Evening journal., 1907-10-10
WANT TO USE PARK,
BOARD in A TILT
Samuel Bancroft Doesn't
Even Want 10 Consider
applications

The two applicants for amusement
privileges in North Brandywine Park
met with little success before the
Board of Park Commissioners yester-
day afternoon. Communications were
received from the Wilmington Amuse-
ment Company, signed by William E.
Stover who is treasurer of the Man
ufacturers' Contracting Company, and
from the White City Amusement Com
pany, signed by Ferris Giles. Mr.
Stover was present and after some hes
itation on the part Of the board he
was given the privilege of the floor for
ten minutes to state what his company
proposed to do.
AS soon as the two letters, which
strangely were almost alike, were read,
Samuel Bancroft made a motion that
the communications be returned to the
writer's. There was some objection
on the part Of several members, they
deeming such action discourteous. The
maker OF the motion, remained OBJ
durate and characterized the applica-
tions of the amusement companies as
the checklist" thing he ever heard Of.
He thought that the concerns If they
wanted to start parks, should purchase
their own ground and not ask for that
belonging to the city park system. So
opposed to the applications OF the
amusement concerns was Mr.. Bancroft,
that he said IF citizens who owned
nine tenths of the property of the city
OF Wilmington would appear before the
board with a similar request l would
vote against it,"
Samuel Bancroft Objected.
Mr.. White, chairman of the finance
committee of City Council, who is a
member of the board by reason Of this
position, asked President William p.
Bancroft if the board did not intend
TO give the applicants a hearing and
he replied that he favored such ac-
tion. Mr.. Capelle also favored showing
some courtesy to the applicants, though
he said he did not think he could be
brought to grant the request made.
Samuel Bancroft insisted on his mo-
ton that the applications be returned
to the writer's and Mr. Capelle amend
ed this by adding that the board in
returning the letters courteously in
form the applicants that their request
was refused. Mr.. Bancroft accepted
this, but then Mr.. White moved that
action be deferred for one month, and
offered this as an amendment. Mr..
withdraw his amendment and when he
did so, Mr.. Bancroft Immediately in
sisted on his original motion being
voted upon. With matters in this
shape, Mr.. Carpenter made a motion
to adjourn, whether in earnest or as
a joke, but II was Immediately sec
onded by Mr.. Samuel Bancroft and
passed with only two dissenting votes,
President William Bancroft and Mr..
White.
Plans Of the Company.
Before all this took place, Mr.. Slower
on being given the privilege of the
floor. stated that his company was
backed by representative citizens with
ample means to finance the establish
Ing a park on the north side of the
Brandywine, at Elliotts Run. He said
that he would not name these men at
this time. 1t was the intention of the
company TO establish a park such as is
maintained at Willow Grove, Philadel-
phia and intimated that between $50 OOO
and $4,000 would be expended on the
enterprise. He did not believe that
his company would entertain a lease
Of less than ten years, considering the
money that would be expended on the
project
Mr.. Giles left soon after presenting
his communication and in consequence
was not present to explain what his
company proposed to do, but in his
letter he set forth almost the same
proposition as Mr.. Slower and the sim
ilarity between the two letters was
the occasion for some comment among
the park members, but Mr.. Slower said
that his company had nothing what
ever. to do with the White City Amuse-
ment Company