Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25
MN. PLuNK Err,s OFFER.
Discussion Aroused by Ills Proposition to
Pay $4,000 for Reed Street.

1uy stO.UUu heru Htftbts
A new feature has developed in the
matter of tie effort to have Reed street
between Monroe and Adams vacated.
A bin is now pending in the Legisla
ture providing for the vacation Of the
street, for which +. Blumenthal & Co.,
ere to pay the city So, 600 il it becomes
Street and Sewer Directors Tho new
Monday to the Legislature by Phillip
plunkett, president OF the Central
National Bank. Mr.. Plunkett owns
property on Reed street beyond the
portion which +. Blumenthal & Co.
desire vacated. He is opposed to clos
ing the street between Monroe and
Adams and thinks that streets should
remain as they are especial, where
large interests are involved, but If the
public is to abandon the use of this
street and the property devoted to
private purposes, then as a private in
vestment he is willing 10 pay $40, coo
for the street. Mr.. Plunkett Monday
cent the following telegram to Speaker
Riggin of the House of Representa-
tives at Dover:
81 own property on Reed street
worth $4,000 more or less. which will
be seriously deprecated by vacation OF
Reed street. Prefer to have Reed
street remnin public as it is If,
however, public use ie to be abandoned
l will give $40. spot cash for clear
fee simple title to Reed street from
Monroe 10 Adams street. II city owns.
fee will pay said $40, 600 to city. Ii any
interest therein remains in city's
grantor or heirs terms can be made
with said parties and thus city can OBJ
tain a sum largely in excess of 50, 600.
Public property ought not TO be sold TO
a private person for less sum than an
other will give. Make this telegram
known to committee and House.
"Phiilip Plunkett." "
Mr.. Punkett's offer has aroused n
good deal Of interest. A difference OF
opinion seems to exist as to the possi-
bility OF the acceptance of such an
offer, and one or two persons have ven
ture1 the implication that it is bluff.
The point was raised by an attorney
this morning that the Legislature could
not accept the offer because it could
| not sell tho bed of street, and it
would be impossible to give fee sim
| Pile for ii. He held therefore that it
was a safe offer to make.
1.-THE offer OF Phillip Plunsett for
Reed street is bona fide offer for GER
tain property" said gentleman when
| told of the point raised ''It is clear
and not susceptible of reconstruction.
He simply offers $40, 600 for certain
property. The fee simple title to Reed
street is either in the city, in which
case the Legislature can authorize the
uity to sell the property to Mr..
| Plunkett; or the city has am easement
over the said property, reversionary
interest therein being in the city's
grantors. 1t is thought that DR..
Porter granted Reed street to the city.
IL be granted the entire fee to the city
4 then the city BY authority OF the Log
| islature can sell and thus obtain the
$40. 600 offered by Mr.. Plunkett. II
Dr. Porter only granted an easement tc
the city then the c,ty and the heirs Of
DR.. Porter joining in the deed, can con
yey the fec simple title.
''Mr. Plunkett's attitude is very
plain. He. with vast number oI
other citizens, desires that the streets
of the city be not given up to privat,
persons, thus iniuring other propert,
holders and taxpayers OF tho city. HI
has large interests on this very Reee
street which will suffer il the Legisla
,ture makes this donation to Blumen
thai s. Co. The best course for thu
Legislature is to let the street remain
as it is, but il the Legislature wants t.
make money for tbs public out of thi
street let them get the most possible.
"Mr. Plunkett's offer Is in no wise ;
bluff. He stands ready with the casf
and will make reasonable deposit t.
bind his offer, ~