Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-06


On the evening of September 9th,
numerous citizens at an indignation
meeting, held at Fourteenth and Scott
streets, endorsed series of resolutions
which enlarged the directors of the
Street and Sewer Department with
negligence in the work in that nnigh
borhood. The directors of the depart
ment, at their regular meeting Tuesday
evening, entered n plea of not guilty to
the charge and took occasion to answer
the respective counts in some detail.
President Pratt introduced the sub
ject by reading the resolutions of the
indignation meeting. He followed this
up with the assertion that he thought
the board was perfectly willing to stand
on the improvement which had been
made. When the board entered upon
Its duties, it found condition of
affairs for which it was not responsible
Sometime back in 1880 the Baltimore
q Ohio railroad, by permission of
Council was allowed to come into the
city at grade. As traffic increased on
Pennsylvania avenue and in that
4 neighborhood it became plain that
something should be done. The pre-
decessors of the present directors had
been unable to secure legislative action
to force the elimination of the grade
crossings The present board went TO
? work negotiating with the railroad
people, and succeeded in eliminating
those crossings. yNs,.-
Mr.. Pratt said he was proud to have
been member Of the board which
accomplished that. The change had
undoubtedly been hard on some, but
the board must look for the good to
the greatest number.
As to that section of the Indignation
resolutions which held that the vacat-
ing of portions of Union and Scott
streets was contrary to the city charter,
President Pratt declared that those
streets are not vacated. When the city
Is able it may build bridges there.
To the indignation section that al
legged it to be an outrage the way the
sidewalks were left, Mr.. Pratt answered
that the city never grades sidewalks it
grades the streets and the people fix
the sidewalks.
The complaint concerning the beds
of Lincoln, Scott, Fourteenth and Ford
streets, were answered with the state
ment that the board does not consider
them as improved streets. 1t has,
however, been improving Union and
Scott and will have them in better
condition than ever.
Mr.. Pratt maintained that the board
had used due diligence and said he
thought the records would show that 1t
had done IL very rapidly and without
Improper delay He failed to SEQ any
justice in any Of the complaint. He
added that certain Of the men in that
neighborhool had been consulted, and
their interests guarded, to their salts
faction in the ARRANGEMENTS for the
changes, and the board has releases
from theif ATTORNEYS for any damages
that NAV result from the improye-
ments He added that the board did
not want to damage any man, and ii
legally RESPONSIBLE wished to settle
Everything possible had been done md
the IMPROVEMENT will increase IN value
as the city grow. I'm III \.
Director Simmons spoke next in de-
fence of the department. referring To
the history of the abolition OF the
grade crossings. He then read from a
schedule of the work in connection
with the abolition of the grade cross
ings, showing its progress. On August
10th, 1897, the contract was made for
grading Pennsylyapia avenue. and the
board expected to push II. but Inc
railroad company did not get through
in time to allow the work 70 begin be-.
fore October 27th. 1897. On November
9Th, the grading was being done be-
tween Union street and the bridge and
> tho grading was finally comnleted
April 9th, 1898.
Before this work of grading WAS
finished, work was commenced by the
street Commissioned to sub.orade
Pennsylvania avenue for mnondan, mr.
telford road. the work heinz com n
menced january 10Th. 1895 finished
about Nav 2Sth, 1898 Curb stones and
cutters we're replaced nj ali no;nts
where curb stones had been set previous
10 the commencement of any work
The said curb and gutter work were
finished August Goth. 1909
On April 9th. 1898. contracts vere
LEFT TO John Topue. Michael Do,,hhi,e
and Patrick Nearv for fine grading of
Lincoln. Scott and Thirteenth streets.
Union street, Fourteenth street, Scott
street and Ford street, made necessarv
on account n tha abolition ~ grade
crossing a. pennsvlvan;a aven,,e and
Union 'street and E1,,rtaentb and Scott
STRAITS TINS wnr,r was commence
Nav 10Th 1908
Union street between pennsylvania
avenue and Fourteenth street being
finished June 81 1909. Eo,rteenth
street betwaen T.;nooln and A., pant
streets. beino f,;nshad Inna 1eth 1905
Scott street d;verte5 tooetber
with Ford street. finished uo,,st XII,
1898. Scott street. betwean pennslv'
yania avenue and Fourteenth street.
commenced June 10th. 1905. and finished