Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-15

GlLy 1OuHGllulGil " 4NGllIy lNttletBc anu
Tyre. Mr.. iatledge was elected chair
served as secretary.
Mr.. Ratledge announced that the OBJ
ject of the meeting was to investigate
rumors respecting the purchase OF Kirk
wood Park.
Mr.. Mention asked what the charges
were and who made them.
No charges against Mr.. Mention had
been formulated and nobody was
present to prefer any.
Mr.. O'Neill said he had heard rumors.
Finally Mr.. Mention asked for the
reading of Mayor Shortlidge's reasons
for refusing to sign the certificates of
Indebtedness issued to obtain money for
paying for Wawaset Park and one of
those reasons-"and some one had made
money, amounting to $4,000, out of
other purchase" made the basis
of the investigation.
Next, by request OF Mr.. Mention, a
resolution adopted by City Council,
asking the Board of Park Commissioners
to recommend sites for an east side park,
was read.
This was followed by the reading of
resolution adopted by the Board of Park
Commissioners, recommending three
sites, one of which was the tract bounded
by Pine, Bennett and Eleventh streets
and Brandywine creek. On the reverse
side of the document was Councils park
committees approval of this site.
Next Mr.. Mention had read resoln-
ton adopted by Council, authorizing
the finance committee to borrow $4,000
for park purposes, after which he called
for the reading of communication
which he had sent to Council, in which
he stated that the lowest price at which
he could obtain the tract described
above was $4,000, $4,000 less than the
price at which it was first offered to
him, and in which he agreed to take
part of the land.
This was followed by the reading of
an ordinance adopted by Council, pro-
vided for the borrowing of $4,000 to
help pay for that portion of the tract
bounded by Kirkwood, Bennett and
Eleventh streets and Brandywine creek.
City Solicitor Elliott said the deed is
on record
Next Mr.. Mention made statement
of which the following is q synopsis
The Board of Park Commissioners was
requested by Council to recommend
sites for an east side park and did so.
The prices of the properties varied. |
was invited to meet the members of
Councils park committee. In committee
it was decided to get me to ascertain the
prices of tho lots and did So l learned
that the tract bordering on the Brandy
wine belonged to the McCaulleys. They
wanted $4,000 for it and said they
would not sell unless they could sell all
ltold them the price was too high. Sub.
sequently they told me they would sell
for $22 800, provided they could sell all
replied that they still were too high
Later they agreed to take $50, 900. Right
then l gave my check for certain
amount which had borrowed. II was
beginning to be loised about that the
city was after the property and wher
the owners agreed to take $4,000 Their,
was present another party who desired
To buy the tract. That night l tolC
the park committee that | had thu
option of the whole lot for $4,000 ant
the committee decided to take the par
bounded by Kirkwood, Bennett ant
Eleventh streets and Brandywine creek
made the report and the committe
made the selection. Council was no
allowed at that time to borrow NOR
than $4,000 year. Its balance il
bank amounted to about $4,000 toll
the committee had the option Of th
whole lot and it could take all or eithe
end. 1t decided to take the lower enc
which contained 233, $50 square feet.
bought this for S13,5O0. The land wa
decided to the city November 9th, 1888
There remained 66,2S0 square fec
which Horace w. Cause and | bougt
for $4,000. Our deed was execute
November Sth.
Mayor Shortlidge said he had hear
rumors but had not traced them. II
had heard $4,000 had been made by In
purchase of park lands. Park Commits
stoner Candy had said to him, "l'l
sorry to say it's true"
Mr. Mention made another statemen
which in substance was as follows: W
held our lot three or four months, aft,
which we put it in the hands of Heal
& Co. II was for sale for about tv
years. After awhile three custome
came along and made offers. The la
one came along in 1901. He wanted
square and we sold it to him for $11 so
Joseph l.. Carpenter, Jr., as we'll
Heald g. Co., had the lot for sale. SUI
pose that is how the rumors about blu
ing park lands got out. We have Il
100 square feet of land which is belo
water. We have not set any price on
Next Mr.. Candy was heard. He sa
IN part: | did state what the mayor h
said. did not intend to reflect on M
Mention, however. l knew he bong
more of the tract than the city bougt
Il Mr.. Bates and | talked the matter ov
and regretted Mr.. Mention did not no
his lot for the benefit of the city,
was high ground and if it had been p
in the park it would have diversiii
the grounds. Somehow we got the il
preston that Council could buy I
land from Mr.. Mention if it wanted
do so. We knew Council couldn't dc
that year. We did not know that I
city wanted it or would want 1t.
got the impression that Mr.. Mention Ii
said Council could haze the RENAME
of the tract and we regretted the c
did.not take all of it. AS the evidcr
shows Council had the buying of I
lot; the Board of Park Commission
had nothing to do with it.
In reply to q question asked by
Ratledge Mr.. Mention stated that he v
not a member of Council at the time
George II. rindall, Jr, to who
Messrs. Mention and Cause sold part
their lot, said in reply to query FRI
Mr.. Candy that he had not come {
bad on his purchase. Mr.. Candy
planned that he had asked the quest
for the purpose of showing the value
the park property. Continuing ]
Tindall said $4,000 was very /
price for the entire tract. He had
sired for long time to buy 1t and i
81 al