Evening journal., 1913-01-31
FRIDAY. JAN. 81. 1918.
THREE IMPORTANT FACTORS.

THERE arc three important factors that should enter
i into consideration OF the question whether New
Castle county and the city Of Wilmington shall build
a Joint public building at Tenth and King streets
They arc necessity financial ability and equitable
apportonment OF the cost OF the proposed undertaking.
No one who is at all conyersant with our City Hail
and its appointments and who has any fairness OF mnd
will deny that It is not suitable building to be the
scat of government for city Of almost 100000 inhab
tants the metropolis Of sovereign State and the
commercial and official center OF the richest and most
popuous county in that State The Council chamber,
the Mayors Office the committee room. the Municipal
Court room court clerks room, the rooms set apart
for the use of the Police Department and the quarters
reserved for the detention Of prisoners all show on
their face that they discrcdit to city of this
size Add these things the fact that the present
CITY Han is so small that several Of the most import
amt departments be housed therein and VIC have
picture Of municipal necessity that IS as Illuminating
as Il is convincing
SO much for the city; now let apply the rule Of
necessity to the county at large We have. delight
fully situated at Tenth and Market streets, Court
House that is much more modern than our City Hail.
and vet 80 old and small that IL is grossly made
ouate to serve as a clearing house for the countys
business and OF such an old type Of construction that
supplies little protection to the priceless pub
lie records that stored therein IL cannot be denied
that It is Inadequate because years knowledge Of
its inadeauacy prompted conservative business mon
to urge that It enlarged at expense Of si5oooO
SO much for the countye necessity with respect to
the Joint building project We leave out Of consider
alton tho great benefit that would accrue from the
grouping OF the city and county offices and the
creation OF handsome and conveniently situated civic
centre.
with the necessity OF the building clearly cstah
lished by existing conditions, let to the ab
ity Of the city the county finance the project
Great improvements OF this sort which are laid ou
on such broad lines that they meet both present
and future needs usually are financed in such way
that posterity Is looked to to bear its fair share OF
the burden will enjoy its fair share OF the bone
nt There Is city rich as Wilmington and nc
county as rich as New Castle that cannot finance
s15ooooO public Improvement proposition. would b,
poor compliment either to intimate that its credit
SO bad that it would be unable to do Either could
do it were so disposed Fortunately, however, the
project under discussion carries With it division OF
financial responsibility that would make 1t all tho
easier OF accomplishment The bulk Of the indebted
ness would be municipal while the bulk of the coun
tvs share OF the debt would be met by municipal prop
crty owners resident in the county. Il must be re
mcmbcrcd that New Castle county contains propert.
that is assessed. az low valuation, at s6lS7ST4l, ant
that Wilmington contributes SAlI6S905 OF that total
We take it that no one will attempt 70 deny that suc
an assessment warrants the creation OF public deb
that does not amount to oneforoth of the total as
sessmen,. With the necessity and the financial ah
ity both clearly established, il narrows down to th
final question OF what the city and what the count
should pay respectively toward the improvement that
nu-htoNNu
5000 600 and that the county shall pay from S5o00o0
s6o0.OO0. most likely the latter amount In that cor
nection facts should be kept in mind constantly
First-That the taxpayers Of the city Of Wilmngto
Will pay every dollar OF the 100000 that win be r.
ouircd 10 build the ctys end of the Joint building.
that the taxpayers in the rural hundreds will not
asked TO contribute cent toward IT,
Seoond-That the taxpayers of Wilmington and u
taxpayers Of rural New Castle county jointly viii pa
the remaining 100000
Thrd-That as IL has been decided already that u
less the new county building be constructed it vi
be necessary 70 spend at least $4,000 on makoshi
cnargements of the present Court House, only $S5'
600 Of additional county funds is involved in the o
building proposition discussion far as the county
affected
Fourth-That the taxpayers Of Wilmington pay
per cent OF all the county and that Of the S35
goo they would pay s2345oo, while the taxpayers
he rural sections OF the county would contribute on
ss per cent of the s35OoO0, or s115,5OO.
If these facts be borne in mind by the people
the rural districts. and il they also bear in mind
liberality Of the taxpayers Of Wilmington in suppl
ing funds for public improvements essentially rural
their nature We feel that such rural taXpays
will decide that under the plan proposed they "
obtain handsome improvement at SIN
that no publc-spirited and self-rcspectng taxpayer
any Of the outlaying hundreds should object TO D
his fair proportionate- share Of IT,
We know that the sentiment in Wilmington is aim
unit in favor OF the plan. The action OF Pomo
Grange at it's public meeting here yesterday sho
that the sentiment in the rural sections is overwhel
ngiy in it's favor and that, the questions nyol'
are better understood, the enterprise makes C
yerts daily
The welfare aud good standing of both the city
the county demand that the joint building
erected, and that the work be carried to comple'
sz quickly possible.