Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14


The commendable frmness displayed
by Mayor Milington and the town
authorities has put an end to the vio-
lent features Of the trolley war for the
possession of Dover's streets, and
changed the scene of operations from
the highways to the halls of Town
Council. John d. Hawkins company
has started on another tack by making
pretense OF actual operations on the
county road, outside of the town limits,
but how far these operations may go
is question, and they cannot become
effective until permission is obtained
to lay rails upon. the streets Of Dover
town. A trolley line that did not ex-
tend to Dover Green would be of little
practical purpose in Kent county.
Meanwhile, the new trolley company,
whose agents have obtained permission
from the Kent county Levy Court to
lay lines upon the public highways.
and who have made deposit of
ST. 500 cash--equal to $500 fol- each
mile Of their projected road--in a
Dover bank, is also preparing to enter
upon tho active work of construction.
| The great bone of contention, naturally,
will be the right 10 use the Dover
streets, The new company also wants
to use these streets, and the Town
Council, in order to deal properly with
the subject, has rescipded the permits
sion granted several years ago to the
concern represented by Mr.. Hawkins.
And considering the dilatoriness of the
latter company, it is not surprising
that the Town Council took this action.
But with SIS hands free and its judg-
ment unbiased, the Town Council is
in position to act in such manner as
will best promote tho interests of the
people of Dover, ard this, we under
stand, it proposes to do. 1t will not
auction off the privileges of the streets
to the higher bidder, but it will exact
propositions from the rival companies
and award the street franchises to the
concern that gives promise Of making
the better returns TO the people, in the
way Of convenience, effective service,
consideration OF private rights, and
safeguarding the town corporation
against annoying litigation. These are
practical considerations, and the Town
Council is doing right in determining
that they shall not be lost sight of.
| Aside from the creditabe attitude OF
the town authorities, the trolley con-
troversy is disgraceful in many re-
spects. The old company's associa-
tions are not Of character to commend
it to public confidence. Chartered
several years ago, with time limit
upon its initial operations, it made but
the farcical pretense of commencing
work within tho prescribed time by
digging few shovelfuls of earth and
throwing down few old rails and ties
taken from the property of tho railroad
at Bombay Hook. Then it remained
quiescent, alert only to the possibilities
Of speculative sale of the charter,
until the advent of the new company
stirred it to violent action. Nor is the
new concern--despite its cash backing
entirely free from associations not
calculated to inspire the fullest meas
ure of public confidence. However
neither party to the controversy will bt
justified in resorting to violent meas
ures, as the courts Of our State can BIZ
depended upon to determine their re-
spective rights.
Meanwhile, peace reigns along thu
banks of the st. Jones River, and tbs
people of Dover are to be congratulated
that in Mayor Millington and the Towr
Council they possess public servants
who will not tolerate lawlessness mo-
permit the public privileges to b.
rudely appropriated without any com
pensation whatever.
Atlanta, Ga, has secured for itsel