Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-23

the point OF securing it's franchise Tues
day evening, Street and Sewer Director
Ayers 8. Webster Speaking in it's be.
half, nut Director W. A, Pratt declared
that he WIS not ready 10 vote and
Director William Simmons thought Mr.,
Pratt should have more time. With
the assurance that Mr.. Pratt would
possibly be ready 10 vote next Tuesday
night, and that il it starts to build its
road permission will be granted it to
enter the city DIR. Il. II. Ball and Richard
w. Crock, who have been standing for
the company these many weeks, with
drew from tho meeting. With them
was Representative Dempsey.
Dr. Ball was the principal spokesman
herore the directors at their meeting
Tuesday evening. After DR.. Ball had re-
fqrred to tho fact that tho road desires
permission to CONS in Sixth street,
Prof. Pratt said that it was an entirely
new subject for MIN as he bad been out
of tho worlh and had seen no paper or
letter; the first thing some one said TO
him on the train was, ''What are you
going 10 do about the Braudywine
Springs railway"
DR.. Ball spoke OF the fact that they
had been before the board for several
weeks and thought they could have
decision.
Mr.. Pratt. announced that he could
not give decision then, AZ it was a
matter he would have TO look into he.
fore voting either way. In the first
place he would not be willing 10 vote
any franchise that was not bona tide,
that waH stock jUhbing.
DIR. Ball replied that they could hut
give their own wurh at nresent that
tpnslr tpntl1 MT mi d2 hmm mr.
vding the permission was granted. Tho
company was very anxious to know the
boards decision.
Director Webster here took the floor.
He said that the matter had heen hang
ing six or seven weeks. He paid his
respects to William S. ililles, who had
represented the company, but of whom
it was said at the previous meeting
that he objected to coming before the
hoard. Mir. Webster said he had the
kindest feeling for the railway COM
pany hut Mr.. liilles had appeared with
his spread eagle oratory aud an Il
know it-Gll" anu ''you-don t.know.
everything manner, and for that reason
the gentlemen did not get their new
franchise before.
Mr.. Webster declared that he and Mr..
Simmons went into the matter thor
DuHUIy anu UuN IL AT blcHNidhht hluutl
and supper for two dayh each week, and
IL they had had it the whole week they
would have been killed.
In going over the matter OF fran
chiHe for the road it seemed to Mr..
Webster that tho Legislature had
granted the right TO build the road and
the board had nothing to do nut place
restrictions upon it on coming into the
city. With all these RESTRICT ons they
have complied. IL there is anything
wrong with tho charter that ia for the
Legislature to attend to and not the
city. AS far as the legal rights ara
concerned that belongs to the State and
not TO the city. The gentlemen had
complied with everything and were
willing TO indemnify the hoard.
In reply to queation from DIR. Ball,
MIR, Webster expressed himself as salts.
fled with tho bncking Of the road, as
indicated at n previous meeting,
Mr., Pratt announced that If the
question was brought up at the meeting
he would not vote on it until he was
thoroughly satisfied IN regard 10 1t. In
parenthoss Mr.. Pratt replied to the
statement that he SHOULD have been
here these intervening weeks by saying
that in the formation of tho board il
was never contemplated that Il man e
private business should he given uu
and he certainly would not be mem.
her of the hoard Tor the pittance il
grants il he had to girs up his business.
Mr.. Webster again took up the sub
iect OF the new franchise He expressed
the thought that the Wilmington City
Railway Go. has male no money here
and bus given good service, and be
would not vote for the new franchise Il
he thought it would cripple the old com
pany, bur he did not think IL would
cripple the old company; he rather
Thought the road would act as feeder.
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Pratt discussoc
for few minutes tho question whether
the company had to have the consent
of the hOard to enter the city Mr..
Webster held that the Legislature haG
nlreatiy granted the charter aud thai
the department simply has a right tc
make restrictions. A portion of the
charter was road by Secretary Wiley Il
show the situation, the charter saying
that the company cannot open th'
street without the permission of thu
department.
In reply to Mr.. Pratt Dr. Ball an
nounced that tho company's bonds Il
tile amount of $3.50, 600 have been takor
by individuals among them Do'snn
E0I,uUUi llhrFlsOoI c-o'u lrlcbI coU,
0DO; Coates, he thought, sl5, 900, ant
Vice Prosident Hobart, So, 0C0
Mr.. Webster again spoke OF the length
of time which the company has alread.
had TO wait.
DIR. Ball announced that they wouli
give bond for any amount wished tina
they would construct tho roud. He an
nouuced that a charter had heen He
cured in Pennsylvania for the building
of road from Kenneth Square, viii J!
is to connect at lInckessin. The com
pany has secured the capital, has lease,
same and bought other property ant
has done everything it can until per
mission is given TO use the city streets
Mr.. Pratt inquired concerning tn
alleged conflict in the charter anl
amendment us to coming to the cit
line, TO which DIR. Ball rcDlied tha
their attorney held that the supplement
took tho place of the original and Mr.
Webster remarked that the board ha
nothing to do outside of the city.
Mr.. Crook also declared that tn
company would bond to carry out th
work.
Mr.. Pratt was still unwilling to vol
and he thought tho hoard should NO
he charged with slowness when th
company han been SO long since frs
receiving a charter
After Mr.. Webster had conferred wit
Mr.. Simmons and again spoken agains
further delay, Mr.. Pratt said he wa
Uillipu IN trt,of ht. int nrac To If thu nit