The sun., 1898-02-07
FAVOR A NEW CITY HALL
Erection Of a Magnificent
Building Being Agitated.
WHAT PROMINENT ONES SAY
The Present City Hall II One
Hundred Years Old aud is
Thoroughly Inadequate
for the Wants Of
This City.
WHAT PROMINENT ONES SAY

The question Of erecting a new city
hall is now bing agitated and it is prob
able that this city will soon possess a
magnificent city building.
The matter Of appropriation is being
carefully considered and it is likely that
some definite action will R taken in the
near future.
The City Hall of Wilmington is this
year 100 wears old, being erected in the
spring OF l70S. This building from its
old age and hard usage requires annually
large amount to make the necessary
alterations and Improvements. 1t costs
annually to keep it IN repair and make
improvements as much as the interest
would amount to on money loaned to
build new City Hall. -.
For the past five years rllmors Of all
kinds could be heard about building a
new city hall, and two years ago bill
was sent to the Legislature asking for an
appropriation of $2OO,0OO. This bill
never received reading and why, cannot
be learned.
Since that bill was sent to the IegisIa-
ture nothing Of any importance has been
done, and no new developments have
arose but now citizens can be heard
speaking daily around the City Hall as
to why new structure should be
erected.
An interview with several citizens
elected the fact that all unanimously are
in favor OF new City Hall, and the ma
jority Of citizens say that the old one
should be torn away. Chief Of Police
Dolan says, "A new City Hall cannot bc
erected 700 soon. am enthusiastic over
the agitation and believe it a great neces-
sity. would like to see 4 building
erected that would extend from the
Eckles building to Sixth street, and
extending back wards to King street. l
think II advisable to purchase the Mullin
building, adjoining the City Hall, so
that . building can be erected large
enough to have all city Offices there in.
If this building will be erected | would
like to see oil city offices on the first
door, city court. council chamber and
offices, second floor, and third floor other
Offices, having the Police headquarters
In rear u building on King street.
Councilman D. +. Leary said:
Il am greatly in favor of new City
Hall but not in favor Of destroying the
old building. would like to see new
building erected in the rear Of our City
Hall and made large enough to hold all
city Offices"
Police Captain Kane says a new City
Hall is great necessity, ~ the present
one is moi satisfactory in any Of its de.
partments. "The sanitary condition is
bad and also the arrangement OF its in
terior.'
mo one can speak correctly he said,
about this building unless their business
is such that they are required to be there
and know all about it. have Il strong
desire to ste new building erected.
"If public sentiment IL such that this
City Hall shall not b. interfered with,
then all the new alterations should be
torn away and leave the building in
the same condition a. when it was first
erected. 1t should then be placed in the
hands Of the Historical Society who
could surround it with small park and
make it \ beauty spot in the centre OF
the city. myself think it best TO have
it removed and build from the Eckles
building o corner Of Sixth and back
to King street
He said the money required annually
to repair it and in making improvements
would amount to same as interest on
money borrowed to bniid = new build
ing. The Captain was earnest in his
conversation and said it WAS his con-
scientious opinion.
Councilman Smith said: 81 am in
favor Of new City Hall and would give
my support for the same ~ | believe it
would be money spent to good sdvan..
tage. The Legislature and city combined
should rai@e enough money to erect
City Hall and the sity loan would never
Ike felt by the individual citizen"
Captain Chambers said: II would like
to see large City Hall erected, but am
afraid that it shall never be done. A
new building is necessity that everyone
who 10 connected with it realizes.
Frank Ball, Judge OF the Municipal
Court, stated: THAT 4 new City Hall is
a necessity, and it is disgraceful for the
city to still retain such mean place OF
confinement.
H. H. Ward, Esq, William l.awton
and many other prominent citizens ex.
pressed themselves as greatly in favor of
a new City Hall.