Evening journal., 1903-04-15
MASS MEETING
: of HOME OWNERS
Residents of the Highlands
Protest Against Paying
Full City Tax Rate
APPEAL TO BOARD OF REVISION
William Bancroft Thinks City Should
Live Up to Promises Made to That
seetion-Jobn S. RosseII and others
Make Addresses.

NfNS fNhhIcSbeSs
Property owners in the Ifiehlands AZ
a mass-meeting held last night made
protest against paying the full city
Iaue OF taxes. The meeting was held in
the ODD Fellows Hall. James Smith
was elected chairman and John Nv.
Maeklin secretary.
AIuer the chairman stated the object
OF the meeting, John S. Rossell said
that while he was not personally
interested in real estate, in a trust
sense, he was. The lands in his care
We're producing nothing, and were as
sessed TOO high. 1t appeared to him
lhat uhe law of justice between man
and man was being terribly violated.
William Bancroft said he thought
that the city should live up to its prom
lses made before the Highlands was
made a portion Of Wilmington and
Keep it on a lower rate.
John S. Miller said that he always
mad been opposed to being taken into
the city, and that ever since the people
We're in it, the city had done nothing
whatever for them.
j. M. Phillips said that there had
not been two dozen houses built in
the Highlands since they were included
in the city limits, but that now the Off
cials considered all Of it sbuilt-up prop
erty.
Edward Ainsworth Norris Luton. A.
B. Vernon, Frank Law, Robert Peoples
Henry Brown, the Rev. X. j. Ham,
mOnd, William oliver and B. K. Smed-
ley, all property owners, voiced their
indignation in short speeches.
The following resolutions, offered by
W. r. Brinckle. were adopted:
Resolved, That a committee OF five
be appointed to draft an address to the
board on behalf of the property own
ers in the Highlands, to be presented
TO this meeting against such increase p
The chair appointed c. M Curtis. n
S. Luton, Edward AinswOrth, J. NJ
Phillips and Charles Peck the commit
tee. The committee drew up the fol
lowing. which was read and adopted:
Wilmington, Del, April IA, 1908.
'To the Board OF Assessment, Revision
and Appeals Of the City of viii.
mingtOu.
Gentlemen: AT a largely attended
meeting of real estate owners in that
part Of the Seventh ward known as
the Highlands, called to protest agains
an increase in the rate of taxation o
this part Of the city, the following con
siderations were urged against suci
increase:
"The Highlands is a rural or sub
urban community beyond Union stree
to the city line; there are PRACTICAL!
no municipal improvements excep
lights. There are no paved, macad
emized or improved streets and n'
brick sidewalks; very few curbs ar
set; cutters are not made and sewer
have not been provided by the city
Garbage and ashes are not collected
Police and fire protection is very in
adequate. Most of the streets are al
most unpassable for vehicles in tn
spring of the year.
"The Highlands is not built up il
the sense that the greater part OF tn
city is built up. Houses are scattere
and but very small part of it is bull
upon.
"Third. The Legislature allowed
decreased rate for the Highlands whe
it was taken into the city, and this de
creased rate lasts until 1906. To in
crease it will be a violation Of geo
faith and an injustice.
For these and other reasons the in
crease OF taxation is protested agatns
as unjust, ineouitable and perhaps il
legal. Unjust, because of the lack {
municipal improvements, inequitabl
because the Highlands is fairly entitle
to be considered as rural or suhuriba
and not built up, and perhaps illeg;
because a breach of good faith"
Just tIhirty-seven property owner
signed the above memorial hast eveE
ing. as many had retired before tn
committee had their paper prepares
but the chairman said there would
at least one hundred signatures to
by this evening.