Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-31
n Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal

Htah Correspondence OF Gazette and Journai.
New Castle, Jan. 26.-An enthusi-
n sstic and interesting meeting of tax
\ payers was held In the Town Hall, last
4 ty ening. when the reports Of the COM
4 mittees were received relative to the
construction of waterworls, electric
4 lighting plant and a sewerage system.
President Lambson called the meet
| ing TO order at 8. 10 O'Clock. The report
Of William q. Rothwell of the COM
mittee to meet the Trustees Of the
New Castle Commons relative TO what
assistance might be expected from the
trustees, showed that the committee
decided to wait until after some steps
should be taken to place the committee
In position to make the city's wants
olenrly known.
lA The committee on the cost of the
erection Of a water plant and electric
light plant, through William Deakyne,
chairman, made an interesting report,
showing that the water works, with
pumping station and stand pipe,
reservoir to be located within the city
limits proper, or within the built.up
portion of the city; the main pipe to
he IL inches in diameter and Others 8
inches 10 diameter, for sections OF the
city not in the main line; with power
for the pumps. and proper buildings,
would cost about $50, 000 and Of this
amount about Sl5, 200 would cover the
Electric light plant.
The committee would not advise the
construction Of the light plant, as it
!. involved violating the contract between
1.-THE city and the Wilmington & New
castle Railway Go. They advised
4 prompt action on the water supply
question as it was absolutely neces-
sity. qFa
The committee found that IL was
almost impossible to make o salts
factory estimate of the cost Of a
sewerage system. The probable cost
was STATED to be between S12, 600 and
$4,000. 1t would place heavy liens
upon properties, which the owners
c,uld not we'll Withstand at the present
time.
Francis Del Janvier made an ex-
PLANTATION relative to the light contract,
aud stated that II the city had entered
into contract 1t could not well break
or violate the agreement. IN any man
nar. James B. Toman said: 1.-THE city
4 can afford to violate the agreement, as
the trolley company has done.
Lights 10 some sections are out all
n night ] have known lights reported
out at 7.30 p. m., and no attempt
made to remedy the trouble, the lights
4 remaining out all night The con-
dition OF Seventh street and other
4 streets shows how the company has
lived up to its agieement.
n Representative Holcomh presented
report of the condition OF the water
= works and electric light plants of
M lord and Dover. In Milford the
( cost of the first spigot is but 80 go per
year, while So per year is the price
paid in this city. 1atT.
Mr.. Holcomb added that when many
spipots were used, reduction was
made, and also a reduction In theprice
of the electric light, according to the
number of lights used. He gave de-
soription of the water works, the mum
her Of wells, length Of pipe and sizes
of the same. The wells are 230 feet In
depth and will squirt water 20 feet III
\ the air without pressure. The Gust to
the city of fire plugs was 1000 for
So plugs. The net earnings for the
year were over "a, 600.
va James T. Challenger thought that
the Trustees of the New Castle Com
mons should agree to pay to the city
the sum Of $4,000 per year to assist in
paying the interest on city bonds, in
case the city should be bonded. He
eaw no reason why this should not be
done for the city, as it was done for 30
years for the use Of a private in
n dividual.
Z Mr.. Lambson stated that If the
trustees gave but $1,000, the city
would be able to meet all Indebtedness
and soon secure enough money to pay
off the bonds as they matured.
~ Mr.. Toman, one OF the Trustees of
the Commons, said that he would be
welf pleased If the trustees found
VI themselves able to pay $1,000 to the
city for improvements. He spoke of
n the trouble that existed in relation to
the settlement OF the claim of the
winter works company. The Trustees
OF the Commons, he said, did not Of
their own yolition assume, 80 years
ago,s the debt of $1,000 per year, but
\ did SO under pressure of citizens and a
a vote taken by the latter.
2f Mr. Deagyne offered resolution
stating, as the sense of the meeting,
that a bill be presented to the Legis.
q lature to bond the city for a sufficient
amount to erect water works and an
electric light plant. The resolution
was adopted unanimously.
On motion OF Mr.. Challenger, 1t was
4 ordered that the money be placed in
the hands Of a commission that should
Rave entire CONTROL
On motion of John j. Sheridan,
Representative Holcomb was requested
to give notice OF a bill to bond the
oity.
~ A committee consisting of the follow
W ing persons was appointed to select
names OF citizens to be named In the
~ bill as commissioners: William K.
q Deakyne, John j. Sheridan, John s.
King, Orvid A. Porter and j. Ernest
II Phillips.
AZ The result was that the following
were named to be the commission: j.
Ernest Phillips, John R. Lambson,
Edward 4. Deakyne, S. Atwood
Is Stewart. William e. Rothwell anc
James T. Challenger.
The bill is to be similar to the Mil.
ford bill The commissioners are to be
bipartisan and elected for terms Of
one, two and three years.
The Law committee will not borrow .
sum to excesd ESQ., 900. All Legislation
that may conflict is to be repealed A
4 SINKING fund act will be embodied.
Each person who pays tax
will be allowed to vote for Thu
& members of the commission. Al
E itemized report of the commission shall
be made semi-annually. The treasurer
a may be appointed outside OF the com
4 mission and shall be bonded in twice
the sum Of money that he may hold
Another meeting will be held mex
n Friday Light, to hear the report Of thu
.M oot, ~, uto.