Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-03-13
Most Of Those Who Failed 10 Make Good
Their Amounts Give Reasons for
Their Course.
THE CRESTON co. MAY YET PAY UP
When Times Make Real Estate
. Profitable.
THE COUNTY MAY YET RECEIVE S4,55O

day afternoon, that the court records /
show "A balance of SIT, 400 on account I
of subscriptions for Washington bridge
over the Brandywinc, has been investi- |
gated. with the result that it is learned |
that the largest part of the money has |
been paid. Why it is not part OF !
the records of the Levy Court does not |
appear. According to Mr.. Willis in
formation, the Wilmington Coal Gas
Go. had raid its subscription Of
81, 600 and Charles w. Pusey had paid |
his of S25. In the order of size, the |
subscriptions remaining were:
Water Department, $40, GOO.
Northside Improvement Co.. S4, $50.
Creston Land and Improvement CO.,
5000.
Joseph Tatnall, $3.50.
b. l.. Kent, 5000.
j. Parke Postles, 800.
N. b. Culbert, $50.
Jonathan b. Roberts, S25.
Registrar John S. Grohe of the
Water Department, when asked by
The Gazette reporter whether the
department had paid its subscription
of $40, 0G0, said it had, and on looking
up the books, found that the payment
was made in May, 1895. John 7.
Dickey, who was county treasurer and
receiver of taxes at that time, says
the money was paid and duly entered.
His report for 1894, which is at hand,
shows that the unpaid subscriptions
then were $40, 600 from the department;
81, 175 from the North Side Improve
ment Co. and 500 from individuals;
and his report for a later year, men
tions simply the last two items.
40 TN SIDE co. EXPLAINs.
In regard to the unpaid subscrip
tion made TO the county by tha
North Sidc Improvement Co, Samuel
II. Baynard, the president Of that
company, stated that fer twenty or
more years prior to the building
OF the bridge at Washington street
there had been an unceasng and
urgent demand on the part of the citi-
zcns OF Wilmington and the people of
tbs surrounding country for another
bridge over the Brandywinc. In 1892
| the pressure brought to bear on the
Levy Court as sufficient to induce
| that body to take action. Then came
| the time for parties interested in the
various localities to present their
claims for preferences for the point of
location. The neighboring landholders,
the gas COMPANY and the Water De
| partment presented reasons why the
natural conditions made Washington
street the desirable location, and also
offered to pay ElS, 500 towards erecting
the bridge, provided that it be located
at that street.
After many surveys and examinations
by the Levy Court the latter finally
decided to build at that place.
"All parties concerned, " said Mr..
| Baynard, ''made their subscription in
good faith and have never denied their
obligation, and over Sl3, 900 of the
amount has been paid into the county
treasury. OF course the landholders
expected to be repaid by placing on the
market the land that would have been
made eligible for building purposes.
The City Railway Co. intended at once
tnpxtand its lines over the bridge and
into the new country and help open up
the tract, and did put their tracks
down from Delaware avenue to the
south approach to the bridge. When
the company asked the right of way
over the bridge the Water Department
objected and said that they would not
pay their subscription of $40, 900, if
the railway went over, as they thought
il would oe an injury to their pipes.
After long delays and thorough ex-
animation with favorable report by
experts, employed by the Water De-
partment, they finally paid their sub
scription.
"By this time the long be
: remembered panic was in full bloom,
and it is needless to say that the
bottom dropped out of the real estate
business. 1t has not yet recovered,
and those landowners whose visions
were so bright have had their full
share of burdens instead of rewards
But the county and the city have lost
nothing, for the increase Of taxes in
that locality has paid a big margin of
profit to both. And when favorable
turn is made in real estate the balance
due the county will be fully paid. "
The balance owed by the Northside
Co. is s., 175.
CREsTuN CO.'S REA on.
William +. Hawkins, secretary and
treasurer of the Creston Land and I'm
nrovement Co. when asked whether
that company had paid its subscription
OF 81, ULO, sald: THE subscription was
made. conditional upon the bridge
being completed by certain date, and
the work was delayed and was not
done by the time specified. They did
not feel warranted with complying
with a demand that was made for that
money when the county did not live
up to their part of the contract. "
OTHER Explanation.
Concerning the subscription of Joseph
Tatnall, which was not paid, this
! statement is made: The parties sub
scribing agreed to pay ii the bridge
was completed by certain time; il
was not so completed; yet it was moi
the intention of Mr.. Tatnall to avoiC
payment. He was taken i'll, and his
property became involved, and he dice
before making payment of the $3.50
His executors have not paid the money
the estate being in Orphans Court
, which does not acknowledge sub
, scription as II debt. Hence the exccu
tors cannot pay it.
AS to the subscription of 5000, mad'
by B. Lundy Kent it is probably il
| about the same situation as Mr.. Tat
nails.
{ Gen. j. Parke Postles, when aske,
concerning his subscription of sl00
) said that Ii was not raid, and he neye
was called upon to ray it,