Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-05
HUGE FEES FOR RECORDING lNDICtS

Commisnfoners--Tb Water Commits
Eloners Attend and Talk About the
Promised Payment of $4,000 Towards
the New Washington Bridge--Fine Fat
Fees for Court House Work.
The Levy Court met at the usual hour
on Tuesday, President W. A. Scott in the
chair. N&H
The Water Commissioners were present
to confer with the court in reference to
the hump" at Washington bridge.
Mr.. Gallagher said the court was open
for congratulations.
PIcKELs WANTS A GUARANTEE.
H. f. Pickels said the commissioners de-
sired to know what the Levy Court had to
say. He added that it had been delegated
10 him by the other commissioners to say
that the board had promised to contribute
SlO,OOO towards the construction of WASH
ington bridge under certain contingencies
He said the board was not disposed to be
captious, but would like 10 have an agree
ment from the Levy Court assuring them
that the contract would be ecarried out. The
board would like to have guarantee that
the vibration from street car traffic would
not injure the water pipes.
MIR. GALLAeHER's REPIY.
Mr., Gallagher said he had heard great
deal of talk about the,difficulty of convey
his opinion that the street car traffic would
not interfere with the water pipes. He
said it, was the desire OF the county to
make things satisfactory with the Water
Commissioners and to obtain the $40, 900
which the Water Commissioners had
promised to contribute toward the con-
struction of the bridge.
Mr.. Pickels said II was the desire of the
Water Commissioners TO bave an opinion
from engineers testifying to the fact that
the vibration froln the railway traffic
would not injure the pipe.
MR.. ARMSTRONG WANTS TO KNOW.
Mr., Armstrong desired to know Just
what the conditions of the agreement be-
tween the Water Commissioners and the
Levy Court were. He asked if there were
any special conditions embodied in the
agreement.
THE Fox's TAIL.
Mr.. Pickels said there swere no special
agreements, but the board were not ap-
prised OF the fact that the railway COM
pany intended crossing the bridge at the
time the agreement was made. liz reply to
the statement Of Mr..Armstrong. that the
railway company had never asked for per-
mission to cross the bridge. Mr.. Pickles
said that when fox's tail is observed
sticking out OF hole, 1t is pretty sure
| sign that the fox is in the hole; and when
the commissioners sawiron rails lying in
close proximity TO the bridge, it was u
| pretty sure sign the fox was somewhere
about.
Yes, but it may be aidead fox" said
Mr.. Armstrong.
''Thats SO, said Mr.. Pickels.
After whispered dconversation with Mr..
Hastings, Mr.. Pickels said that if the board
bad nothing more to say he and his brother
members would retire.,
.! don't see that we have anything more
to do" said President Scott. There is
nothing more in our province. 1t remains
for you TO act in the premises"
| MR.. HASTINGS TAKES THE FLOOR.
Washington Hastings here arose and
asked the court to get information regard,
ing the liability of the water pipes toin.
| Jury from vibration, and sud it would be
| proper for the Levy Court to have the
| opinion of engineers in regard to the
matter. He said the water commissioner
wanted to be thoroughly satisfied that the
bridge is safe.
Mr.. Gallagher read the contract between
the Levy Court and the contractors and
added that all the provisions of the con.
tract had been fully complied with. The
bridge was safe as far as they knew.
AT this point Mr.. Pickes had another
whispered conversation with Commissioner
Hastings, and then said: "Mr. President
we think the Levy Court has our views on
this matter, and leaving the matter with
Water Commissioners withdrew Presi
dent Porter said nothing during the con
hference.
FEE FOR 1NDExING ALLOWED.
The sum of $1,000 was allowed Recorder
Of Deeds James I. Shallcross, and $4,OO(
to be divided between.J. Frank Biggs and
Andrew Il. Sanborn for preparing the new
indices in the office of the recorder ol
deeds. The above persons were appointed
commissioners by an act of the Camera
Assembly for making, pursuant TO the
Campbell system of indexing, true and
correct copy of the indices to the private
acts, to the marriage records and TO ths
deeds prior to 1874, recorded in the office
of the recorder of deeds. The compensation
was fixed by the judge Of the superior
court.
Warrants were drawn as follows: Sheriff
Gould, $1,000 on account; st. Georges
Marsh Company, $500; Ferris Industrial
SCHOOL, $500; St. Peters 0rphanage $500.
The constables' and magistrates bills
were allowed. and number of warrants
drawn in favor OF various county officers
The usual number of bills were passed.
Court took recess until o'clock.
RAILWAY TRACKS OVER THE BRIDGE.
AT the afternoon session the following
|
was presented and read:
The undersigned have learned from re.
ported proceedings OF your body that you have
under consideration certain applications fol
permission TO lay street railway tracks across
county bridges In the city OF Wilmington
There will, undoubtedly, be presented, In tho
near future, applications OF the same nature
from other companies chartered by the Gen
eral Assembly, and the rapid growth Of the use
of electric railways as n means of public CON
veyance renders 1t OF tho utmost Importance
that a proper and Judiclous system should bt
adopted BY the Leyy Court In dealing with
such applications.
The fact thaI the bridges are built witt
public money for use as public highways
makes it not only important but necessary
that care should be taken 70 guard against any
action, the effect OF which should be to grant
monopoly for the use of ihe bridges for any
ktnd OF transportation The bridges should be
ftee To all transportation companies, eithel
now or hereafter legally authorized to carry
passengers, but only under such restrictions
as Will prevent either the assumption or The
acquisition Df any exclusive right by sngl,
company with respect to any bridge.
In view OF these considerations, we venture
to suggest that any permission granted by the
Levy Court to any street or electric railway
company TO lay tracks upon d county bridge
should be coupled with tho condition that tht
tracks 80 laid should always be available fol
the use OF any other company, which may be
at any time, authorized by the Levy Court {,
cross such bridge, under such regulations witt
respect to the use OF The same as the Lev!
Court may from Tune 70 time uirect IL would
probably, be even better IT, at any time wher
the Levy Court desires TO permit the crosalnl
OF bridge by railway company the track
on the bridge should be laid by tho Levy Cour
and be public property, and the permission d
use those tracks should be granted by the Lev,
Court upon such terms as 1t should deem jus
and reasonable.
BY such an arrangement any monopol,
would be rendered impossible, the rights Of th
people will remain unlmpared and the who'll
matter will remain under the control of tn
Levy Court undlsturbed by any contention
between rival companies or exclusive use o
| nuh1ic r,ronarty.