Evening journal., 1896-10-07
Mr.. ADDICKS'S BLUFF.
Demands Withdrawal of a
Street and Sewer Action
RELATIVE TO HIS GAS PLANT HERE


HE ASKS FOR A CONFERENCE,
AND INTIMATEs THAT HE WILL
BRING SUIT FOR DAMAGES
AGAINST THE CITY.
At the Street and Sewer Department
meeting last night Alvin r. Morrison,
president of the Delaware Construction
Company, presented deeds for a road
way on the marsh land, between Jack
son and Sharp Company's property and
Seventh street through the properties
OF the National Dredging Company, l..
w. Stidham & Son. Thomas j. Jordan,
and made a proposition that if the
board would ask for a commission OF
condemnation for a seventy-foot wide
roadway through the Cleland estate
that the company would pay the cost
of condemnation proceedings, provided
that the board put ashes on the plot
and make a good roadway. The board
decided to ask the mayor for a COM
mission.
David Lemon appeared before the
board in the interest Of some residents
who presented a petition a week ago,
asking for the placing OF street signs
on the street corners. He pictured the
city as place where its own citizens
could not tell where they were He
thought these signs would be more SER
viceable than a filter. a sewer, or the
Brandywine Park. The board assured
him that the petition would receive the
proper attention, but at present it did
not see how this could be done with
the present appropriations.
Patrick Neary informed the board
that almost every team that turns the
southwest corner of Ninth and Shipley
streets goes across the pavement, due
to the raising of the street bed.
= The secretary's collections amounted
to S146.22. The city treasurer's balance
was reported to be $151 ,312.50. The
weekly payroll OF s60S.17 was ordered
paid. Other collections were as fol-
lows: Clerk of the market, $14S.63;
city engineer, SO.
John A. Lengel asked that a sewer
be constructed on Fifth street, between
Clayton and DUPONT streets. Since the
board does not own the street bed no
action was taken. When deeds for the
property are secured the sewer will
probably be built. Mr.. Lengel contem-
plates improvements to his brewery to
the extent of about $4,000.
Chief of Police Dolan called atten-
ton to the necessity of an arc light at
Seventh and Lombard streets, and
some kind of light at Thirteenth and
Lincoln strets.
Engineer in charge of sewers was or
dered to commence the construction OF
the archway over Leas race, at Mar.
ket street, at once. This arch will bt
seventeen feet wide, and will cost
about s1,S00 The old arch is in a bad
condition, part Of it having already
fallen down.
Mr.. Hatton submitted estimates for
the building Of a sewer on Vandever
avenue. from Lamotte to Carter streets.
The cost will probably be $3.50, with a
probable revenue of $500. He gave an
other estimate for a sewer on the same
avenue, from Market to Carter streets,
700 feet longer, to cost S1,95O and a
probable revenue of 81, ,450.
Bids were received for paving and
grading West Fourth street, between
Grant and Bayard avenues, as follows:
Davis & Bro, 6S cents per square
yard; A. S. Reed Bro. & Co., $105 per
square yard for machine made bricks
S113 for handmade bricks. The con-
tract was awarded to Davis & Bro Bids
were also received for paving the south
side of Sixth street, between Harrison
and Broome streets, as follows
A. S. Reed Bro & Co, 641a cents pei
square yard for machine: 73 cents pei
square yard; Davis & Bro, 79 cents
per square yard; A. S. Reed Bro.
Co. were awarded the contract.
A communication was received from
]. Edward Addicks, which is as fol
lows:
Wilmington, Del, October 8, 1896.
To the Board OF Directors OF the Stree
and Sewer Department for th'
City of Wilmington.
Gentlemen: In April, 1891, the Oxy
Hydrogen Company, of the State o
Delaware, had constructed at a verl
large expense, gas works in the city o
Wilmington, and was engaged in laying
gas mains for the supply of the public
On April 2, 1891, the Mayor and Coun
Gil of Wilmington, at the instance o
your body, filed a bill in Chancery
praying for an injunction. agains
John Edward Addicks, John G. Baker
Frederick p. Addicks, Simon B. Cond
and Samuel Austin, alleged officers ant
[ employees Of the Hydrogen Com
{ pany, to restrain the further laying o
= gas mains. The injunction was obtain
I ed and further operations Of the com
pany were thereby prevented. In June
( 1893, the defendants filed a demurrer Z
Z your bill, based upon the ground tina
. the company had not been made de
4 fendant in the suit. For technical rea
: sons. this demurrer was, in November
i 1893. overruled. In March, 1894, tn
i defendants filed their plea and sur
1 porting answer, and testimony wa
I taken Hereunder. On September l.
4 1894. argument was had befor
4 Hon. Henry c. Johnson, chan
. cellor ad litem, upon a single point, in
Q volving the construction of a statut'
9 For causes wholly unknown to the dc
a PENDANTS, the chancellor ad litem ha
: not handed down his decision, althoug
: the point was argued before him owe
4 two years ago.
e One of the principal charges in you
i bill was that the Hydrogen Con
:. pany had never been organized, and S
q had no right to act under its charte
: The proof upon this point was take