Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08

"a I
The Board of Trade met in monthly
session on Thursday, President William
Lawton in the chair. Others present
were Secretary Daniel w. Taylor,
Alvin r. Morrison, A. S. Reed Nj. T..
Satterthwaite, Calvin ]. Swayne,
Josiah Marvel, DIR. +. f. Smith, j.
r. Hudson, John M. Rogers, Frank |
woolley and George r. Moore
Secretary Taylor read u letter from |
Richard +. Fox, general manager Of |
the Wilmington City Railway Co.,
acknowledging the receipt Of the |
boards letter relative to 'cross-town |
road" Mr.. Fox announced that the |
company has under consideration the |
construction of such road and would |
be thankful to receive any suggestion
from the board.
The members discussed the matter of
road in the western part of the city.
No one route was agreed upon. Mr..
Swayne said he had been talking with
General Manager Fox, who had raised
the point whether u route out Eighth
and in Sixth would not be better inn
provement than cross line. Mr..
Woolley thought Broome street would
be good route for new line.
The transportation committee was
directed to confer with the company as
to route. This committee comprises
E. M. Hopes, u. T. Warner, Charles
H. Smith, Jr., and John G. Farra.
The Legislative committee, George A.
Elliott, chairman, made written re-
port on the matters OF General Cor
poration act, proposed municipal
charter, proposed State workhouse and
a national statute governing express
companies As to the corporation act,
Mr.. Elliott said that good bill was
introduced before the Legislature but
was opposed by certain interests The
board was advised to wait until the
meeting of the Legislature. As to the
proposed new charter, the committee
felt that it should be left with the
board to take further action as should
be desired at the proper time.
Concerning a proposed bill for
State workhouse the committee thought
it should be considered by the board,
quoting Chief Justice Lore as fayoring
it on humanitarian grounds.
The committee also favored pro-
posed anti-ticket scalping bill and the
passage Of national statute to regu-
late express companies according to In
terstate Commerce law.
The report of the committee was re-
ceived, and the board authorized the
secretary to sign circular memorable
ing Congress in the interest of a
national statute for express companies.
John M. Rogers, of the committee
on house and social features, reported
favorably on the subject of a banquet,
! and suggested that the time of the re
turn of Senator Gray as a peace COM
missioner would be an appropriate time
TO have it. The report was accepted
and the committee will arrange for the
banquet and may make it suit Senator
Gray's return.
NJ. P. Satterthwaite of the member
ship committee had no report other
than the statement that the committee
thought it more important now to
arouse the interest Of the present men,
bers than to secure new ones.
Archibald s. Reed presented the fol-
lowing resolution, which was adopted
Resolved, That it is the opinion OF
this Board Of Trade, that it would be
of great benefit to our merchants and
citizens generally to have direct tele
phonic communication with the towns
down the State and Peninsula, and We
urge our people to take hold of this
matter, as arrangements are now in
progress to accomplish this object, if
properly supported by our citizens.''
In discussing the resolution, Mr.
Reed said he thought the telephone
companies would be glad to take holc
of it.
Connection is now had from this cit,
to Dover and intermediate towns, ant
it is desired to connect with those be
low the State capital.
The resolution was referred to tn,
committee on trade and extension
which comprises A. ID. Warner, Will
liam B. Clerk, Thomas j. Talley ant
DR.. F. Z. Smith.
Mr.. Satterthwaite reported the or
ganization of the committee to arrapg
for the meeting of the municipal cleo
tricians' convention in this city mex
September, j. W. Aydon being mad
president; John @. Farra, treasurer
and M. z. Satterthwaite, secretary.
The board next listened to "a discus
sion by Mr.. Satterthwaite of the wor
of boards of trade of other cities
together with a consideration of tn
problem how to increase the revenue c
this city without increasing the ia
rate on real estate, or to keep the reve
nue. as at present and decrease the ia
rate. He produced large number {
pamphlets showing the activities {
boards elsewhere and read from som
Of them by way of suggesting whit
might be taken up here. He quote
figures from the report of City Urea!
urer Curry for year ending July Isl
1898, showing receipts at S734, 1922.
and net expenditures of 1862. $50. 6.
or the receipts, SS2, S07.3 2 are n,
from real estate. In discussing meai
of securing revenue he spoke
the liquor licenses which all s
to the State now, and the troll(
cars which are not taxed here.
Trenton, for instance, street cars a
taxed, and the city receives the tot
revenue from liquor licenses. In Rea
ing trolley cars are taxed s. car Al
nually after road has had five yea
service, and the liquor licenses are d
vided between the city and countr
The city received S6S, S0i from ii
licenses. Figures were given of d
city of Evansville, Ind, which had
substantial balance and was makil
public improvements.
Mr.. Woolley, in discussing Mr.. lSa
terthwaite's statistics, declared that
costs too much to run this city al
State government; that figures sho
ing the same amount collected for tax
elsewhere, show also balance. Whe
is our surplus? he asked. He mai
tanned that here there are too ma
politicians to be provided for; t
much politics in the city.
On motion of Mr.. Marvel, comm
tee of three will be named to look in
the matter of the government of 9th
cities, the purpose being to benefit
their experiences.