Evening journal., 1905-10-06
s. & s. DIRECTORS
ASK FOR ADVICE
Discussion at Board Of Trade
Meeting Over Tenth Street
Building Line
.HtW QUARTERS TALKED OVER

A matter Of great Importance to
the citizens of Wilmington was
brought up for discussion at the meet
ing Of the Board of Trade last night.
and so interesting was the discussion
i il was nearly IL o'clock when the board
finally adjourned. 1t was brought
to the attention of the board
! by A. l.. Johnson, president of the
Street and Sewer Department.
Mr.. Johnson explained that as the
question was of such Importance and
as the Street and Sewer Commissioners
had to take action on it in few
days. they decided il would be best to
get the opinion Of others as to what
action would he best for the benefit of
! Wilmington. He explained that it was
as to whether or not the Street
and Sewer Department should rescind
its former resolution establishing a
new building line on the north side Of
Tenth street, twenty-one feet back
from the old line. so that the Z. l..
/ DUPONT Company can erect its mann
mouth building on the old line. which
would practically prevent Tenth street
from ever being widened, or whether
the company be forced to build on the
new lines laid down by the Street and
Sewer Department two years ago.
All agreed that Tenth street should
be widened. but no definite plan was
suggested which Il was thought would
be satisfactory to all parties concerned.
IL was finally referred to the muni-
cipal committee TO report back to a
special meeting of the Board, on Mon
day night so the Street and Sewer
Directors can give the Dupont people
a definite answer at their meeting
+ Tuesday morning. This committee is
composed of William p Bancroft.
chairman; G. w. Sparks. Jerome 3.
Bell, Peter J. Ford. Theodore A. Lessen
j. Newlin Gawthrop Alfred Belts. s.
II. Baynard. Charles d. Bird
DUPONT CO. WANTS ANSWER.
After all other business had been
disposed, Mr.. johnson stated that there
were prospects OF the erection Of two
large and important buildings in the
near future. He referred to the pro.
posed p. B. & W. Railroad Company.
new station and the Dupont building
10 be erected at Tenth and Marke
streets.
Continuing, Mr.. johnson said. tha'
elaborate plans had been prepared fo
the DUPONT structure. with a frontag
Of 112 feet on Market street Th
plans he explained call for the building
to be built to the present building line
but two years ago the Street an
Sewer Department passed resolution
: sst establishing a line tweHty-ona- rec
further north than the present line o
! Tenth street.
formed the board that if the DuPon
people are forced to build on the new
line, they would have to be paid 70
the twenty-one feet front which woul,
be taken from them on Tenth street
Counsel for the company appeared be
fore the board last Tuesday. he said
( and asked that the resolution Of twt
years ago be rescinded or other prop
erty owners be compelled to move bacl
twenty-one feet.
Mr. johnson explained that the Stree
and Sewer Department had no none,
to pay for the property and that tn
directors were in a quandary as Il
what to do and therefore appealed Il
the Board of Trade for some sugges
ton. They did not want to delay sucl
an important work and some actor
thought was whether or not there i
. enough public spirit to provide som
means for buying the property.
! Mr.. Johnson said he had looked owe
the ground there and thought that /
, the twenty-one feet OF property is con
demned all along Tenth street it woul
, probably cost S5O.O00. He thought
| property on Market street, north O
hn 4
could be purchased at a reasonabl
, lprice probably $4,000 and that woul
enable the building to go back twenty
one feet without any material chang
to the present plans.
A. S. Reed thought the Dupont build
ing should meet the Street and Sewe
8 Directors half way as they are the per
sons mostly interested and the widen
ing Of Tenth street would increase tn
value of their property He aske
q about the plans which provided for a
arcade over the twenty-one feet, bu
was informed that such a plan ha
I been abandoned, as it would make tn
ground floor, to be occupied by a trus
8 company, too dark.
Alfred Gawthrop considered the mat
E ter a very important one. If erecte
!. on the present line he said it woul
v make Tenth street look narrower tha
ever. He argued it would benefit tn
property more than its costs to wide
the street. Mr.. Gawthrop spoke q
Ninth street being widened some year
= ago and what a benefit it had beer
y He thought some action should
= taken on the matter.
John G. Gray, also a member Of tn
Street and Sewer Department, wa
= present and was allowed the priviles
6 of the floor. He said the Dupont
wanted to start work right away. TIL
building is to be the largest eve
erected in Delaware and win cost clos
e to a million dollars The Street an
:. Sewer Directors, he said. does not war
e to bar them out with a long della.
: I'VE are in an unpleasant position a
u we nave no money. We know what "
e want 10 dc and that is widen Tent
street, and we also also want to answi
them at once. We thought that III
Board of Trade could probably suggel
l. some plan" Mr.. Gray is of the opiT
" ion that as soon as one building
d erected twenty-one feet back othei
= win follow.
n Mr.. Gray thought that Council, cou
d borrow the money to purchase II
property porth of the proposed locatio
If the Board of Trade would assist
urging it.
+ Mr.. Reed inquired as to what amour
Ie Of the money necessary the DuPoi
le people would pay.
Continued on Page Five.)