Evening journal., 1904-12-29
WILL NEW CASTLE
Be NEXT VICTIM?
Fire in Chester and High
Winds in This Vicinity
Cause Thought
CITY WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION
snecIal 70 rhe EvenInE Journal.

Special TO The Evening Journal.
New Castle Dec. 29.--''This city TO-
day Is an abject slave to the ravages Of
fire and should a blaze that could not
be extinguished by a garden hose or a
few buckets OF water break forth, IL Is
not known what the end would be-"
Such was the comment OF a prom
inent owner Of property last night the
comment being caused by the fire in
Chester and the inability of the fire
department an that city to cope with
the flames. At the time of his remarks
a high wind was blowing which would
have carried fire brands almost any
distance should a blaze have origin
ated.
what is the city going TO do regard
fng fire protection for the year 1902"
he continued, let matters stand as
they are. enter into a new contract
with the New Castle Water Works
Company with It's insufficient supply or
is the Delaware Water Improvement
Company going TO erect and operate
water system which win give us at
least some sort of service? Can you tell
me how many fire plugs in the city are
serviceable today, or how many are
frozen up by the recent cold spell? Can
you tell me when the plugs wore tested
last to ascertain II there was any water
81 the mains?'
Bond Not Approved.
To all these questions nothing but a
blank was drawn and no one in au-
thority seems to know what Is being
done regarding a better water supply
system for the city. on Saturday the
contract between the cityof New Cas-
tie or some public body representing
its interests. and the New Castle Water
Works Company expires, and the
question which now arises Is whether
the corporation is willing to enter into
new agreement with the company TO
furnish Il with water for public serv-
ice AT an advanced rate for a stated
period, or whether Il Is willing to await
the Delaware Water Improvement
Companys pleasure in establishing its
system Of artesian wells and other con-
trivances for supplying the municipal
ity with good and wholesome" water.
when this company first presented it's
proposition TO the city Il was a case
of must" That is, Council was asked
TO pass upon the question OF "a fran
chise as speedily as possible I'm order
that work might begin before cold
weather set IN. Council did the best Il
could and after able legal advice pass
ed upon the proposition and the Del
aware Water Improvement Company
was given a twenty-five years fran
chise TO supply the city with water and
a perpetual franchise TO operate in the
city.
a good faith" bond to the sum Of
$4,000 was suggested from the company
by the City Fathers. IL was readily
agreed 20 by the incorporators, but
from what can be learned has never
been presented to nor approved by
Council. In fact a member OF the Del
aware Water Improvement Company
admitted yesterday that he did not
know whether the bond had been taken
out or not. In the meantime the Slst
OF December draws nigh, the cold
weather has set in, and yet no effort
has been made to begin work on the
new plant.
May Offer Proposition.
The New Castle Water Works Com
pany's directors have been remark
ably quiet regarding what steps they
contemplate after their contract ex-
pires. It was said last night, however.
that at a recent meeting OF the direct
OTIS Il was decided TO present to Coun-
ell az Its next meeting on January 3
a revised schedule Of rates which will
meet the proposed rates Of the new
company so far as supplying the city
is concerned. Whether any change i'm
the supply system Is contemplated is
not announced. In the meantime prop
erty owners and Insurance companies
are watching the next steps in the mat
ter with interest.
Robbery at Hare's Corner.
A daring robbery took place early
yesterday morning at the home OF
Jacob Geiger. near Hare's Corner, when
an unknown thief or thieves broke into
the house and carried away an the
wearing apparel OF Mr.. and Mrs
Geiger and SIS In money. leaving Mr.
Geiger but the suit OF clothes which
he wore to his daily work. Entrance
was effected through a window in tn
rear Of the house from which the glas
was broken OUT There is no clue t,
the Identity Of the thieves.
Charged With Assault.
Joseph Siddons. Of Delaware City
was before Magistrate Terry last nigh
on a charge of assault and battery upol
ollie Smith and was placed under
peace bond Of 500 to his future goo,
behavior. The alleged assault tool
place on a Delaware City trolley car on
October "a last. al which time 1t wa
claimed that siddons threw bundle a
the woman. The case of Conner vs.
Conner is scheduled to take place be
fore Magistrate Terry on February ?.
Broke His Finger.
William ]. Hunter is suffering from
the effects OF a broken finger whicl
IS causing him much agony. Whil
leaving the Jefferson House on Mon
day a fierce gust Of wind blew a doc
to forcibly and Mr.. Hunters third fin
ger Of his right hand caught betwee
the door and the jamb, swapping tn
member IN twain
Collector Lost His Voice.
City Tax Collector Charles II. Sheare
has totally lost his voice from som
cause and can sneak buf An q x-hfc,o,