Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-02-23

Of Any More of its Power, and Refuses
to Concur in Asking the Legislature tn
Specify tho Board of Park Commits
sioners' Appropriation--Abo lishment OF
Grade Crossings Requested---Th Bill
for Extending the City's Limits.
Council last night week gave audience
to the Board of Park Commissioners and
conferred with the Board Of Directors Of
the Street and Sewer Department. Coun-
Gil had three abscntCes, Messrs. Benson.
Ratledge and Magee, The Board OF Park
Commissioners was represented by MCSsrs
Candy, Bancroft and Mention, besides Mr.
Thomas, who also represented Council
The Board of Directors of the Street and
Sewer Department had n full representa-
ton. Councilman Mckelvcy presided.
The first matter considered was the qnes.
ti0n of uniform annual appropriation
for the Board of Park Commissioners
Commissioner Candy said the board has
experienced great inconvenience by hay
ing large appropriation one year and n
small one another year. Each years
business is about the same Police, super
intcndents and engineering corps are kept
all the year round and cost. as near as he
could estimate, $40, 900 annually To keen
the engineers they have to be employed all
the year round. The board has had little
to eXpend on the parks and the proper
thing to do, it thought was to have passed
an enactment appropriatiug annually n
certain per cent Of the assessment. The
board has never done anything without
the consent of Council. Last years APP
preparation amounted to $4,000 and the
appropriation for the preceding year was
$4,000. The hoard would like Council to
go over the grounds and see what the
design of the board Is. The design Is to
make u roadway extending three miles up
brandy
there will be no railroad tracks to cross
OHe.third Of Rockford Park is finished
and the board desires to complete the park
AS soon as possible. Right of way
through the cemetery and hospital grounds
has been secured and after right of way
through property at West street has been
obtained the work would he comparatively
easy. The board would like to get of |
per cent Of the assessment, an annual APP
preparation of about $4,000 At present
the appropriation is so uneven the board
hardly knows what to do. 1t it was equal
lied the board would know better how to
make its plans. The best time for its work
is in the winter, but at that time it does
not know what ii is going to get.
Councilman Ross thought Commissioner
Canby's ideas were good and businesslike,
Council ought to make Il regular appro-
priation, say $4,000, next year and add b
per cent each succeeding year.
u
per cent would make too large an appro'
priation.
Commissioner Bancroft said he would
like to ask what was the objection to max
ing fixed rate on the assessment, but no
reply was made.
Councilman Perkins thought the matter
should be referred to the law and finance
committees and the city solicitor.
Councilman McKelvey suggested that
the board put in writing what it wanted
and that Council take action in open SEES
sion.
Commissioner Candy said the present
Council might allow the board S25, 900 and
priation down. He would like to have
the appropriation fixed by lcgislatiy,
enactment.
Councilman Thomas asked whether
S25, 900 wasn't little in advance of whu
the board expected to get; wouldn'
so, 600 be sufficient
Commissioner Candy said that in max
ing the roadway the board couldn't &c
ont of keeping a department Of surveying
The work could really he done in on
year, and a great deal cheaper than in tiyt
years, If it was ready to be put under con
tract. 1t would be an advantage to TIN
city il it could be completed right away
lie would leave the matter in COuncil'
hands The work has been in progress
three or four years, and comparatiycl!
little has been completed. Where tn
roadway is completed he supposed, tn
property has doubled in value. Til
boards ordinary running expenses are
tritie over LOO year
Councilman Murray asked whether
was the intention of the board to Obtain
legislative enactment, to make it com
pulsory on Council.
Commissioner Candy said that was TIN
boards intention. Council hud been yer
kind but the appropriations had caused tn
board to lose money.
Councilman Murray said he favored Civ
ing the board liked amount hut he wa
opposed to allowing it percentage Of til
assessment, The assessment would ii
crease but the parks would not grUN
larger. For buying park lands Counc
appropriatcs $4,000 each year purchase
are made.
Commissioner Mention said it was tru
the parks are not getting larger and tn
board might buy more It has some
which a spade has not been put. III
people are Complaining about the roalwa
not being finished, but the board has II
money.
Councilman Ross said the present Cour
Gil might not be there when the next az
preparation is made, and It would be
good idea to have prepared an act maxim
it compulsory for Council to eppropria
not less than S2j 900 year.
Councilman Thomas stated that he di
not want the board to imagine from VIII;
Councilman Ross had said that there wei
lots of money lying around loose, that
would get $4,000. Council had been shor
head and tail of power by commission
What the board wanted would take ava
more of Councils power. II would d
pend on how the board put its commun
cation. IL would be wise to put the lin
down as low as possible.
Councilman Murray said the matt
ought to be left TO Councils generOsit
Council has a good finance committee,
Council fix the appropriation. lie thougl
il strange that the board should come 10
and ask for something it had never askI
for before.
Commissioners Candy and Bancroft sa
they might know what they would &
from this Council, but they would II
know what they would get from the ne
Council.
Councilman Mckelvey said Council is
bankrupt state and the commissions a
flush. Any accident in the streets or pa
means suit against the Mayor al
Council.
Commissioner Candy said the city neV
lost cent by an accident in heparks.
Councilman Ross said it would bene
the board TO toll it how much appfopr
ton it will get next year.
Councilman Mckciyey advised that t
hoard send in n communication.