Evening journal., 1911-06-17
COURT HOUSE
IMPROVEMENT
Citizens Committee viii Urge
the Levy Court to Delay
Action
TO PREPARE PLANS FOR
A NEW JOINT BUILDING

The first tangible move toward the
erection of a new city building, and if
possible to build joint city and coun-
ty building on the site of the present
Court House. at Tenth and Market
streets, was made yesterday afternoon
at a citizens meeting, held in the
Board of Trade rooms.
The meeting was called by George
w. Sparks, president OF the Street and
Sewer Department, and there was in
vited TO the meeting the executives of
the present administration as well as
those of the next. the heads OF the
various city departments, members Of
the press and others interested in the
project The idea advanced is to work
in conjunction with the Levy Court of
this county which is contemplating
improvements to the present Court
House. and If possible. have a Joint
city and county building. II was the
general opinion that the Levy Court
should delay in this matter until such
time as suitable plans for a joint build
ing can be prepared. With this I'm view
committee was appointed to confer
with the members Of the Levy Court at
their next meeting, Tuesday This COM
mittee is comprised Of:
E. NJ. Hopes, William n Hill, JOS
eph Bancroft, Merris Taylor, Robert S.
Baird, Jerome b. Bell, Albert w. Cum
Minis, o. G. Purdy, DR. h. G. Shortlidge,
DR.. c. Anthony Beck. Benjamin f.
Shaw Mayor-elect Harrison w.
Howell, T. J. Benson. John j Raskob,
Charles r. Jones, Mayor J. Harvey
Spruance and Horace Wilson.
A committee Of two to act with
Chairman Hopes. of the meeting, was
appointed to prepare a report to sub
NIT to the Levy Court when the larger
committee appears before that body.
Mr. Sparks and Mr.. Raskob were
named and they will meet with Mr..
Hopes before Tuesday TO prepare the
report.
AS part of the proposition, John J..
Raskob, treasurer of the Wilmington
Trust Building Corporation, who at
tended the meeting, announced that he
would have prepared a set of plans TO
assist the city aud county authorities
in deciding upon a feasible plan for
the proposed building without expense
either 10 the city or county. He sug-
gested that an architect be- employed
and agreed TO personally meet the OK
pense of the preparatory work up to
an amount Of 81 900. which sum is
said to be far more than Is needed.
Mr.. Sparks was the first to address
the meeting, and he explained it's OBJ
iect He though the city should CO.
operate with the members of the Levy
Court 10 the end that a joint city and
county building might be erected. He
especially urged that the Levy Court
men defer action on making improve
ments 10 the Court House until the
subject Of a joint building could be
considered by the city and county
Merris Taylor strongly advocated
the demolition of the present Court
House and the erection OF an entirely
new building He said the city was
not bankrupt, as many believed. The
fault, he said is that the citizens have
not been paying any attention to the
civic welfare. He said the people
have been building for today and not
thinking of the future
Mr. Hopes expressed tho opinion
that I'm view Of the improvements
made and contemplated by the du-
Pont interests, It would be a crime
TO erect any building on the Court
House site without considering its
architectural value.
Mr.. Raskob said that he was doubt
ful If the Court House building could
be saved II 1t was finally decided to
erect a city-county building.
William II. Hill favored the build
ing of a wing on each side Of the
present Court House-if an entirely
new building was not erected-or the
erection Of two separate buildings,
one on Tenth street and the other on
Eleventh street.
Benjamin r. Shaw said he was op-
posed to anything but the erection Of
an entirely new building.
Mr. Sparks said that at least two
years would pass before work on such
building could be started. as the
Legislature would have to be applied
to for authority to issue bonds Il was
brought out however, that the Legis-
lature may meet next January to
adopt revision Of the codification
of the laws Of the State, and that the
matter might then be brought up.
Il was mentioned that the Levy
Court was anxious to enlarge the
present Court House al once or erect
an entirely new building as soon as
possible Joseph Bancroft, however
held that the Levy Court couldn't be
in such a hurry when II had been con-
sidering improvements to the Court
House for more than a year.
One thing was made sure and that
was, that the present historic City
Hall will not be demolished and the
city property sold. The sentiment
against the demolition Of this ancient
building was unanimous.
George H. McGovern acted as secre
tary of the meeting.
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