Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-31
STRAIGHT SHOULDER HITS
And Damage Suits Promised
the City
FROM PRICE PROPERTY OWNERS
If Market Street Lines Are
Changed.
Interesting Conference and Talk About
the skew-wise Lots on Market street
Attorneys and Property Owners Say
They win Demand Damages of the
City-fhe Street Directors Not Disposed
TO Unduly Urge Their Point.

A large number Of property owners
were present in City Council chamber
Thursday afternoon in answer TO tile
invitation of the Street Directors 10
come together and have quiet, familiar
talk over the disaGreeablc skew wise lots
belonging 10 the Price property on Mar
ket street.
But the meeting was by no means a
gentle one. Everything was done quietly
and in order, but the city authorities
were pretty plainly informed by several
of the owners that they will be held
FULLY for every penny of expense Of
every kind that any Of them may be
| put to on account of the meditatcd
| change in the street and sewer lines.
There was 4 very full and explicit
expression of opinion. The Street
Directors also talked up plainly. Those
officials simply desired an expression Of
opinion, Us a feeler, but now that they
know what a number of the owners
want, should it after all develop that
the rectifying of the unsightly lines
| may not be effected on account of the
| opposition, then the directors wash
their hands of all future discredit or
blame attachable to the city for the odd
sight OF several blocks of houses, zig
zaging like saw all the way up the
Philadelphia turnpike and through
Market street.
a large map of the Price district,
where the obnoxious looking street
| lines are, was suspended on the Council
chamber walls. A black line indicated
| the proper building lines, that is to say
the way the Street Directors would like
to see them, and series of red lines
over them showed the way the streets
are located now. The map clearly ex-
planned the two sides Of the question.
Some one made the motion that the
mayor take the chair Secretary Wiley
of the Street and Sewer Department,
acted as secretary. All the Street Direc.
tors, Messrs. Gawthrop, Chambers and
Moore, were present. Others seen
around were: Stansbury Wiley, DR.. j.
r. Frantz, Levi q. Bird, George X.
Townsend, William Candy, Edward
Belts, William 5. Hilles, City Solicitor
George A. Elliott, Joseph l.. Carpenter,
Jr., Alonzo Buylis, Edward Andrews,
Mr.. Mendinhall, Henry W. Sasse, Thos.
Darlington. A. j. Lang, John W. Tay-
Tor, Thomas A. Melvin, W. A. CaTswell,
Henry +. Dure and others.
Mayor Shortlidge stated the purpose
OF the meeting, that the Street Directors
are DESTROYS OF an expression of opinion
in regard to the proposed rectifylng of
the street lines in the Price property, So
as to make them align with those on the
other side OF Market street and for other
obvious reasons. The mayor invited an
expression OF opinion from the different
hair
attorneys.
Mr.. Gawthrop said the streets in cues.
ton were laid out by an ordinance of
1871. Since then there has been no
movement to open up the section to
within q year About six months ago
George Townsend, the agent for the
Price property, sent communication
asking the board to accept certain street
beds on the basis OF the new streets
paralleling Nandever avenue, not Mar
kct street.
STREET BEDS REFUSED.
The directors thought they could not
accept the street beds under the circum.
stances. They considered that Market
street should constitute the base line. 1t
was mistake when the property was
first allowed 10 be laid out in that way.
And now, Mr.. Gawthrop added, closing,
We want 10 see whether the owners will
do anything or whether the wrong can
be rlghted.
COMPLAINTS OF DELAY.
George Townsend was the first
speaker. He is the agent for the 80 acres
constituting the Price property where
all the crooked street lines now are.
His client has lost great deal of
money by the delay of the Street Dl.
rectors giving lines for the erection of
new buildings, due to the contemplated
change of street beds. The DELAY is
damage TO her as she desires to sell now.
The speaker did not see how the city
proposed to accomplish its idea. For on
Market street twu-thirds of the lots of
the Price property are crooked. Some
body must pay for turning them around.
The squares from Nos. 90 to ~ and 20
to 30, whole squares are already sold.
There are from 20 to % owners on
Market street to be influenced by the
proposed change.
MARKET STREET JIB LOTS.
Mr. Gawthrop-lf this angular ar
rangement be allowed there would be
iib-lots all along Market street. Ii the
property owners want it that way, well
all right. We are here only to serve
the public.
FAyoRING THE CHANGE.
Joseph L. Carpenter, Jr., expressed
himself heartily in favor OF the pro.
posed rectitication Of the lines. ANY
one who will take the trouble to ok.
anime the lay of the ground will
quickly make up his mind to the ad.
vantage to be gained.
II allowed to remain as it is now il
will be q series of cuts, besides YOU
must remember the saving of expense
in new sewers that will he made by
Strengthening the lines. Were it to 20
on like this the error would stretch on
to Claymont by and by. The change
has to be made some time and now is
that time.
If had land ON Market street would
look on it as doubled in value were the
change made
SALES LOST BY DELAY.
Edgar NJ. Hopes is opposed to the
proposed change. Last year he was re.
fused building lines. He was told as
much as that when the city cnginecrgot
ready he would get his lines. He rcmon-
strated against the delay, Instead Of the
six weeks when the engineer thought
the lines might possibly be ready it was
three or four months. He lost his sale
by the delay. Now" Mr.. Hopes con.
tinued, when the city is ready it can
come 70 me. | got tired OF going to
them"
The speaker continued TO the effect
that the delay has now drifted along so
there is but one way to accomplish the
Question, by prpcess of law. Prnhnhlr