The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-22
DIRECTORS In A WRANGLE,
The Franchise Question Causes Warm
Argument by Everyone. Other
Business of the Board.

Business of the Board
| As stated in the REPUBLICAN, Of MondaJ
the Street and Sewer Department lasl
night did not grant or deny tho Whining
ton and Brandywine Springs 1aail way
Company the privilege Of laying its tracks
dent OF the board, was present, as also were
the other members together with W. ID.
Hilles, the Company's attorney, Richard
W. Crooks, DR.. D. H. Bail, Representative
Dempsey and others.
DR.. Ball was the spokesman and asked
the board If it was ready to give an answer
| to the question President Pratt in reply
ing said the subject was II new one to him
and one which required time to consider.
| All he knew was that tho Company had
its charter
Mr. Ball said he had hoped to receive the
answer, whereupon Mr.. Pratt remarked:
II want to be satisfied that your COM
| pany is bona fide ono and know what
| financial support 1t has to assure the con-
| struction Of the line. / am willing to vote
| for any franchise for tho use of the city
streets if the company Is bona flde one
| and does not desire the franchise as
| means of selling its charter"
Then Mr.. Ball assured Mr.. Pratt that
the company was honest in its purpose
and would prove it by beginning the con-
struction of the limo within week after
the franchise is granted. At this point
Mr.. Webster got into the argument say
ing this matter had been hanging fire for
the last seven or eight weeks, and during
much of that time the company was ropre.
sented by an attorney. Mr.. Crooks now
says that the attorney will not appear be-
fore the board.
After severely crltic;sing Mr. Hilles, Mr.
fully into the matter and have my opinion
formed. Some fault was found because
we were not here all the time. We were
here two days each week and we had
franchise for breakfast, dinner and supper,
and If we had stayed whole week we
would have been fed to death on 1t.
'The Legislature grantad this company,
q charter givingi it the right to come into
tho city, and .ll we have to do is to place
the restrictions on it and name upon
what condiI ions it will occupy the public
streets. Ii the privileges granted this
company Conflict with those of the Will
mington City Railway Company it is
not our fault. 1t is in the charter and tho
State is responsible, as the Legislature
should have been careful and not made
such mistakes. We have placed the re-
striction Oh tho company and 1T has ac-
eepted every ono and offered to give bonds
for the faithful performance of the condi.
tions required of it. We tannot ask mos -
Have the capitalists vino have b,en be-
fore you been unsatisfactory asked the
doctor. Tho doctor replied that he was
satisfied. Then Mr.. Pratt remarked: Il
am only too sorry that this whole thing
was not settled before got back, but the
other two members waited until my re-
turn. | want to be informed. lhave boan
criticised because l was not here. want
tosay that it was never proposed in the
forming Of this board that the members
were to give all their time to the city. l
would not be n member of this department.
for the mere pittance OF salary 1t pays
if had to sacrifice my private interests by
remaining here.
Mr. Webster now joined In tho discus
sion and said: "rho Wilmington City
Railway Company has done much to i'm
prove this city. non't believe that they
have made any money, and Whatever 1t
earned it had spent In improving its plant
extending its line and giving the people
decent car, in which to ride. II l thought
that this line would injuro the city rail
way. l would not vote torit, but think
this new line will prove Il feeder for .he
city railway"
Mr. Pratt said that he attended to look
into the matter thoroughly before he vot.
ed, and he wanted to know something
about the capital back of the line. DIR.
Ball proceeded to give some information,
and Mr.. Crooks attempted to check him.
Dr. Ball said that the $780, in bonds
among the bonlholders were DOhson, the
carpet manufacturer of Philadelphia, who
took $50 OJO; Harrison, the sugar raflher,
$4,000; M. Price, $4,000; Mr.. Coates,
$1,000, or $4,000; aud Vice President Ho-
bart, 5000.
Mir. Webster said that he thought that
the company had been waiting long
enough and Mr. Pratt sni1 Il am sorry
that you gentlemen who had all the in
formation, did not act before this
Dr. Ball said that the company would
give bond that tho road will bo built
Mr Pratt said: II don't want to keep
YOU any longer than possible. | want to
hear ali nides of this question: And DR..
Ball, thinking he had struck n rich Clue
said: ",rtero are only two sides. the Bran
dywins Springs Railway and the city. L
don't think any other railway enters into
the question"
The discu sion closed by Mr. Pratt say.
ing he w:li willing to lot the commission
ComTnny's representatives, left with the
assurance that the answer would be given
next tuesday night
Then the board took up Its regular week.
" work. City Solicitor Conrad sent
communication conveying the Information
that Judgment had been entareu Tor the
damages in tho Courtney case. The bill
amounted to s763,75. 1t was decided to
DAY il unless IN inj junction is taken within
!. week Mr. Simmons vote'l against pay
ing he bill. 1t was decided to place tho
twenty Delmarvia telephones presented to
tho city in the following places : :.
One In each of the nnc fire engine hons-
es four in tn, various offices in the build
ing at Sixth and King streets; one, clerk
of Councils office; store house, city audi.
tor, city treasurer. city court, city tax
Office nnd the police station.
A side walk was ordered laid on Jack
son S rect between Fifth and Sixth streets.
The subj j.ct Of the graio crossing OF tho
p, W. 81 b. II. r., was referred to anu |
Secretary Wiley was instructed to learn
when Superintendent i,annard will re-
turn 50 that II meeting can be arranged
between tho board and lhe Railroad Com.
pany.