Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19
FOE BETTER STREETS.
City Council Approves the Project to
Borrow S50O,O0O for the Improvement
of fbe streeta.

of the Streets.
At City Councils regular weekly
meeting on Thursday, the special conf
mittee appointed to confer with the cit
izens' meeting, relative to borrowing
$500,000 for the improvement Of the
streets, presented the following report:
A Joint committee of the finance and
law committees would respectfully recon-
mend that the city solicitor be instructed
to draw bill for presentation to the Leg
islature requesting permission to borrow
$500, 1000 for the use of the Street and
Department for the permanent improve
ment of the streets of Wilmington. The
committee respectfully report that they do
not approve the resolution embodied in
the communication from the joint com
mlttee worded as follows THAT the prop
ertv holders abutting on the streets pay
portion of the cost of said Improvement"
Mr.. White said he was opposed to
spending $500,000 in one year, and
asked if such an expenditure would not
result in an increase of taxes.
Mr.. McKenney said he did not think
this amount would be expended in one
year, but this could be regulated when
the bill was brought before Council.
He did not know yet whether he was in
favor of the project or not, although he
signed the committees report in order to
bring the matter before Council. He
favored each member Of Council calling
a public meeting in his ward, so as to
get the sense of the people upon the
question. Ii the people were in favor Of
the project he would be.
Mr.. Baugh said the idea was to spend
only 100000 the first year, and he did
not think the taxes would be increased.
| Mr.. McKenney also said that if this
bill was passed the Street and Sewer
| Department ought TO be increased from
three to five members.
Mr.. Lawson thought that if the bill
was passed the annual increase of the
departments appropriation should be
| stopped. II would amount to over
$132, 900 next year, and if the $500, 900
was also allowed there would be no
need for the annual increase of five per
cent.
Mr.. Perkins said it would be dis
cretionary with Council to issue the
bonds in instalments, 100000 or $780,
600 at time.
Mr.. Curren moved to postpone for
one week. Lost.
The committees report was then
adopted by the following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Baugh, Beale, Cotton,
Curren, Lawson, McKenney, Perkins,
President Farra-9.
Nays-Messrs. Hawkins, Magee, Shar-
key, White-4.
The ordinances to issue sinking fund
bonds and to make an extraordinary APP
preparation of $1,000 for the construc-
ton of a branch Of the intercepting
sewer were returned with the mayors
approval.
The city treasurer reported, balance
in bank to the account Of current ex-
penses, $106,517.49; special fund, $12,-
S4062; total, $119,36711. Receipts Of
the week Collector Mealey, $3.50; Col
lector Moody, $235.
The school boards appropriation for
February, $s,691.66, was directed to be
drawn.
Mr.. Magee offered resolution re-
questing the city solicitor to prepare a
bill for the payment by the State to the
city of two-thirds of the money paid in
this city for liquor licenses, to be applied
TO the payment of interest on the city
debt. Adopted.
Council then adjourned.