Evening journal., 1908-05-05
DOGS AS SOURCE
OFSOME REVENUE
Old Records Found by City
Treasurer Ross Show That
Borough Sold CANNES
COUNCIL MINUTES 100 YEARS
AGO FULL OF INTEREST

While cleaning out the big vault in
his office several days ago, City Treas
urer Howard d. Ross found four
volumes containing the minutes of the
proceedings of the burgess and assist
ants of the borough of Wilmington"
covering the period between 1771 and
1912. and a cash book covering the
period between 1771 and 1900. The
volumes contain much interesting in
formation concerning city affairs more
than 100 years ago, as well as records
Of events of the period which have
since become historical. Despite the
loss of the books for 90 long a period
they are in fairly good condition.
The minutes show that the Council
in those early days met in the homes
Of its members. Wilmington was then
a borough in the State of Pennsyl-
vania and covered only about fifty
acres of the present territory. The
minutes of 1771 contain record of the
fact that an ordinance had been pre-
sented to Council extending the road
through Brandywine marsh" and pro-
viding that the pavements on High
street. as well as on all other 49-feet-
wide streets. should be 12 feet wide to
the posts" Council being divided on
the question, ordered the voters of the
borough to assemble at Market street
at the intersection of High, those fav-
orable to the ordinance to line up on
one side of the strees and those un-
favorable to stand on the other side.
James Robinson and Joseph Tatnall
polled the citizens and found that a
majority of them favored the ordin-
ance, The Council subsequently passed
the measure.
In the Days Of King George.
The minutes of October s. 1774. "the
fourteenth year of the reign of ouI
Sovereign Lord, George III. King,
etc." disclose an early regulation Of
the LIQUOR traffic The ordinance pro-
hibited the sale Of intoxicants in
quantities less than one quart and
violation of the ordinance was punish
able by fine OF thirty-nine shillings.
II appears from the old records that
John Mckinley. chief burgess of the
borough, resigned some time in 1774 %
become president Of Delaware State"
The three lower counties on the Della
ware" had become Delaware some time
previously and Mckinley is believed to
have been the first chief executive Of
the State. although the minutes contain
no announcement to this effect.
Excited Over War.
The minutes dating Immediately pre-
ceding the Revolutionary War, as well
as those during the period of hostilities,
are fu'l of interest. For instance, a
minute entered on March 6. 1777, recalls
the excitement of the citizens because
Of the approach of the British army,
which took possession Of the city on
September 13 of the same year.
Two wears later the attention of
Council was officially called to the
high price being demanded for -four,
and summoning William Shipley, Jr,
Samuel Candy, Ellis Newlin. William
Cook and Isaac Starr, millers. before
them. the Council recommended" to
the millers that they sell the supply
on hand at the price prevailing and
that the new millings be sold at 70
pounds per hundred weight. There is
nothing in the minutes to show thai
the miuers acted on the recommends
ton" Of the Council. but it is presumed
they submitted to what in modern
times would be regarded as the "usurp-
alton Of private rights"
Praise For Caesar Rodney.
On March 4. 1890. the Council sent a
letter to Caesar Rodney, who was then
president and commander-in-chief Of
Delaware State" expressing their con-
fidence in his LOYALTY 70 the new gov
ernment and assuring him the cooper
alton of the borough in all his official
acts in defense of the State. The
minutes show Mr.. Rodney's reply AS
an echo of the then recent war, Coun-
ell. on August Z. 1852, agreed to pay for
200 feet Of boards and nails which had
been used in repairing the houses of
Ann e. and Sarah Diacks, wives Of
soldiers who had served in the Della
ware Regiment.
Wharf Building Slow.
Coming down to 1890. the volumes
show that Council had given Joseph
Warner permission TO build a wharf
at the bottom of Market street. FOL
Is pounds For some reason JOSEPH
did not build the wharf as rapidly az
the Council thought he should, where
upon the body on October s, that year
appointed Samuel Hol,ingsworth and
Joseph Samuels a committee to ascer
tain the cause Of the delay. No re
mort of the committee could be foun'
in the subsequent inmates. but II Il
fair to presume that Joseph hurried tn
work after the city fathers had begul
their investigation.
Raain Excited by War.
Passing to 1912. the minutes show