Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-08

Now Take Steps Looking Toward the
Completion of the Roadway from Market
street tn Rockford Park "A Personal In :
spection of n Portion of the Route to he
Made Next Saturday Afternoon-Otlier
Business at Tuesdays Meeting of the
board.
At the meeting of the Board of Park
Commissioners Tuesday afternoon it
was decided to push on the work of
completing the park driveway as
rapidly as possible. AT present there
is q barrier which it is expected City
Council will assist in removing.
There is !. small tract Of land in the
park at the West street entrance that
does not belong to the board, and as
it is necessary for the driveway to pass
through it, the purchase of the tract
will be necessary.
At the last session of the General
Assembly an act was passed empower
ing City Council to borrow the sum Of
800, 600 for the purchase of lands for
park purposes, but up to the present
time the loan has not been negotiated
and the desired land has not been
purchased. There was no apparent
hurry for any action in this direction
and the commissioners did not press
the matter.
1t is extremely desirable now, how
ever, that the entire route of the park
drive should become the property Of the
Park Board as soon as possible, for Just
at this time the work of grading it is
much less expensive than is likely to
be the case at some future time. A
great deal of earth is now being carried
by the Street and Sewer Department
from streets that are being graded for
paving, and the material thus obtained
will cost the Park Commissioners
nothing. OF course there are yet some
portions of the driveway owned by the
board where the deposits can be made,
but it is evident that all such places
will soon be filled, and then it will be
necessary to find dumping ground.
v To provide for this contingency, and
in order to facilitate the completion of
the driveway grading, the board adopt
ed resolution asking City Council to
act promptly in the matter of purchas-
ing the desired park lands. The matter
will probably be brought up at the
meeting of City Council tomorrow
hibht3 anu as soDu dis tut iUdH ~ HtBO-
tiated the land can be obtained, for it
is understood that the present owners
are willing to dispose of their holdings
at nominal figures.
There are several other small tracts
desired by the board, but none are of
much consequence save the Rosendale
Park property. 1t is likely that the
Rosendale property will be acquired
at the same time as the other property
or soon afterward. 1t is necessary that
this tract should become the property
of the city: otherwise it may be sold
to other parties who would build the
place up, and thus practically make
a break in the pretty Brandywine Park
the pride of the city, as well as the
Board Of Park Commissioners.
1t is also thought wise by Superin-
tendent Leisen to make some slight
alteration in the course of the driveway
at Broome street; that is, to vary
little from the plan as laid out origi-
nally by Engineer Olmstead, who Sc
lected the first route.
Superintendent Leisen, in his report
to the board Tuesday, suggested a
greater curve at the point opposite
Broome street The deviation, he
stated, would be less expensive, could
be accomplished quicker and would
give better view Of the Brandywine.
In fact, in his opinion it would be
much preferable to the plan as origi-
nally designed. If the present route
should be followed out it would neces-
state running the driveway through a
deep cut for short distance and would
cut off the view of the Brandywine at
that point. But if his suggestion is
acted upon the bend in the road will
be open and the view unobstructed.
In order to get better idea of the
change tho commissioners
decided to hold special meeting next
Saturday afternoon at o'clock for the
purpose of going over a portion of the
route and making personal examina
tion. MIR. Leisen stated that he would
have the route staked off this week,
and when the commissioners visit the
place they can understand directly
what the intention is.
With the course of the Broome street
curve settled and the tract at West
street acquired there will be nothing
in the way of pushing the work of
grading on to completion, and the ex-
pense attached thereto will not be, at
all excessive. The grading now to be
done lies between West and Jefferson
and Adams and Broome streets,
and when that is finished the
will be reality from Market
street to Rockford Park, and when it
is ready for use it will be one of the
ideal park thoroughfares in America.
Superintendent Leiscn was directed
to ask for proposals for the grading of
the new tract as soon as it is acquired.
The executive committee will have
to award the contract, and
the work can go on without being de-
ayed until the next meeting of the
board.
A deed for the plot recently donated
10 the city for park purposes by the
lu Points was received. The secretary
was instructed to turn it over to City
Council, as, while the parks are in the
custody of the Board of Park Commits
iioners the property belongs to the city
md the deeds are taken care of by City
Council.
In the absence Of President Candy.
Who is travelling in the West, Commits
,ioner Mention, who acted in Mr. Can
oy's stead at the meeting, was given
by the board to sign all bills
md pay-rols until the return of the
PRESIDENT. Mr.. Candy made such
equest when he left the city.
The treasurer's report showed bal
lnce in bank to the credit of the board
lmouting to 1926. 2S. Several bills
we're approved and ordered paid,
Robbery Mt EnrinInyfon.
r. r =. L..