Evening journal., 1914-04-28

congressional hearing recently held, the I
return on the investment does not ex
ceed S per cent and
whereas: We believe the records of 1
the government and the testimony of
officials of the government now living
substantiate the statement that the +. (
!. DUPONT de Nemours Powder Company
in its dealings with the government has I
been broad, liberal and patriotic, never
failing to measure up to any demand
made by the government in time OF
peace on war. and
Whereas: The taking over OF the
of smokeless powder by the
government would almost totally destroy
the value OF the three plants now devoted
TO the manufacture OF smokeless powder,
Thus throwing out of employment hund
reds OF people and dealing a heavy blow
to the industrial welfare of tine City OF
W.. ington and State OF Delaware
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Chamber of
Commerce of the City Of Wilmington,
regards this proposed legislation as a
violation of the faith and confidence
reposed in the Government by the Il.
!. DUPONT de Nemours Powder Com
pany when it made this large invest
ment in plants for the manufacture Of
smokeless powder for the Govern
ment and emphatically protests
against such legislation and calls
npon our Senators and our Represen-
tative in Congresseto exhaust every
effort to defeat the same; and, be 1t
further
Resolved, That this resolution be
spread upon the minutes and that
copies OF the same, duly attested by
the President and the General Secre-
of the Chamber of Commerce, be sent
to the Secretary of the Navy, and the
Secretary of War, the Chamber of
various committees of both branches
of the national Congress, and to such
other individuals or organizations, as
In the opinions of the said Chamber
of Commerce, may seem appropri-
ate"
Favor Assessments.
The chamber also went on record as
approving the new city assessment
made under the direction of President
of Council William p. White. Council
man Weller H. stover and Building In
spector William f. johnson. The fol-
/
Sinclair, was adopted:
"lhe committee appointed to confer
with the Board of Assessment Revision
and Appeals, has met with the members
of that board aud reports as follows.
"lhe methods used by the board, g,ll-
orally speaking, followed the recommen-
dations of the Chamber of Commerce
and are what is generally known as the
unit system and is largely in use m
the more up-to-date cities of the Uniecd
States particularly so in the State of
! New York, where il has been adopted
almost universally. The principal adopt
cd is the one in force in the city of
New York and Newark, N. j.. the latter
being slightly in advance of New York
city in the maintaining of its records
and information.
"The land unit values were deter
mined by local real estate brokers by
blocks throughout the city. The
buildings we're measured and descrip-
tions taken by local men In squads.
under local supervision. and the figur-
ing Of building values was arrived at
by expert non-local advice and super
vision. After maps by blocks of the
city had been prepared by the city
surveyors Office, the property dimen-
sions were set out thereon, according
to deed transfer records The land
value having been determined usinl
the block unit was then added to tn,
"sound" value, l. e., replacement valu,
Of the buildings. less depreciation
and this combined amount made The
preliminary figure of the assessment.
The non-local experts could not anC
did not know OF local and nelghbor.
hood depreciations and conditions
and the board realized that ther,
we're a number of incorrect assess.
ments throughout the city. the greater
majority of which we're due to thil
lack of neighborhood knowledge
Immediately following the open
ing Of the assessment books for publ,
inspection and appeals, the bcarC
called in additional local real estat,
brokers to assist in correcting errors
and TO correct neighborhood and loca
conditions and dsDre;iations.
This correction work is bein donel
as rapidly as possible and from oui
inspection with unusual care and ac
curacy, with an attempt to secur,
equality In assessment. and after in
vestigation by the citizens of vii
mington. has given satisfaction TO
very large majority, meeting, w
would say, almost general approva
or as nearly so as could be expecte,
in any matter of like character.
"We believe, from our inspection
that the 1914 Wilmington city as
, sessment is more nearly an equitabl
and just one than any prior assess
ment that this city has ever had, an,
we only hope that the work startei
! by the present board may be mad
permanent and lasting by whateve
legislative method may be necessar.
I and desirable.
And we further believe, that tn
: city of Wilmington is to be con
graduated upon this assessment an
! upon the untiring efforts Of Messrs
White. Stover and Johnson. and tn
corps of able assistants whom the
selected.
t. Respectfully submitted, George Il
. Spackman, chairman; Henry +
! Isaacs. w. W. Pusey. End. George "
. Sparks, Wilmer Palmer, Robert L
Kemp"
The guests were: Benjamin }
!, Nields. Richard Reese. c. NJ. Shew
4 ard Wilmington Fibre Specially Co
1T. w. Wilson. w. A. Morris. Frederic
Brady, f. J. Williams. with one CUES
Charles L. Story, John Bancroft, c