Evening journal., 1905-11-03
DISCUSSION OVER
TENTH Street
Failure Of DUPONT Company
to Secure Clear Title
Causes Trouble
BOARD OF TRADE NOT 70 MOVE

building on the corner of Tenth and
Market streets were matters again
discussed by the members of the Board
of Trade at the meeting last night. The
reason for this discussion was the re-
quest made by the DuPonts last Tues
day, when the Street and Sewer De-
partment was asked TO rescind its for
ner resolution which was to the effect
that Tenth street should be widened Il
feet.
Although the subject was discussed
for more than an hour no action was
taken A. L. Johnson, president of the
Board of Street and Sewer Directors.
brought the matter to the attention OF
the board. He stated that since the
last meeting. problems have been en-
countered which seem more difficult
than those which were before straight
ened out The difficulties. he said, were
in the way of securing the property to
the north of that now owned by the d
DuPonts which would allow p feet to !
be taken off to widen the street with
out interfering with the plans fos the
building already prepared He said b
that such a building as desired could
\ not be erected on the land the conn
! pany now owns without going higher
in the air than they care to. Mr. john 3
son said it looked to him as though the /
building would eother have to be given
up or the resolution to widen the street
rescinded.
1t was brought out that the trouble /
at present is over the title to the prop
erty which the company viii have 10
secure in order to go back 21 feet from I
the present building line. The Dupont
Company wants the street widened and
is willing to purchase the additional
property II a clear title can be secured,
but that seems to be the stumbling
block The title 20 this property. how
f ever, is in such a shape at present that
ihey are not willing to assume the risk
4 of placing on the property an expensive
. building would either have to be gwen
.-tch seems to be caused by the techni-
4'ities Of international law. in that
waile the viii of William Watts. the
former owner. which devised the prop
erty TO his wife. was drawn up here
was fled in Scotland and under the
laws Of this State the WI must be
proved before Il can be entered here.
This would necessitate some one going
abroad and copying the viii and enter
ing the copy properly sworn TO In this
city. and it is not known for sure
whether this would give a clear title.
"a Al who were at the meeting agreed
sired TO have the street widened. and
also 10 have the building erected. They
.desire both of these Improvements II
possible and thought the Street and
Sewer Department should exhaust ev-
ery possible means of getting the trou-
,ble Strengthened out before taking any
taction i'm regard to resembling its res''-
hutton. There wers several suggestions
made but they were all voted down.
One suggestion was that the Governor
be asked to call "A special meeting of
The Legislature 10 enact some suitable
law so that clear title could be secured.
Peter ]. Ford. who owns the properly
opposite the site where the DuPonts
are to build, said that he presumed the
Street and Sewer Department vas talk
ing into consideration whether or not
THE main thoroughfare OF the city
'should remain an alley forever and they
did not feel like taking action on the
imatter without first feeling the senti-
lment Of the business interests of the
s,city.
The widening Of Tenth street. he
said had been agitated since he was
|ta boy and the sentiment was unani-
mously in favor of IT.
There is no disposition to put
straw in the way of the gentlemen
Aerecting the building. When / made
the purchase Of land on the corner Of
Tenth and Market !. like others. con-
sidered the possibility of the street be-
hing widened. Ni1ety-five per cent. Of
The people Of thus city would oppose
the keeping of ths street narrow. II
win not only enhance the valde OF
property but OF the city as we'll The
street and Sewer Department Knows
rthat sentiment. AS to the lnsurmount-
liable difficulties in the acquiring of 80
ptsperty north of Tenth street. [ saw
it as a common sense statement that
this can be met by paying for the prop
Ierty twice.
r. ]. Maclean said the matter had
|. never been agitated much until the
building was talked Of but Mr.. Ford
contended it had been agitated for at
fleast % years.
| Philemma Chandler did not think
that the resolution should be rescinded
under any circumstances.
|jf Samuel H. Baynard wanted TO sae
1.-THE street widened but If he had n
choose between the two he would vote
for the erection of the building. He
thought the matter if left with the
fStreet and Sewer Directors could be
fstraightened out in some way.
Horace C. Knowles contended there
fwere a good many ways out of the diff
ttfculties before the DuPonts pull uI
stakes and every possible means should
abe exhausted before the proposition tc
beautify Tenth street is given up for
ever. Mr.. Knowles moved that the
.Governor be asked to call a special ses-
"a sion of the Legislature, but it was voted
Sdown.
Josiah Marvel was also of the opinion
that the title could be cleared.
Mr.. Maclean moved that the Board o.
Trade hire special counsel to search tn,
title of the property and report back a
a special meeting of the board. bu
this was voted down.
d OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
IL President Thomas II. Savery is ou
|Ntof the city and A. S. Reed presided al
1.-THE meeting.
The subject of new quarters was dis
fcussed and * was decided TO not rem
THE room in the Masonic Temple. Tit
Nowners of the Equitable Building arr
Unwilling to make alterations to the pres.
Aent quarters which will give the boarC
timore room.