Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-08-18
Il METZ BRIDGE.
Tic Levy Court Decides to Build One at
Washington Street.


Washington street.
Quite unexpectedly at u late hour on
Tuesday afternoon Levy Court voted
in favor of building bridge at the
Washington street site.
Close to 3 o'clock Mr.. Grubb arose
and offered the following resolutions;
Resolpcd, That this Levy Court decide to
buld bridge over the Brandywine creek,
the site to be selected by this court.
Mr.. Clark Immediately moved an
amendment that the resolution be made
the special order of business at the next
meeting Of court, on Tuesday, scptcm-
Der 9Th
Mr.. Jolls seconded the amendment.
1t was put and defeated in yea and
nay vote of IA, the four affirmative
votes being Messrs. Clark, JoIls, Eliason
and Sutton.
Then tine question on the resolution
was passed by vote Of IA, the mem
bers voting for the building Of the
bridge being Messrs. Buckingham,
Grub, Hickman, Killgore, Hutchinson,
Simpler, ellis.
There was little or no comment
Immediately Mr.. Grub then offered
tne second resolution:
Reso'ted That we accept the offer of the
Water Commissioners and of the friends
of the Washington street site and that the
bridge he built At Washington street.
This was adopted on a viva yocc vote.
As well as could be discerned there
were two voices contra. Mr.. Jolls WAS
in favor and possibly Mr.. sutton, and
Messrs. Clark and Eliason were the two
negative votes.
Chairman Buckingham said that it
was evident the citizens wanted the
bridge and also that it is needed. The
liberal offer Of those interested made 1t
more desirable to accept the conditions
and if a bridge is to be built then the
sooner the better before the winter sets
in.
THE NEW BRIDGE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Hickman then arose and offered
the following:
Rcsolgod, That the following committee
be and are hereby appointed to procure
plans and make contract, with full power
to act for this court, to build "a bridge over
the Brandywinc at Washington street
David +. llutchison, Henry d. Hickman,
John W. .Iolls Isaac N. Grubb, Robert T.
Simpler, Samuel killgore aud K. 2. Buck
ingham.
The motion was passed in viva voce
vote the only apparent negative being
from Mr.. Clark.
Chairman llutchison of the new
bridge committee then asked the court
whether anyof the members had sug-
gestions to make in regard to bridge
plans, style of structure, or to the bid
ders.
Chairman Buckingham thought it
would be well to see all bridge builders
and ascertain all information and details
so as to have as much information in
hand as possible. He suggested visit
to Philadelphia to look at the bridges
there.
Mr.. Grubb thought well of double
decker bridge which would be a con-
venient way for the park road on the
south side and the old Jessup road on
the north.
The whole matter was finally left
with the committee.
As stated the passage Of the resolution
late yesterday afternoon was surprise.
Very few citizens were present. Samuel
II. b ynard was one of the few. lie said
that he had seen in the papers that at
to-day's meeting there would probably
be something done in regard 10 tie
bridge. He made inquiries about e
matter. He was told by some of the
| levy courtmen that there would very
likely be no action taken. He saw
Alvin Morrison later, who said he was
going to court and if it seemed likely
that action be taken he would telephone
him. Hearing nothing Mr.. Baynard
strolled up to the court house after
dinner. 1t was then l.30 p. m. The
first person he met was Levy Courtman
Clark. He iokingly remarked, "You up
here after a bridget" Mr.. Baynard
answered that if that matter were
coming up he wanted to be there. lie
is interested as president of the I'M
provemcnt Company. Mr.. Clark replied
that in all probability there would be
no action taken until next meeting OF
court on September 9th.
Court was then in session and routine
business was going on. George A.
Elliott was later informed that nothing
would be done and he left.
This partly explains how few citizens
were present on the occasion of the
transaction Of such important business
NOW FOR \ BRIDGE.
Now as the way is clear for progress
upon this bit of public enterprise the
first thing to be done is to select the style
Of bridge, then TO notify builders and
let them submit plans to the committee.
Whatever plan is selected bids will i'm
mediately be asked upon it,
A bridge can be placed at the location
of Washington street site for $45, 900
A double-decker might cost from
| $4,000 to $4,000. An elegant bridge
can be erected for 100000. Under any
circumstances the structure must be al
iron one.
The question was asked whether 0
bridge could be constructed ut the sc,
lected site that would allow forall traffic
including street car traffic. Engineer
KINNEY replied that the plans shown
| by Mr.. Morrison would be strong enough
10 sustain any weight in the way o
travel, ltcould be loaded up with stree
cars.
1t is expected that the committee will
be ready to make report by Septem
Der 9th, the date of the next regulal
meeting.
HOW ABOUT THE FUNDS.
For building the bridge there is now
in sight the following funds: $l7,50l
guaranteed by interested. parties; thu
amount of back taxes due by eX-ra,
Collector Dougherty, which the court
have decided he must pay and for which
his securities are good, amounting L
about $4,000, the amount already pa!t
in by cxTaX Collector Mckee, 81 900
which sums arc not considered in TIN