Evening journal., 1903-03-16
CITIZENS OBJECT
To PAVING BILL
Say 1t Is a Mistake For Work
to Be Done Except By
Contract
could NOT Be DONE IN TWO YEARS
Many Streets Provided for Do Not
Need Improvements at This Time.
s5oo,ooo Will Not Pave Streets Men,
s.---=@-yszAep
toned in Bill.

9oUV,UOO VIII Not Pave Streets Men,
80. ..-,--<-ssszhf1
toned in Bill.
A large delegation Of taxpayers from
this city went to Dover this morning to
oppose the passage of the street paw
ing bill in the Senate. The objection TO
the measure is claimed to be the
clause giving the Street and Sewer
Department power to give out the
work without asking for bids.
All the members of the party were
OF the opinion that the work should be
given out under contract. and will en-
deavOr to have an amendment to this
effect made to the bill.
Citizens Dissatisfied.
There is much dissatisfaction among
prominent citizens of this city in re-
gard to the 100000 paving bill which
on Saturday passed the House, and
which from all indications will pass
the Senate.
The principal objections to the bill is
that its provisions are such that this
immense work can be done without
contracts being given out If the bill
passes, and from the fact that many
streets named are in sections where
such improvements will not be needed
for years to come. The only persons
to be benefited in such cases is the
property owners. Many of these streets
are not even curbed, and it is the gem
eral opinion that if the property own
ers are not progressive enough TO put
down curb and get them in shape, there
is no reason why the city should do it.
Where Improvements Are Needed.
A prominent citizen, who is much in
terested in improvements to Whining
ton streets, but is opposed to any such
plan as the bill provides in some sec
tions, which is simply for the benefit
Of one or two property owners, was
seen by an Evening Journal reporter
this morning, and talked freely on the
subject. He said: "Of the streets
named in the act about half Of then
j are deserving of attention at this time
and some of them have been in a bat
/ condition for years. Some streets, not.
able between Lancaster and Maryland
avenues, where a great deal Of building
has been going on, on account o.
amount OF building and increased as
sessment, which will result, these peo
pie are entitled to improved streets
Other small sections west of BrOom
street, one or two streets in the High
D lands. two or three beyond Third stree
, bridge, and about six or seven in thl
Ninth ward, are also entitled to i'm
lprovements."
Streets Paved to cornfieds.
Taking advantage Of the necessities
r Of these sections, property owners OF
the outskirts. whose lots have beei
assessed at almost normal values, ant
who have paid very little to the cit.
treasury in the way Of taxes, have sue
ceeded in having the names of street
bounding their properties incorporated
in the bill. Streets without a house ol
( them, that have never been brough
to grade, are named in this bill for i'm
proved pavements, and these LAM
Y boomers have succeeded in having !
p ordered by the Legislature that tn
. streets shall be paved to city line
), Even where that line ends up agains
i, fences that bound corn fields, of Chris
u tiana hundred.
Not Fair to Property Owners.
q Dozens Of streets named are un
: graded, and uncurbed. and in severa
is not yet in the city
Il believe in improving streets wher
there are houses so as to allow owner
+ fairly good streets, but il is simpl
= taking public money for private pur
" poses to order that streets be improve
j. in sections where no houses have bee
/ built and owners of land simply hav
lots for sale.
1T is not fair to property owners
built-up portions of the city. Buldin
of houses i'm Wilmington can't b
forced by fixing up streets in suburbs
Q Make streets good where people hav
built, and that will encourage others {
build, If they will be looked after b
the Street and Sewer Department"
N All Work Should Be Contracted.
g Another prominent business ma
9 who was seen was especially displease
\, at that section OF the bill which state
= that the work can be given out with
n out contracts. He said: "All the wor
D. of this kind should be given out b
he contract. If not, it takes away the pro
lection citizens have always had tha
rs important work Of this kind should
m put out at contract. OF the S500,00O,
IA will take 100000 for curb stone an
n nllck 10 De put QoWH on the street
4 We should make sure we are gettin
the best of these for our money, an
- the only way to do it is by bids an
. contracts and then to properly waite
- the work"
Cannot Be Done in Two Years.
Continuing this man said that III
streets named i'm the bill can never
= finished for 100000. Some OF them, !
"a said, are three-quarters Of a mile
III length, for instance. Union street fro
Fourth to the Brandywine. The in
* provements in many of the streets ca
s. not be made unless provisions are MAJ
r, for sewers to carry off the water, an
l. il would take a large sum for that.
concluding. he said the bill ohliges Il
Street and Sewer Department to ui
le dertake work in two years which
properly done, would take five years.