Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-23
THE rARKwAr coNrRAcE
Awarded Friday Morning to Thomas II.
sopnell of Philadelphia.

op"eii OF futiauetpnfa.
At the meeting of the Park Commission
on Friday the bids for construction oil
the new parkway were read. They were
as follows: Thomas II. Connell, Philadel
phia, s15,0346s; r. A. Woodbury.
SIS, S4.12; John Jacoby. $40, 226.S5. There
were innumerable details in the specifica-
tons. The different bids for macadam
were as follows Connell, 47l cents; Wood
bury, 6I3 cents; Jacoby, 10 cents. The
contract requires 10 inches of macadam in
the middle of the roadway and 6 inches at
the sides, The total quantity is Il, i9i
square yards and Councils bid on this the
chief item is So, 742.15 The grading bids
were: Council, % cents; Woodbury., 3it
cents Jacoby, IS cents.
President Candy expressed great satisfac-
ton over the amount of the lowest bid, as
did other members of the board. 1t was
stated in explanation of the disparity be-
tween the totals of the bids that MFR. Con-
nell possesses steam roller and other ap-
paratus, and, being large contractor for
the B. & o. railroad, has it in his power to
greatly underbid his competitors.
On the motion of President of Council
John G. Farra the contract was awarded
Thomas II. Council at the figures So 034.6S.
Mr., Council has informed the COM
mission that he is ready to go to work at
once and believes he can finish the
the commission were, however, averse to
any hurried work, preferring that the
paving, &c. get time to properly settle.
The limit Of time is September list.
These parkway improvements cover the
following stretches of roadway: From the
junction of Scott and Riddles road to the
junction of Lowering avenue and Union
street, the length of Lowering avenue,
through the Riddle estate "a double road
to Rockford lane; also a road between
Lowering and tiilpin avenues, the total
covering about 5000 feet.
The construction of this roadway Is
likely to give great impetus to real es-
tate tran sactions in the immediate vicin-
ity, particularly with respect to the tract
known as kentmcre, which fronts along
a considerable portion of the proposed
road. kentmere was recently put into the
market, and has caused an active move
ment i'll the real estate dealings of that sec
ton. 4 move is now being made ia have
it brought within the city limits, or if this
is not done to have the city surveying de-
partment authorized to give the proper
grade and building lines for the streets
that extend through the tract.
The roadway will be 100 feet in width,
and as il is proposed TO have the houses on
each side stand back % feet from the road
lines, the effect will he that of grand
boulevard, 200 feet wide On each side Of
the road will be driveway of macadam,
20 feet wide, the space intervening To be
laid ont in grass plots, with trees and
shrubbery. The entire length of the road
will be about 6,0O0 feet, extending from
Riddles Road to Rockford Lane, sweeping
with a graceful curve around the addition
to the city park donated by William i.
Bancroft.
The line of the road is at present scene
OF great activity, as canaclouS sewers are
being laid ON either side under the direc
ton of Engineer +. Chalkley Hatton of the
street and Sewer Department. In addition
six-inch drain tile will also be laid for sur
face drainage. Along the Kentmere front,
at regular distances of 80 feet, branches
will be laid for house connections, and as
all of the lots along here are so feet front
age, this will provide a separate connec-
ton for each house. These sewers,
together with one coming from the south,
converge into an admirably arranged in
tercepter constructed by Engineer Hatton
from plans of similar intercepters largely
used in English cities, but for the first
time introduced in this country, II will
amply provide for the reception and proper
distribution of all sewage flow uniting at
this point, and from the tests already made
bids fair to work in a successful manner.
The old parsonage of st. James Catholic
Church which property is now part of
the Brandywine Park; has been utilized as
an office for Major Samuel Candy, park
engineer, and his staff, and answers the
purpose admirably, being rpomy and well
lighted. The coming summer will be
busy one, as far as park work is concerned,
and the result is expected to show great
improvement in this beautiful pleasure
ground OF the Wilmington public.