Evening journal., 1912-05-24
Council Directs Action Look
ing to Exchange Uf City
and Railroad Property
THREE MEMBERS
OPPOSE TIE PLAN

OPPOSE TIE PLAN
After lying in committee for al
most two months, the proposition OF
turning over the Walnut street wharf
property owned by the city to inc
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, IN
exchange for a plot Of ground at the
foot of Spruce street. was reported
on at Council meeting last night, a
resolution providing that the proper
q officials enter into an agreement with
4 the railroad officials for the properly
Fl exchange was adopted Some oppo-
d sition developed, however, and several
n members, including President OF
81 Council Samuel H. Benson, voted
against it. The latter said that while
& the city was getting more ground in
Fl exchange for the Walnut street prop
n erty than it was giving. he did not
favor the location of the property.
The report of the committee and
n resolution was presented by Council
n man George L. Bilderback, who moved
81 its adoption.
Councilman John J. Haney wanted
a action deferred one week so that he
81 might have an opportunity of visiting
81 the Spruce street site as he had not
n seen it, and did not care to vote on
81 the resolution until he understood the
d proposition.
Councilman James Kane said the
h matter had been hanging fire. for
81 two months and the Councilmen GER
~ tainly had plenty Of time to view
81 the ground He said the Council had
NJ already passed one resolution bearing
# on the matter and the Board of Dl-
rectors of the p. B. and W. r. r. had
approved the plan
Mr. Bilderback also thought that
b the members had had sufficient time
81 to visit the land in question.
Councilman Jacob Zimmerman, OF
Nj the First ward. said the railroad com
ri pany would not allow anybody on the
land.
Mr.. Bilderback said that he and
Councilman ]. Frank White had no
81 trouble getting on the ground when
they visited the place and that no one
M lnterfered with them
Mr. Zimmerman replied to this by
az saying that anyone caught on the
ground was liable to a fine for tres
pass.
Mr.. Haney said that If the other
members of Council did not care to
view the ground, they did not have to
n L 60 there, but he would like to see il.
g and again he urged a postponement
81 for a week
ST. Councilman w p. Stover said that
NI the present Council had been in Of
81 fee ten months and had practically
A accomplished nothing He said that by
81 the acquisition Of the Spruce street
M ground the city could build a wharf
{ at which truckers from New Jersey
81 could land and larger vessels dock,
If necessary.
up to this time we are at a stand
STILL" he said I'VE are not here only
to draw our salaries. which we have
a hard time 10 spend, but for the ben
eft Of the city We have been work
f ing on a river front proposition and
t don't know where ! am on that. but
here is something y e are certain D
& and SHOULD pass upon now"
Mr. Zimmerman asked if Mr.. Stov
er would furnish the $4,000 which
would be required to build a pier at
Spruce street.
Mr.. Stover replied that if the city
II cid not have the revenue to do some
M thing with the property the next fiscal
M year. he for one. would give his whole
years salary as Councilman toward
the cause
Mr. Haney wanted to know who
made the proposition to exchange th'
properties.
Mr. Kane replied. "The publ,
building committee of City Council
Mr. Haney thought there were moro
valuable places which the railroad
s company owned which could be i'm
proved al a much less expense 10 the
city than the Spruce street ground.
William p Bancroft, president o.
the Park Commission who was pres
# ent thought the proposition should e
through.
MIR. Kane said that he knows Mr.
zimmerman is up against the transfer
and would vote against il five years
from now as we'll as at this time.
Councilman White thought the mem
hers who wanted to view the grounC
had annie time in which to do it.
Mr. Bilderback considered that thu
members who had not visited thu
3 ground we're not attending to thei
duties
Mr. Zimmerman said that an,
Councilman would be "a fool" to e
there and he arrested for trespass
ing.
There is no use in postponing ac
ton for a week then, If the members
are afraid TO go near the place. re
= piled Mr. Bilderback.
William p Bancroft, of the Parl
Commission. brought out that tn
resolution for the ground transfere
by the railroad company to the cit
must be used for municipal purposes
Qz He thought there should be no re
~ strictions and the ground should b
transferred in fee simple.
Mr. Kane saw no reason why tn
M change couldn't be made. He said late
however. that II was probably Du
there so that the city could not sci
the land He was then of the opin
E ion that it should stand.
President George w. Sparks, OF II
Street and Sewer Department though
IL was we'll that the stipulation wa
- made, as some other body might sue
ceed the present Council and rent III
property as other wharves are rent
ed, and the city would continue {
be without a wharf for vessels &
land
Mr. Haney was of the opinion tha
If the railroad company could do wha