Evening journal., 1902-03-25
WARM DEBATE
OVER FRANCHISE
That Of the BrandyWine Rail-
way Company Held Up
INQUIRING ABOUT QUARTERS
CitV Council Asks That the Street and
Sewer Department Give Them
Information

The Street and Sewer Department is
holding up the franchise of the Bran
dywine Railway Company, because of
certain obstacles in the way. 1t was
insinuated by Mr.. Melvin that it was
because the Peoples Railway Company
had not paid the bill it owes the city.
Many of the same people are interested
in both companies.
William S. Hilles appeared before
the board and asked about the fran
chise. Mr.. Melvin said there was an
obstacle i'm the way, and mentioned the
fact that the Peoples Railway Com
pany had not paid the bill. This
brought forth a lively debate. Finally
the directors denied that they were
holding up the Brandywine franchise
because of the trouble with the PeO-
pies Company.
Before this statement was made, Mr..
Hilles talked plainly to the board. He
said: Holding up this franchise will
not hurry the payment of the Peoples
Company's bill. You have no right to
settle with a club, especially when you
try to club someone else. They are
two different corporations.
"The Peoples Railway Company is
ready to settle the bill. We will either
go into court. on agree to disinterested
persons being named as a board of ar
bitration. The holding up of the fran
chise will do more to prevent the pay
ment of the bill than anything else you
can do"
Mr.. Johnson answered by saying: 1T
seems to me the Peoples Railway Com
pany never intended to pay the bill"
Spotswood Garland asked If Mr..
Johnson thought the bill as originally
presented was just. Mr.. johnson said
he did not think it was.
After a long discussion, lit was agreed
that Mr.. Hilles should see City So
licitor Reinhardt and talk over the
Brandywine franchise. The board will
consider plans for settling the bill.
Secretary Christy was instructed TO
notify City Council TO arrange for the
loan of $25,000 provided for by che
law.
Park Engineer Ieisen appeared be-
fore the board and asked that Scott
street entrance to the park be ma
cadamizcd. DR.. j. II. Morgan. OF the
Board of Health. asked the board to
nut in sewer in Walnut street be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets.
Engineer Hatton and City Solicitor
Reinhardt were given authority to adj
just the trouble between the city, Peo-
Piles Railway and the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at Fourteenth street.
The street commissioner was author
lied to offer five cents a load for dirt.
Council Wishes information
A communication was received from
the Public Building Committee of City
hra Isf
occupied the rooms recently vacated
by the Water Department. The COM
mittee held that the Water Depart
ment had no right to collect the rent
for the rooms. and asked the Street
and Sewer Department to explain its
action to the Council.
Mr.. Christy was instructed TO in
form Council that the directors had an
arrangement with the Water Depart
ment, which it understood was the Gus
tOdian of the building.
Now it will be up to the Water De.
partment to explain" said Mr.. john
son, in concluding his instructions tC
the Secretary.
The Home Real Estate Company
which will build ten houses in Sixtl
and Seventh streets. between Harrison
and Van Buren streets, asked for sew.
ers.
Complaint was made of the condi-
tiOn of Van Buren street, betweel
Front and Third streets. The treas
urer reported a balance Of s6,5611S
The collections were reported to b'
S1.02764.
Supervisor Pierson estimated tina
the cost to the city for paving FOurtl
street east of the railroad would be-
Belgian block, S5,S24.35; brick, 81.
S76.20; macadam. s2,2S4. The esti
mate for paving Trenton Place is 81,
722. .25.
William B. Elliott offered to grade
the Concord turnpike for the city TO
$500 if the city gave him the use o
the roller and gave him the dirt.