Evening journal., 1907-12-26
TROLLEY MONEY
CASE GOES OVER
Chancellor Will Hear the
NirdIineer Action on
January ID

DOVER. Del. Dec. 26-Under the
new order Of Chancellor Nicholson,
three state treasurers Of Delaawre-the
present incumbent and his two prede-
cessors-will have to appear before
Chancellor Nicholson at Dover January
IA to answer suit brought by a Phil
adelphian to recover S17.5OO deposited
with the State by trolley company
that did not build.
Samuel f. Nirdlinger. known in
Philadelphia generally in the theatre
cal world Is not the only individual
Interested IN this suit 10 recover $685.
600 In all which IS lodged and doing
no good TO anybody IN the State treas
ury OF Delaware
Along for a big slice Of the remain
/ ing $la500, which was not deposited by
the Delaware General Electric Com
pany. but by the Delaware Electric
Traction Company, to save the former
companys charter, comes John Edward
Addicks. Singularly enough, Addiclss.
who probably could put the money into
present use much quicker than could
the thrifty Philadelphians, is at this
time making no kick for his pile.
others are concerned too. but the
Philadelphia syndicate and Addicks
undoubtedly raised or put up all the
$4,000 now IN hand.
The inhabitants Of ten thrifty towns
Of Delaware beside an agricultural
population Of $4,000 souls, are also
interested IN this proceeding for the
Philadelphians and Addicks DEF ositcd
these large sums with the State as a
guaranty that they would connect these
nine towns with trolley system,
thirty-tw two miles long. IL was 20 run
! through Delawares peach belt in Kent
and upper Sussex counties and give
direct terminal connections at Wood
land Beach with Philadelphia by water.
The money was deposited, a complete
survey was made, all rights OF way,
public and private were obtained, and
when a big construction gang was
put TO work building the road north
ward and southward from Dover, the
trolley dreams Of the citizens OF Dover.
1 cheswold. smyrna, Camden. Lebanon.
Magnolia, Rising Sun, Frederica and
Milford, together with the summer
residents OF the fine bay resort. Wood
land Beach, were well-nigh realized.
Project Then Failed.
Just then came n money crisis, steel
rails scared skyward In price, the com
pany undertaking the work failed 10
hoat Its bonds, Addicys came TO its
ala with succeeding company and
az a time when he was nearest Of all
his campaign for the United States
senatorship to tho coveted prize. But
he too failed and from that date Ad-
dicks political stock deteriorated.
leo 81. & A..
islature, which had previously been
grantlng ali franchises and charters
and had Just prior thereto given Ad-
dicks his S1,SOO.O00 Bay State Gas
Company Of Delaware, led tho new
constitution framers to open the way
for passage Of a general incorpora-
tion law In 1899. This law was passed
with hbe w. Tunnel as governor and
by him approved March 4, 1899. The
people OF Delaware had been so sur
telted with wildcat schemes and al
sorts OF visionary trolley enterprises
which were clothed with power to &c
through any mans land by condemna-
tion proceedings. riddle up his front
lawn or dredge out his terrace, that
they put three requirements on an
railway companies other than steam
roads which proposed to enter any part
Of tho State or be constructed with
terminals therein. They were:
First, TO begin construction in six
months; second. TO complete within
two years; third, to deposit as a guar
anty with the state treasurer $500 a
milo for each mile OF road contem-
plated by its survey, the $500 to be
refunded Immediately upon the con
Istruction OF a complete mile Of track
Railroaded Through.
The Legislature Of 1905 voted. sud
denly one day BY the railroad process
to pay this money back to the deposi-
tors. At once there was a division OF
opinion throughout the State The
newspapers bitterly condemned the
Legislature, and urged the governor
20 veto the measure Governor Pres
ton Lea killed the bill by the pocket
veto method and the hopes of the de-
positors, which had been high for q
time were blasted again. Until the
present litigation there has been no at
tempt since then to try TO get the de-
posit money from the State.
/ !