Evening journal., 1910-08-17
STIR OVER THE
FAIRGROUNDS
One Man Points Out Demand
for Equalization Of ASSESS
ment Valuations
CITY HAS POWER
TO ISSUE BONDS

II am glad to see THE EVENING
JOURNAL giving the facts about the
playground purchase said promi-
nent Democratic business man to-
day. 1T shows among other things
that a very high price has been paid
for the land bought and it also points
out glaring inequalities in our as
sessment system. The deal for the
Fairgrounds may not be stopped by
this publicity. but Il may open way
for changes i'm the assessment system
that will bring about an equaliza-
ton that is greatly needed. For in
stance, | know of a tract Of about
thirty acres at Landlith which was
assessed for 81 200 an acre and II
was sold for $4,000. one-half OF the
assessed valuation placed upon It. On
the other hand the Ford tract that the
city has bought was assessed for
county purposes for $1,000 or there
abouts, and was sold for $50, 900 or
fourteen times the assessment
Unusual interest centers in the
playground deal. and advocates of
Fairgrounds and parks about the city
I fear that the cause may be seriously
injured by the purchase of lot on
the Western fringe of the city, not
easy OF access, far from the populous
sections and at such a high figure.
| On the other hand, many Democrats
! fear that the action of the Democratic
Council in buying the Fairgrounds in
/ the manner I'm which they have been
/ bought, and the unusual proceeding Of
paying for the property before the
/ title has been acquired by the city,
may lose the party many votes in the
approaching campaign.
In the first place the negotiations
were conducted practically under
cover, and most of what has been
learned on the subpect has been dug
up by the newspapers. The proceed
ings have not been taken publicly, but
were conducted by the finance com
mittee OF Common Council, which is
composed of James Kane, chairman;
Richard McMullen and S. IL. Benson,
Jr.
When the Park Commission recon-
mended list Of Fairgrounds for the
4 city to purchase the matter was re-
ferred to the finance committee. Coun-
Gilman Kane was quoted early In the
fiscal year as saying no Fairgrounds
would be bought this year, as no ap-
propriation had been made for that
purpose. However. the finance com
mittee went ahead. planned TO buy tbs
Ford and Gibson properties for S4ls
O0O and then asked Council TO pass ,
warrant for that amount TO pay fo
the properties, which were not speci
fed in open Council. The check wa
passed. even though there was no ap
; preparation to charge it to.
, This check was turned over troI
! | City Auditor kurtz's Office TO Peter
= Ford to be delivered to City Solcitc
s Brady. and Mr. Brady then paid M
Ford his $4,000 purchase price, eve
though the city had not taken title
the property and the purchase has M
been approved by Mayor Spruance..
This latter phase of the negotiation
1 the payment Of the purchase price b'
fore the city really has taken owe
possession Of the properties is a bus
p ness proceeding that has caused muc
wonderment
City Can Borrow Money.
While Council has a project unde
way to ask the next legislatus to sane
ton a bond issue of S25O,OOO to bu
Fairgrounds. out Of which the Sal 90
lust expended is to be returned to IN
current fund Of the city, II was pointel
out today that it Is not necessary 70
b Council to go to the Legislature for
bond issue
Under the "home rule amendment
offered by Senator Sparks in the Leg
islature three years ago and passed
the city of Wilmington is authorized o
e issue $4,000 of bonds In any one yeal
Z and If an amount greater than $4,000
/ i'm any one year is desired to be ISSUED
: Il can be done by the referendum. In
! question can be submitted to a vote Q
, the people, and If a majority shall an
prove OF the gond issue the money ca
be borrowed.
Council however, has not sought [
issue the $4,000 bonds, evidently be
0 cause II fears that there would be n
v market for the bonds, due to the ques
!. ton Of legality of the present city ad
n ministratiOn. Il is pointed out tina
:. the same question If legality SUI
:. rounds the purchase of the play
/ grounds by the present Council, am
G that the matter could be upset by tan
I ing II into the State courts.
/. il was predicted today that consit
e erable opposition would be met I'm IN
s next Legislature to bond issue b
e members. who will take the attitud
!. that Wilmington itself has home rule
- powers to determine by a vote whetho
A ! Qaru nan hnndc rau no sold