evidently emanated from the owners of
the pulp works, the other plaintiffs in
the suit against us, not having cent to
eNpend. They say that the farmers along
the stream will fight. Be that as it may
they have had plenty of opportunity to
have manifested their feelings and so far
not one farmer or any other persons except
the .Iessup n Moore Co. and the foremens
Joseph and isaac have shown any dis
position to obstruct the advancement of
the city improvements.
Now, in regards to them, the Foreman
homestead, which comprises about 100
acres of barren land, which for farm pur-
purposes would not sell at over S35 per
acre and this assertion is borne ont from
the fact that the improvements on said
farm are very poor fences, an old partly
brick and stone house with tumble down
shed and barn that seems be on herapid
road to decay. This is the result of lO0years
of the enterprise of the Foreman family;
nevertheless, this land is, believe selling
at prices equal to city lots or at $1,000 to
$1,000 per acre, and not more than 10 acres
of this farm is dependent on this stream,
and that land never was or can be TILED
Another plaintiff is DIR. Stidham Il resi-
dent of Philadelphia, who owns a farm of
about 100 acres For farm purposes it is
slight Improvement on the Foreman farm,
This land is Immediately adjoining the
city, and the city is now grading the
streets within 10 feet of the northwesterly
end of this farm, This farm escapes city
taxation, but derives as much benefit as
the adjoining farm which is in the CITY.
The portion of this farm bordering on the
stream is few hundred feet at the south
west end of the farm. 1t is barren and
rocky. Still, this man, who lives in Penn
sylyania, will not SET a price on his land.
For farm purposes well-known farmer
says, in its present condition, it would
bring about 40 per acre. dare say it
could not be bought as a whole for less
than = GOO per acre. Il is two minutes
walk from Front and Union streets and
directly parallel with the proposed New
street railway to Elsmere. This farm is
occupied by thrifty farmer named
Pardee Foreman.
The Jessup Il Moore Co., you know as
one of the largest corporations in this
country, and the owners, ! believe, eXpend
the enormous profits of their plants in
this county, in Europe. 1t is said tile
PUN works in this city alone, net them
100000 profits per year, and although
they claim the plant is worth S5uO,OO0
would be glad to put up the building for
S600O0, and $4,000 for machinery is a
considerable quantity. They are also con-
tguous TO the city and benefit more or less
and the escape of city taxation; still if
their plant is as valuable rs they claim,
with all the advantages close proximity to
the city affords them, they should not mt
least be a hindrance to the advancement
of the city's and citizens material inter
fsts, when for the paltry 90 theml sum Of
$4,000 they can Secure tho right Of way
and elegant water rights with Ii acres OF
land and have water pipes laid right into
their works. This would forever dispose
Of any possibility of their ever being an
noyed again. Hoping III view Of these
facts. You will present the matter to the
Legislature IN It's proper light, | am re-
specttully yours, PETER j. FORD,
After MIR. Ford had read the commu-
nieation, he gave the following figures:
The pulp works, valued al $4,000 and
assessed at $4,000, paid an annual tax
Of S639'OT; Foreman property, $50 acres
pays $6Ss2 tax; Stidham farm, owned
by Philadelphia, and worth $1,000
an acre pays tax of S42.1S.
Mr.. Ford said that his idea was 10
petition the Legislature to pass d bill
2 appointing commission to assess dam
ages and condemn the stream for sewer
purposes.
Director Murray asked whether, in
view OF the fact that only part Of the
streams affected We're within the city
limits, the Street and Sewer Department
was the proper body to make the petit
ton. Mr.. Carpenter replied that the city
solicitor would express an opinion on
that.
Mr. Salisbury then made few re.
marks. lie said that he heard that d
memorial was to be presented and came
around to see what it was. He was
sorry for Mr.. Fords unfortunate speeu-
lations. EIc bought property at Silver
brook and then had a new ward made,
which had gone Republican. Mr.. Sauls-
bury intimated that Mr.. Ford wanted
the earth run for his benefit. lie
thought ii an outrage that for the benefit
Of one man long established industry,
nnnlnNinr NANNY hnnIs shnnld IN, 1,,,,.