Evening journal., 1891-02-04
FOR IMPROVED STREETS.
CITIZENS DISCUSS THE CONDITION
OF TIE STREETS.


by the street aud sewer Department.
Upwards OF 100 business and profes
sionsl men met in the Board OF Trade
rooms last evening to consider the pro :
priety Of asking the Legislature for
$500. 600 appropriation, TO be expended in
improving the streets of Wilmington.
Among those present were: William T.
Porter. D. w. Taylor, w Il. Lungren,
William Candy. :. L Simmons, A. s.
Reed. Otho Nowland, Samuel Speakman.
w H. Campbell. David Lemon. Patrick
Neary John Pyle, s y Forbes, Charles
Carton. Milo W Locke, William T Fl ck-
man, William NJ Cenbv. George & LobdeIl.
Thomas Davis, Caleb p Johnson
Nathaniel Davis, Il A. Miller, g New
bold Trump. Christian Febiger Mark NJ
Cleaver, William H Fouk. George VI.
Bush, John @ Farra, George A. Elliott,
William II. Pieison samuel Candy. s. A.
Garland. B. Frank Townsend Francis Il.
Gallagher, William Lawton. William
Dupont, Dennis j Mention, James r.
Casperson, James A Magee, Allen Speak
man. J. l. DeVou John P. McLear. II.
t. Cause DIR. J. p Pyle, Il L. Warner.
Henry Evans, J. a. McCsulley, z. James
Belt, Granville Worrell, William Belts
d. w Harlan, W. II. Kennard. Dr. ]
Fl Rile q A. Robinson, DR. E q. Short
lidge. Mayor Austin Harrington, w. l.
Jetfaris, John Wainwright, Peter J
Ford, Dr.. Fl. r Stubbs, John Banning.
J g Pickels, G.. B. Smythe. Harlan
Cause. DR. W. n Burr, A. b Warner.
Preston Lea, +. 3. Cotton, | b Philips,
T. Chalkley Hatton.
William f Porter was made chairman
and D w. Taylor secretary of the meet
ing Mr. Porter in few words stated
the object Of the meeting. aud made way
for d. w Taylor, who read from a paper
statistics concerning the paving and re
pairing of Liverpool streets, which cost
he said from $4,000 to $145, 600 in a
few years
A motion was offered by E T. Warner.
providing for the appointment of a CON
mittee to confer with the city bodies
about the passage of an act authorizing
the Street and Sewer Commissioners 10
borrow $500, GOO from the Legislature foy
the improvement Of the streets
William East wood was the first
speaker He said he wanted to see the
matter well considered before any steps
were taken. 1t was proper to consider
how the debt was TO be paid. At present
the city was burdened with heavy debt
and he thought to make so large an
addition wonld be unWise The interest
on the proposed appropriation would
amount TO $4,000 annually which. if
appropriated BY the City Council. and
added to the s36, 900 now appropriated
would be sufficient to put the streets in
good shape within a few years, ana the
city would be saved the trouble Of pay
ing of an enormous debt
Alexander Crawford agreed with the
last speaker He thought this a proposal
to throw money away He wanted to see
better streets, but if the city expended
the interest on these $500, 900 in addition
to its present appropriation, it would be
sufficient to meet the requirements Of the
case
James & DeVou was in favor OF the
appropriation Of a large sum Of money to
put the streets in thorough repair At
present they were In wretched condi
tion, and he endorsed any movement that
would better them. There are seventy
two miles Of streets in the city to be re-
paired. These are mo- going to be bene.
hted by any paltry sum. The city
was now $50 years old and it was
time to put its streets in order SO chat it
would compare in that respect with
other younger and less thriving cities
His motto was borrow enough, and at
any cost improve the present condition
of the streets.
Caleb P johnson heartily supported
the proposal to improve the condition of
the streets. Money expended in that
way would not be lost as it would en-
hance the value Of property and add
materially to the wealth and comfort of
citizens.
s William M. Candy said a friend from
Philadelphia, who once had visited him,
remarked that he was glad to see another
city whose streets were as bad as those
of Philadelphia. He deprecated the idea
of paving the streets with cobble, as
dirt would accumulate there which, in
warm weather, would give rise to
efiiuvia that was most injurious to
health. The wear and tear on horses,
wagons, and carriages exceeded the amount
Of the interest on the appropriation an
nually. There should be in this city, he
considered, board of works that would
superintend the putting down of pave
ments and prevent new streets from
being torn up for the laying of a water
pipe. This was one of the practices which
was most objected TO and he hoped in the
near future to see it obviated
Allen Speakman said that in every
other respect Wilmington was abreast Of
the times, but her streets were co-eval
with the tallow candle aud the mail
coach. He considered It false economy
70 keep them In their present condition,
inasmuch as good streets add to the
wealth Of the city, by enhancing the
value of property
George w. Bush thought that this was
not an exhorbitant appropriation, pro
vided that it was properly expended,
which IL undoubtedly would be by the
Street and Sewer Commission However,
as it would be August before the money
could be used, he was in favor Of giving
the Street and Sewer Department power
to borrow smaller sum early in the sea-
son, which could be paid back out of the
appropriation, when hands could be laid
on that money.
David Lemon said there were two sides
to every question and FIVE or six to this
one. There was no mention Of how the
money was to be paid back The poor
man would have to pay the same as the
rich, though he had no carriage TO wear
the streets down. The Street and Sewer
Department had power from building
line TO building line. City Council could
not do its work and commission of three
men had TO be appointed, Two Of them
ran the business, and the other who got
no show sat with both elbows on the
table looking on Then there was "ele-
CANT Harry Turner and Billy Lee" and
scores of commissioners on bridges, and
bridge tender who ''every time be turned
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