Evening journal., 1913-11-22
OBSTACLE TO
ADJUSTING OF
PARK MIDDLE
The City Departments Get
Nearer the Bridge Ap-
prOaCh Question
BUT PHILADELPRIAN
MAY GET STEEL PLANT

mission, the park committee Of City
Council, Mayor Howell, representa-
tives of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment and Captain Horace Wilson. of
the Water Commission, met in a pri-
vate conference In Council chamber
yesterday afternoon and discussed
the proposed plan Of the Board of
Park Commissioners to purchase
portion of the defunct plant OF the
Diamond State Steel Company to be
used as city park should the present
Christiana Park be used as an ap-
proach to the new Third street
bridge. II is planned to make this
purchase indirectly first as a per-
sonal investment which will ultima
tely result In q municipal enter
prise.
The plan Of the city to acquire part
Of the steel plant site will be fore
stalled by the offer Of Bernard Baum
berg, of Philadelphia. which is soon
to be acted on by Chancellor Curtis.
of $4,000 for the property, which
Eale, in all probability will be made
on December 3. The trustees recon-
mend the sale at that price Such
sale will prevent the city acquiring
part Of the steel plant site for park.
unless the new purchasers should be
willing to sell part Of the site TO the
sity eventually.
As result OF the meeting Captain
Wilson was appointed committee OF
one to communicate with the re-
ceivers and stockholders OF the
Diamond State plant with the view
of ascertaining for what amount Of
rnrnfrnA frptald ha
purchased. William p Bancroft
president Of the Park Commission,
made the statement following the
private meeting, that Captain Wilson
would negotiate for the purchase of
the Diamond State property, and he
declared that proposition 10 interest
the members of Levy Court in the
project to the extent OF shouldering
part OF the cost for the land required
was unofficially discussed. although
no definite action was taken.
II was ascertained that Captain
Wilson has agreed to purchase the
land. if it can be purchased for a
nominal um, and hold IL until such
time that the city sees its way clear
to purchase It from him at the pur-
chasing. price with interest for the
time il is held by him.
Mr. Bancroft declared that Captain
Wilson was not acting as his agent
in the purchase of the property, but
that it was a personal matter with
CAPTAIN Wilson.
Il is understood that in the event
OF the Levy Court using the park fol
an approach that the Park Board viii
request that the remainder of the
park he turned back to their care
but this matter was not discussed.
The conference yesterday after
noon adopted the following resolu'
tion:
Whereas. II appears. that the
Diamond State Steel Company prop.
erty. bounded by Church street, Third
street, the Christiana. and the prop
erty of The Diamond Ice and Coal
Company, has been and perhaps Is
for sale at a very moderate price
that it would be suitable for park OF
playground purposes; that the vii.
mington Steamboat Company, Of
which Horace Wilson is president
has been considering purchasing II
for their own use or for that of the
city; and whereas, Horace Wilson i.
willing TO promote its acquisition by
the city. stating that If he shall Sc
cure IL he will be glad to turn IL ovei
to the city at the price he shall pa.
for it, plus any additional expenses
and interest at the rate Of FIVE PEI
cent. per annum on his expenditure
during the time for which he vii
have to be without the money; there
fore,
Resolved, That Horace Wilson
hereby requested to endeavor to sc
cure an opportunity for the city I
acquire the property If II can at
satisfactory price; and the chairmai
Of Councils finance committee. an,
the president Of the Park Commits
sion are asked to consult with. Hor
ace Wilson on the matter as ther
shall appear need to do So"