Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-26
AGAIN TIE BRIDGE.
The Question Considered by the
Levy Court Committee.

Arguments In Favor of Washington
Street and Brooine Street, Respec-
lively. as the Sites of the Proposed
Improvement.
Chairman of the Bridge Committee John
w, Jolls called the members of his com
mittee to. order at 1890 o'clock Tuesday
morning in the Levy Court chamber.
Ihose present were Messrs. Bucking
ham. Grub, Hickman, Elisson, Clark
and Simpler.
Several citizens also were present, among
them George A. Elliott, w. Il. Hawkins,
Thomas Tatnall, Milton Lackey, S. II.
Baynard, Alvan Morrison, DR.. Willard
Springer, Edgar A. Finley, Isaac $. Elliott,
Thomas 3. Smith.
Chairman Jolls stated the business OF
the meeting.
Mr.. Grubb said he was in favor of build.
ing the bridge, as it can be accomplished
at very slight increase in the tax rate.
). il. Baynard stated that his committee,
representing the interests of the Washing
ton street bridge site, restate their former
oifer OF the payment of SIT 800 cash. Also
that Joseph Tatnall will give TO the county
threefourths of an acre Of quarry land on
the T., w. q d. railroad branch, which
goes direct to the river bank at the Wash
ington street site. Also all the stone needed
i'll the erection of the Washington street
bridge until January, 1891. Mr.. Baynard
did not know what the value of this stone
would be, but the Broome street site people
estimated the value of the stone they offer
at 5000.
Mr.. Baynard read the list of subscribers.
Among them are Joseph Tatnall, $3.50,
who makes this subscription independents.
Of the offer Of stone for building purposes
He added that when, q years ago the
Levy Court made the offer to the land
owners of this very same site the sum was
SlO,uOO from the county to tho property
owners as all induceinent to them to give
up the land to the city. Now, with the
same land at least doubled in value, it is
offered free to the county for the same
purpose and along with it large cash in
duccment. All the land is within the city
limits
George A. Elliott was the next speaker.
lie made n very strong plea for the
Broome street site The distance between
Market street and the next bridge, that al
Rising Sun, IS q miles. He asserted that
the Brandywine farmers are satisfied with
Market street bridge and that it is not
crowded. lie said that if the court builds
a bridge at Washington street it will have
shortly to build another ut Broome street.
Broome street, he claimed, is already as
ilira boulevard us the city needs. Headed
that unless the North Side Improvement
Company pave their boulevard themselves
that job wont be done for 10 years. 1t will
be a mud avenue, hub deep until that
time. He claimed that the water depart-
ment holds Just the same position in re-
gard to its needs and its cash offerto either
bridge site equally. He conceded that the
Washington site could be built for less
cost, but il would be much better for the
county to have the bridge not so close to
Market street.
ANOTHER CASH OFFER
~ am prepared to state" Mr.. Elliott
added. in regard to the Broome street
subscription that fully the amount equal
to what the Washington people offer will
be paid by the Broome street endorsers,
and am prepared TO guarantee it,
Mr.. Baynard and Dr. Springer offered
certain facts on the cost of real estate. dis
proving Mr.. Elliott's statement that the
Washington street site did not offer oppor-
tunity for poorer people to purchase
homes. They stated that they could be
obtained there from $3.50 up. Mr. Bay
nard reminded the court that 81 acres were
purchased only last week at the SIS rate.
Water Commissioner Thomas b. Smith,
who was present. admitted Il certain pref
erence of the members of the board to
particular site. "But | am not here" he
continued, Ito say what that preference is.
That is generally understood throughout
the city. think.
Mr.. Hutchinson then suggested that the
friends of the various sites be requested to
retire in order that the committee might
have free opportunity for conference.
Civil Engineer Alvan Morrison of the
Delaware Construction Company then ex-
Inhibited bridge plans which had been re-
quested by the board.
There were two plans one of each site,
Washington and Broome of identical de-
sign. Both were of iron.
The Washington one is $50 feet over all,
% feet to the water on the city side, two
spans 2l0 feet, centre span 269 feet with
bridge to water, driving floor of 30 feet,
two sidewalks, each feet; the water
mains, 20 inches in diameter arc under the
sidewalk.
In the Broome street plan the length
over all is $50 feet, elevation to water los
feet there is an 8-feet deep park cutting
on city side, span ON city side is 2l7 feet,
and three other spans 800, 2i3 and 800. Ii
the north side span were not used there
would be filling of 20 feet, calling for a
100000 yards filling. 1t would cost $50 600
on the city side of Broome street for rock
blasting, &c. and $4,000 to $1,000 on the
north side for filing, &c.
The total cost of Washington street
bridge would be $4,000 and of the Broome
street from $50, 900 to 100000.
The committee adjourned to meet at the
call of the chair.
Nothing can be done or determined,
under any circumstances until the dupl-
Gates are all added up when some idea on
the county finance position can be known.
The next meeting of Levy Court is on
Wednesday, June LIST.