The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-05
1SAY THEY he ARE i
HURRYlNG
I The Work on Fourteenth,
I. Scott and Other Streets
in That Vicinity.

Tho Street and Sewer directors last
night discussed the resolutions recently
adopted by the citizens of the vicinity of
Fourteenth and Scott streets, and contrary
to expectation, the matter was simply re-
I ferred. President Pratt read the resolu-
! tions and he and Mr.. Simmons replied.
After discussing the work Of eliminating
the grade crossings in the neighborhood,
MIR. Pratt said:
lone part of the resolutions condemns
! the department for yacating certain
tstreets. No streets have been vaceied. AL
the streets are still there and the city still
owns them. Complaint is also made about
\ sidewalks. IL is a well known law that
the city never grades sidewalks. That
work Is always done by tho property own
ors. Lincoln, Union and Scott streets
iwere never improved sureets-that Is, never
had any pavement-and the people max
Ing this complaint know such to be tho
case. The department is now paving all
tho streets about which this complaint Is
made. Part of them have already been
improved by being paved. an we are now
doing the other parts. The department
cannot do all the pavement instantane-
Ously.
1.-THE resolutions also charge the depart
iNent with not exercising due diligence. l
feel that the record, will show that the
Uuuiu has NcEh ulllSGAe al az lVS uAuCl-
takings and especially in this case. We
cannot do all at once when we have 50
many improvements under way rs we have
had this yea. see no justice in this
complaint, when we are doing our best to
put Scott. Lincoln, Union and Fourteenth
streets In much butter condition han they
have ever been by laying an improved
pavement.
mo one can deny the value that will re-
a,lt k1 al ,iv,nfi nn .,Ei 1,n ia
crossings. We considered the matter care
fully and tho damages that wuld result.
We consulted the proper owners and we
have from them releases, signed by their
attorney, releasing the city from any
damages done In making tho improve
ments. beiieveno Cne elsa can see the
justice and force Of this complaint. The
value OF the improvements made by the
elimination Of the grade crossings will be
increased in value as long as IKE city is a
cftv and 1t grow!."
NJ Smith read from the department
records reports from the street contractors
that tho work was being done as rapidly as
possible. The water Department and Gas
Company now ave the street torn up and
until thoy finish their work Mr.. Simmons
said the Gepartin ut could not do 1t.
Dennis J. Mention, Oh behalf of the Har-
Ian and Hoillngsworth Company, asked
wharf, in order that tie company might
have mora room to build government
boats
Action on the application was postponed
until the board can look into the matter.
Mr. Pratt said that the HARLAN and Hol-
hngsworth Company did not merely want
the land to give people OF The city employ.
ment, but expected 10 make money for the
Harlan and Holllngsworth Company. He
n N raa ,yhv hn bnur shnIIlI Ipnsp
public property for such Il long term of
years for u nominal sum, for no one could
tell what be netit the wharf might be to the
city and the citizens before tho expiration
of ten years. Mr. Pratt thought that it
would not take more than two or'three
years to build boats Mr. simmons was
also opposed to leasing public property for
q long term at u nominal sum.
Joseph l.. Carpenter, Jr., presented to
tho department tho deeds of Joshua Il.
Head and wife conveying to The city Ger
tain streets. Mr.. Carpenter explained
that no found the deeds in his safe, but
did not know how they came into his po-
SO ssion, They were accepted with thanks
rs the board did not know that the city
owned the streas named in the docu-
5meuts The deeds convey to the city, the
beds of Fourteenth street from DUPONT
street to Gilpn Avenue from Broume to
Harrison street.; Shallorus, av nue. from
Broome to Nanjuren streets; Lowering
avenue from BroonIe street to Lowering
avenue; Hancock street between Gilpin
and Lowering avenues. and BrDome and
Franklin streets; Rowan street between
Gilpin and ShnlIcross avenues, and Clay
ton and Rodney streets; Franklin street
from Gilpin avenue to the Rrandywine,
and Harrison street from Gilpin avenue TO
the Brandywne.
Some of the streets named in the Iced
have been opened, but that WAS done
done before the department came into ex-
istence, and he had no knowledge that
the city owned the streets until Mr.. Car
penter found the deed.
G. NJ. Smith received the contract for
600 blanks for he plumbing inspector alta
cost Of 81 r.
Action was postponed on an application
OF the r., w. 4 Is. railroad company, to
lay sidingat Water King streets.