The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-09
THE srLvERBRooK QUESTION,

Friends aud Opponents of the Measure
a iIearIng-sPoicr J. Ford's Powerful
Argument In Favor oft.
Correspon dence of the Republican.
| Down March 8, lso3.-All Of this
afternoon was devoted to hearing the
friends and opponents of the bill to
condemn Silverbrook argue for and
against its passage. The meeting was
held In the chamber of the House of
Representatives, and the room was
crowded. Among those present were;
Judge Ball, Registrar Colquhoun,
David Lindsay, Il. u Hardesty ex.Re-
preventative Thomas b. Smith, Thos.
Davis, William i. Lyman, City Solicit
tor Charles M. Curtis. Frank d. Car
penter, DR., Downes. A, b. Cooper.
Peter ]. Ford, Peter A. Horty, William
Baxter. Willard Salisbury, George w.
Bush, Joseph Pyle City Counciimen
Dannenbergs and Ratledge, Street and
Sewer Directors Gawthrop and Car
penter, Daniel W. Taylor. Or. A. L.
Frants. OF the Board OF Health. and
representatives OF the Jessup and
Moore Paper Company.
MIR. Hall presided. and called upon
those who favored the bill to present
their side of the question. Peter J.
Ford said that he wished to correct
certain false Impressions that had been
made to the Legislature By the oppo-
nents OF the bill.
He was not present as an assassin OF
other peoples business interests or as
paid retainer but he was here to
contradict and refute everything that
had been said by the Jessup " Moore
people, and their assistants. He had
not come to deny one thing said by
| thnt naltU httt 70 Ia n,r
and prove by facts and figures, which
could not he controyerted, that they
had endeavored to deceive and mislead
the members. He felt that 1t required
considerable temerity to stand up and
hattie with this great aggregation of
wealth and power, but he also appre-
ciated the fact that while In this mat
ter he was lighting for the rights and
interests OF the people of Wilmington.
He preferred not to make any further
remarks now, but might have some
thing to say later.
Milford spoke In an earnest, rorcible
manner and was listened to with tine
greatest attention.
Joseph Pyle was the next speaker
and said he would give his reasons
why Silverbrook should be condemn
ed. 1t III the only natural drainage in
that section OF the city and the only
place where manufacturers can locate.
Last year there were several manufac-
turers who wished to locate on Silver.
brook but when they found they could
not drain into the stream, went else.
where.
The manufactures have made Will
mlngton what 1t Is to-day, and every.
| thing should be done to encourage
them and increase the number. He
had not come to advocate the claim of
MIR. Ford or any other man, but had
come as citizen and property holder
to advocate that which he was sure
would benefit every one In the south.
western part OF tho city. The march
of empire takes its way westward. and
no one man, or set of men. should be
permitted to stand in its way or OBJ
struct its course.
Daniel w. Taylor was introduced and
made an earnest speech In favor Of
having the stream condemned He
had known several firms who desire
to locate manufactures on the stream
but when they found they could not
drain into it. sought other locations
outside the State. III this stream Is
condemned it will do more to build
up Wilmington than any other thing
that can be done. 1t will be for the
general welfare OF the people to con-
denim hilverbrook, and il it is not
done now 1t Is only a question of time
when 1t must be done, at a much
greater expense. us the need is impera.
tive.
S. redmond Smith was tie next
speaker, and said that he did not ap-
pear for Mr.. Ford but would speak for
himself. A pant of tho Fifth and all of
the twelfth ward have natural drain
ago into this stream, consequently II
Is already polluted and unfit for use
Tor domestic purposes. Whenever it
rains all the dirt and filth from the
streets in that section OF tho city flows
into Silyerbrook, making tho water
very impure. Within the last two
years he had known OF eight manufae.
turing firms, with from 500 to 1000
hands, who would have commenced
business In Wilmington. and built
large factories along this stream II
they could have drained Into II.
Mr.. Smith alluded to the town of
lllsmere, snd said that the people there
deserved some consideration and they
need this sewer. In relation to tho
assertion that 1t would cost $500, 900
to build the sewer he said that 1t could
DO built for about one.tenth of that
sum. II would not be necessary to
cover all tho stream Immediately
Shlpiey run Is not yet wholly covered
~ lIilS D59n IL sewer
for twenty-five years.
He closed by inviting the members
of the Legislature to come and see the
stream for themselves.
Joseph richardson the owner of the
Richardson water rights, stated that
the Jessup and Moore Company had
refused to purchase those water
lights in order to get him under their
dictation." Tho water rights can be
purchased and tweIge-inch Pipe
laid TO the works of the company
for less than $50 600. On Friday last
he said that he had called upon Mr..
Mcdowell OF the Jessup and Moore
Paper Company, and h0 admitted that
the right of way could be secured to
the works Of thu company, because,
IL anticipation, n culyert had already
been built under the railroad.
Mr.. Fold then read letters from
several farmers along the stream
fayorlng It's being condemned, and
letters from some OF those who had
signed the petition against It, stating
that they have changed their minds
and now favor It, Io also presented
an affidavit from Michael Newell, TO the
effect that he wonld have built mo-
rocco factory on Its banks. II he could
have drained into 1t. A similar
affidavit was presented from August
BIckta.
This closed the hearing on behalf OF
those in favor OF the bill and the other
side opened.
City Solicitor Charles NJ Curtis was
the first speaker and opposed the bill
on the ground that II it WAS passed it
would entail heavy expense on Will
mington for condemning lands and
building the sewer, in addition to
suits for damages, as Silperbroo6
when 1t reaches Mill creek flows
through low land and frequently over.
lows its banks. Shipley run was
built before u system of sewers had
been laid out for Wilmington. Silver.
brook runs through Wilmington for a
few squares, and all the city asks is to
be allowed to build Its sewers in
scientific way. An intercepting sewer
: has been built along the Brandywlne
and plans have been prepared for one
along the Christlana. Both will event.
ually run to the Delaware river. When
public necessity requires 1t a public
sewer will be built to Silyerbrook. To
condemn the stream itself would be to
throw away $50 900.
Dr. Frantz of the Board of Health
contended that u the stream was CON
demned IL would prove detrimental to
the health of the citizens.
The condemnation was also opposed
by George w. Bush, William l. Ly-
nam, special counsel on behalf of the
city, apd the concluding speech was
made by Willard SALISBURY, attorney
for the Jessup 4 Moore Company.
After few brief remarks by Peter j.
Ford the meeting adjourned.
Sc