Evening journal., 1913-11-13
COUNCIL STANDS
PAT ON BRIDGE
SITE SQUABBLE
Instructions to Solicitor to
Defend City in Fight Are
Not Withdrawn
PARK COMMISSION INSISTS
ITS LEASE IS VALID

Members OF the Board of Park Com
missioners attended the meeting Of City
Council as a committee OF the whole ,ast
evening, when the question ss to
whether or not Council and the park
board are justified in opposing the plan
OF Levy Court to have the approach to
the new Third street bridge cross Chris
tiana Park was taken up aud discussed
Following the discussion no action
was taken toward nstructing City So
licitor Hastings to withdraw the legal
proceedings he instituted several weeks
ago at Councils direction. with a view
OF preventing the Levy Court from
building the bridge approach ON the
playground, which is an indication that
the two bodies believe they are justified
in their action
Councilman Cook began the dis
cussion by calling the attention of
the members to the stand taken by
the representatives Of the business
interests of South Wilmington when
they appeared before Council last
week He declared that the bridge
approach on the park site would be
more convenient, would look better,
and that all Of his constituents want
cd It, He believed that Councils OBJ
lection was delaying the building Of
the new bridge which he said would
be a great improvement, and he did
not think they had right to delay
public improvements.
In reply to Councilman Slower.
William p. Bancroft. president OF the
Park Board. declared that there is a
law which prohibits the crossing Of
any park land without the permis-
sion Of the park board, and he read
The clause in the act creating the
park board He declared that the
board is moi willing that the park
land be crossed by the approach. but
said that should another site for a
park in that section of the city be
provided. as good or nearly so. as
the present park, it might make a DIFF
ference IN their stand. He did not
believe a later law had been passed
that would change the law he read.
S. II. Baynard. of the park commits
sion. said the whole question resolves
itself down TO a business proposition.
They are not antagonizing any pub
lie improvement or any public body
but they are only protecting what
has been entrusted to their charge.
He pointed out how vital is the ques-
ton to Council for the park board
can't get any other land without
Councils help. yet It the present site
is destroyed Council will be called
upon to provide a substitute just as
good.
Mr.. Baynard declared that the resi-
dents of that section of the city are
entitled to AS much consideration as
those OF any other section and il
parks are necessity this site should
not he given up unless II is absolute
iy necessary and IN the present case
the park board did not believe il was
a necessity He brought out the fact
that the park board has a lease on
the property for sixteen vars. He
said that they had secured lean
for ten years. with the understanding
that If the railroad company did not
want the park for railfoHd purposes
the commission could have an addi-
tional ten-year lease on the park. The
fact that the railroad company hao
sold the land to the Levy Court Mr.
Baynard declared. proves that they de-
not want it for railroad purposes and
therefore the citys lease is extended
for ten years, making it sixteen years
yet to run.
Mr. Baynard declared the park boar'
had obtained all the legal advice 10
members care. TO get on the subject. an,
are satisfied that their lease is good
Mr.. Cook wanted TO know why tn
&. a.. 4 l.
provement for a ball park. when TIA
Improvement would develop South vii
mington He believed the park az pres
cut is dangerous to women and children
Councilman Kane remarked that man,
people, especially women and children
use the park in the evening and on Sun
day. Mr. Baynard said Il is unanimous
". the opinion Of the park board tina
Il is their duty to protect the parl
board.
Park Commissioner dupont declare
they should do their best for the Who'll
community He believed the Thir
street approach would do until some fu
ture date when it the traffic warrante'
Il the bridge approach could be change
at very little expense.
Councilman Stover wanted to know
where Council and the Park Boar
would stand if the bridge is built am
there are no approaches to it. MI
Baynard doubted in the first plac
that the Levy Court would have tn
audacity to build a bridge withou
approaches. and in. the second place
the courts. he said. would have some
thing to say on the subject, and tn
Levy Court would not do~ anythinl
that would place them in contemp
Of court He said they can build tn
bridge where IL is now. and land a
Third street. and. II at the end of 4
wears. traffic warrants il. the ap
proach may be built on the park site
Mr.. Cook desired the Counci TO TAX
action on his resolution directing tn
city solicitor to withdraw legal action
but IL did not come 20 vote. He ais,
took mp his resolution TO the effect tha
the Diamond state Steel Company
property be exempted from taxation 70
= period Of five years to encourage SOM
one to operate the place, but no actor
was taken.