Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-26
NEW CASTLE MOI A BORROWER.
A Citizens Meeting Squelches the
Proposition to Borrow $4,000

FTOpOSlliOtt ~ DOiioW PooSCSc
For General improvements = Fears of
Heavier Taxes, Opposition to Debt and
Dissatisfaction with the Management
of the Commons Farms, Given as the
Cause OF the Negative Action.
Special Correspondence oi Gazette and journal
New CASTLE, Feb. 2l.-!Thc mass meet
ing called for last night to discuss the adj
visibility of borrowing money for the
general improvement Of the city was az
tended hy over 300 persons. The freehold
ers and citizens defeated every measure
tending towards an effort to improve New
Castle and place her on the list of prosper.
Gus and enterprising cities and towns OF
the country The cause of this is summed
up in these few words: Fear of increased
taxation, opposition TO going in debt, and
dissatisfaction at the way the aiiai1's q the
commons trustees are being conducted.
President o. A. Carrick of city council
called the meeting to order and John +.
Campbell was chosen secretary. The
chairman then read Il statement Of the re-
ceipts and expenditures of council for the
year, which showed the small amount that
was left to appropriate towards repairing
the streets, George w. Eckles moved that
the meeting discuss the question of the
city borrowing $50 goo for improvements.
Edward Challenger said the income of
the city through the commons farms
ought to he sufficient to make the city
what il should be, and he was opposed tp
going in debt. The speaker was greeted
with loud applause.
Mayor Hanson came to the meeting
armed to the teeth with documents, tinan-
cial statements of the city, Nc, He read II
| comparison of the tax rate OF New Castle
| with other Delaware towns and theformer
| was shown to be much below any of the
others. He read list of the needs of the
l..Gaz 1. 4, Ia0
| agreement of the New Castle Water 20,
with the trustees of the New Castle farms
agreeing to furnish pure water and sIli-
| cient quantity in case of fire, for an appro-
priation of $1,000 annually from the time
| the works were established until they are
| self sustaining WAS read. Do we get good
water and the quantity required TO eXtln-
| guished Il fire. was the question asked.
| ILqud cries Of "Som9 Il is claimed that
the water company has been sell sustaining
4 for number Of years and the trustees OF
1 the commons have granted the approprl-
| ton every since.
Henry Foster said that the farms be-
longed to the city and i was an outrage
| that the $4,000 annually, instead of being
appropriated to the city, was thrown into
the water company's hands. lie was op-
| posed to going in debt as long as this state
of affairs existed,
The common, il may be well to explain,
is Il tract 81 land outside tie city willed To
New Castle BIZ William Penn and after
wards divided into nine farms. copy Of
the will was produced, and the portion OF
il providing for 4, board Of trustees 20 be
elected by the people and to manage the
affairs of the farms was read, II is claimed
that the trustees, as stated IN the will, that
they were the representatives of the people
and that the trustees have 10 business IL
enter into Il contract or agreement with Il
private water company.
j. Harry Rogers moved and II was
carried almost unanimously that the city
council be instructed to petition the trus-
tees of the commons to cease paying the
5000 to the water company, and aPpro,
PIRATE the amount to the city. The mayor
then moved that an ave and nay vote be
taken us to whether or not the sentiments
Of the meeting We're in favor of the city
borrowing S500UO. The motion was killed
by Il vote OF almost two to one Then
there were cries like this, sell the com
mons farms, secure the $1,000 paid the
water company that is due the city The
will of Penn says that the common is New
Castles and it will be unlawful to sell Of
dispose of it in amy way There was con
siderable feeling againstthe trustees of the
commons.
Collector Israel Rulings made the motor
of the evening. Ii was that council be in
strucied to draw up bill for presentation
10 Legislature Tor pas sage allowing tollllcl
to pass an ordinance compelling every
property holder in the city, pave half way
Of thestreet III front of his or her property
This it was thought would be endorsed b,
almost everyone present was laid on TIN
table or in other words lost
The meeting was lively one and man,
wrangles took place and several citizen
nearly came sto blows. All that was ac
compfshed III the meeting was the motion
of j. Harry Rogers, referred to above.