Evening journal., 1914-04-22
council NOW HALTS
THE BRIDGE WORK
VIII Not Surrender Chris
tiana Park Unless County
Pays Over $l0,4O0
LEVY COURT SAYS
I'VE WON'T PAY 1T"

ParL Commission and the Levy Court
settled their differences at "get TO-
gether" meeting in the Office of County
Engineer Wilson at noon today, which
ended in a general hand nd-shaking. The
trouble is not over by any means, how
ever. City Council having stepped into
the breach vacated by the Park Board
o oppose the Levy Court in the build.
ing Of the approach to the bridge until
the county pays 20 the Levy Court
$40 400 interest ON the citys unexpired
Rve-years lease ON the land on which
the bridge approach will be built. The
Levy Court announced that IL would
not pay the amount.
The meeting, which was called to
arbltrate the question between the
various city departments that are in
terested in the subject, began in Mr..
Wilson's office shortly after IL o'clock,
with representatives from the Park
Commission, City Council, Water De-
partment. Street and Sewer Depart
ment. committee from the Chamber
of Commerce. and all but one of the
members Of Levy Court and County
Engineer Wilson present Mr.. Wat
son, the contractor, who has charge
OF inc CohelluDbloh VI Nhc biAN1Nf "fNN
was present.
When the meeting opened 1t was
understood that William p. Bancroft,
president OF the Park Commission,
had suggested for Levy Court TO fol-
low to settle the dispute in a friend
" manner. Before Mr.. Bancroft
proposed these suggestions, however,
Colonel Weller e. Stover, chairman
OF the finance committee, Of City
Council. took active part In the pro-
.ceedings by issuing an ultimatum as
70 Councils stand on the bridge
proposition. and It was an ultimatum
that took the Levy Courtmen entirely
by surprise, and one which they
unanimously disapproved.
Colonel Slower stated that City
Council would insist that the Levy
Court pay TO the city $40 400, which is
the interest on the $4,000 bond issue
for the purchase of the portion of the
Diamond State steel plant, which will
be used for park purpose for the term
OF the unexpired lease Council now
holds on Christiana park. Colonel
Slower explained that Council holds a
lease on this property that Will not
expires for years and Council con-
siders that the Levy Court should pay
the S10,4O0 as interest on this uneN-
pired lease, the interest amounting 10
S2.250 a year.
"And we don't propose TO recede
from that demand was Colonel Sto-
vers ultimatum.
MT. Scott, rather heatedly, replied
to Colonel Stover. declaring the
words don't propose to recede" were
out Of place at the beginning Of a
meeting which was called for the
purpose of reaching a compromise.
you tell us what you want us to
do, and that's the end Of IT," he ex-
claimed
I'VE might as well dissolve right
now" remarked Mr. Smith.
I'VE couldn't pay it If we wanted
o." said Mr.. Burris.
I'VE have done everything within
'eason in this matter. Now Council
comes along and asks for something
unreasonable
THAT depends on what glasses you
see ii through" replied Colonel
Stover.
Mr.. Smith held that the building Of
Third street bridge In itself was a
big thing for the city, would greatly
benefit the city and yet the city acts
as though they don't want IL.
1T is folly to maintain any such
attitude he exclaimed.
"You see il from the attitude Of
rural New Castle county, Mr.. Smith, {"
returned Colonel Stover.
Mr. Burris said the city members OF
the Levy Court we're doing all they
could to get as much as they could
out of the county for city purposes,
vet they we're greatly handicapped by
the city's attitude in the bridge mat
ter
Mr.. Scott again took exception 10
Colonel Stovefs statement that he
would not recede from a proposition at
the beginning of the meeting.
DO YOU want me TO beat around the
bush or come out frankly and say what
7 meant" asked Colonel Slower.
'Then I win say / positively will
not acccde to it, returned Mr.. Scott.
ME. too exclaimed Messrs. Burris,
Goodine and Smith simultaneously.
"Ne might a. well dissolve now,
then said Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Smith wanted TO know by what
authority Colonel Stoyer had issued his
ultimatum.
"The matter was put up to the
finance committee. they agreed on this
plan. and ] voice the sentiments of the
finance committee" replied Colonel
Stoyer
Mr.. Bancroft then proposed that the
CITY Council matter be laid aside for
the time being and the issues between
the Levy Court and Park Board be dis
cussed.
Mr.. Bancroft then brought up the fol
lowing list of what he explained were
the Park Boards suggestions for Levy
Conrt 70 follow, which are slightly
modified from the form in which they
appeared in the columns of this paper
several days ago;
First-That they lease to the
Mayor and Council Of Whining
ton, for the term Of ninety-nine
years, at a rent of one dollar per
year, payable on demand. the lot
bounded by Church. Fourth. Bridge
and Third streets, including such
parts Of the beds of Third street
and Bridge street. as may come
into the ownership of the County,
If Third street east of Church
street, and Bridge street, south
of Fourth street. shall be vacat-
ed, subject to a right on the part
Of the County, to build and main
tain roadway approaches TO the
bridge, now in course Of con-
struction.
Second-That they shall assent
TO the vacation OF Third street,
east of Church street, and Of