The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-26
WHO IS RE-
SP0NSIBLE?
Bridge Work Over the
Race is Interfering
With Railway
Tracks.

The meeting of the Water Department
yesterday afternoon was interesting. Mr.
Hastings brought up the matter OF the
erection Of a bridge over the Btandywine,
and called attention to the fact that the
city was interfering with the tracks OF
the Wilmington City Railway Company.
lie asked whether it was the business Of
whether it was The business Of the city to
place red lights there for danger signals
and also shore up the tracks Of the rail-
way company for the purpose OF making
them safe while the Improvement was 60
ing on. Mr.. Hastings said the svpcrin-
tendent Of ths company had spoken to
him in reference to the matter. The com
pany hasa right of way there, and their
tracks wors being interfered with. He
thought that the board should hnd out
who was re ,poasible in tho matter
Commissioner Belts said that II the city
did not erect the new bridge there the
railway company would have to put up
one
Mr.. Hastings said the question was
whether the city railway company ehould
LOOK after the public safety while the
work was being done.
President Porlor said that the easiest
way to find out would be to ask an opin-
ion from the city solicitor.
Mr.. Hastings thought that such an opin-
ion should have been secured before the
work was commenced. Now the work Is
in progress,
Mr.. Belts said that he was net Ia favor
OF the board taking charge Of the work OF
snoring the tracks, He thought that the
railway company should do that work.
Mr.. Hastings said that he was clearly Of
the opinion that 1t was the duty Of the
department. to put up the lights, place q
watohmant there to protect the public, and
to shore IpStho tracks and make them safe.
The city is digging under The tracks and
making them unsafe for passengers.
President Porter said that the Philadel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad
Company had never offered any objection
to the department doing Work and had al
ways insisted upon snoring Its own tracks.
Mr.. Hastings thought that 1t was clearly
the right and the duty OF the board to take
the proper precautions for the safety OF
tho people, and he moved that the toard
place rod lights at the work ut night, pro-
vide watChmen and shore the tracks whom
the department digs beneath them.
The motion was not seconded.
Mr.. Belts then moved that Chief Eugin-
Ger Bond be directed to get the opinion OF
the city solicitor OH the matter, and act
accordingly. This motion was carried. Mr.
Hnslings remarked that lie would have
been in favor of the molio before the work
was commenced, but he considered 1t too
late now, when the work had begun.
In answer TO q communication from City
Council asking the probable surplus Of the
department. this year, tho board replied
that the surplns would probably be $500
William II. Taylor asked for the return
Of ninety csnts, which he claimed he had
overpaid as water rent but a' ho had not
notified the board of change In his wat.
er service, 1t was not allowed, Bids for
furnishing coal for the year beginning on
May were received. The bid Of the Charles
Warner Company was 81. IS, S2s3, So % and
ss.lS, according to the mine from which
it was furnished; the Davis Coal md Coke
Company SEES, 81 49, s2.05 and 81; H. A.
Brown, S523. The contract WAS awarded
to the Charles Warner Company for Jack
son mine GOAL at e2.3S