Evening journal., 1911-05-12
COUNCIL URGED TO GET HOTEL FOR CITY

street would end at Orange street, or
would that thoroughfare have to be
widened to Delaware avenue
Mr.. Marvel said that until the wild
ening of the street further than Or
ange street, is brought up which might
not be for sometime, it was not to be
considered at this time.
Former Mayro Horace Wilson said
he could not conceive of anything that
would benefit Wilmington greater than
the modern hotel projected and he
urged immediate action
Howell S. England. also q member
of the Board of Trade. added to re-
marks of previous spectators favoring
the hotel proposition. others who
spoke in favor Of the project included
John S. Mullin, Market street mer-
chant
Mr.. Mullin said modern hotel In
Wilmington has been one of his
dreams for years and now that il is
about TO be realized he could hardly
believe it was so. He urged immedi-
ate action.
Mr.. Kane. Of the Fourth ward.
thought the price asked by the Con-
tinental Life Insurance Company for
its property wac exorbit8nt inasmuch
as the building permit for the etruc-
ture set forth $22 as the cost Of the
building.
Mr. Raskob explained that the life
insurance company was willing to ex-
hibit its contracts.
COuncilmen Favorable.
Mr. Kane said that he though. the
members of Council we're favorable 10
the proposition and suggested that all
the data bearing on the subject be pre-
sented on next Wednesday night and
that the Continental Life Insurance
Company stop work on the building
This structure is nearly completed.
Mr. McGovern thought that the
proper proceeding would be for the
Street and Sewer Department 10 ask a
commission to have the property In
question condemned,
Mr.. Sparks thought Il would save
time to accept the offer Of the Con-
tinental Life Insurance Company mas
much as that company's offer to dis
pose of its property at cost price was
fair.
William F. Kurtz. a director and
stockholder of the life insurance com
pany said that his company offered its
new building at cost in spirit of pub.
lie interest and prompted by a broad
spirit, in the same spirit that the Will
mington Trust Corporation Company
offered to erect a modern hotel H
wanted it understood that at no time
did the insurance company he repre-.
sented stand in the way of any public
improvement He said the impression
had gotten around that his company
had tried to hold up the DUPONT Com.
pany, but this was untrue. He further
said that in disposing of its property
at the price suggested the company
was not getting by far what the prop
erty was worth, owing to the fact that
the value Of property in that localit,
was rapidly increasing.
Hadn't Held Them Up.
\ Mr.. Raskob. in reply to Mr.. Kurtz
informed the Councilmen that the du.
Pont Company had not been held III
by the insurance emopany in question
and he wished to correct this impress
sion which in some manner had gained
publicity.
William A. KINNEY spoke in opposi
! ton to the city buying the Continenta
building under, the circumstances.
/ After the discussion Councilman
Benson moved that Council appropri
ate the money TO acquire the Continen
tal building and widen Eleventh street
and councilman Dewnes seconded II
Mr.. Benson withdrew his motion a
soon as he saw some we're not pre-
pared to act
On motion Of Mr.. Kane next Wed