Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-10-20


Howell, Josiah Marvel. Levy Courtmen
Samuel H. Burris and Charles w. Good
ing and others were features Of the
meeting of the Ninth Ward Civic As
saeiaiion last night. The gathering was
held In public school No. 30 and was the
largest meeting in the history OF the or
ganization. President j. ID. Stroud pre-
sided and warmly welcomed Mayor
Howell Mr.. Marvel and other invited
guests. Nearly 200 persons were pres
ent and a powerful sentiment was eX
pressed for a new and adequate bridge
over the Brandywine to take the place
of Washington street structure. In the
course Of bis speech Mayor Howell Voie-
ed need for an improvement IN the
system of government for Wilmington.
A committee will be named to wait
on the Levy Court within The next few
days and present the organizations
formal request for new bridge to re-
place the present Washington street
/ bridge, resolutions TO that effect having
been adopted last night.
/ The associations position was out
! lined by President Stroud, who, IN has
opening address said, after referring 20
the meeting having the Washington
street bridge as a special topics
"The civic Association wants to
bring this matter squarely before the
people for their consideration ana
/ has called this meeting for that pur-
pose and hope to present figures ana
/ facts supplied by the county that not
only question it's safety but suggest
that Il be closed to traffic. While con-
struction of new bridge means an
expenditure of lot OF money. that
must be only detail when safety is
concerned. Various reports have
reached this association from engi'
neers of the city questioning the
strength of the bridge and while
4 these same people don't want tO come
| out publicly to make such q report
i yet they do question the bridges
/ safety. During the recent repairing
more than one person employed DO
ing the work spoke about its APP
parent insecurity.
"since IL was decided to hold a
public meeting the Levy Court has
taken this matter up again and IS
to have a physical examination made
which in itself suggests that that
body doubts its strength. and this
meeting tonight might be delayed UNI
til after the report is made yet II
is the belief of the special commit
tee that the expression of the people
should be obtained in this matter, il
is one all sides OF which should be
heard"
Josiah Marvel Speaks.
Mr. Stroud then had rea0 by VIII
bur Adams the report cf Engineer
Greiner, which was presented about
one and half years ago. The re-
port contained a report OF the physl-
cal condition OF the bridge at thai
time, and suggested repairs which re
Gently, according to the statement o.
| Levy Courtman Burrls, have beer
fulfilled
III Following the reading Of the re
port Mr.. Stroud introduced Josial
Marvel as the first speaker MI
Marvel complmented the association
upon its large meeting end also upo
the Ninth Ward Associations grea
interest in civic matters. Mr.. Marvt
made general talk on the subiec
at hand and gave many valuable sug
gestions, chief among which was tn
thought that in the matter of thei
activity to secure new bridge n
measures outside of truthful one
should be used.
II Mr.. Marvel referred to the critic
| isms that have been directed agains
| the Levy Court. He said they ma
not have promptly, perhaps, attende
TO some matters, but he said he nc
ticed that most Of the things suggest
ed i'm the report Of Engineer Creme
had been done.
eve can therefore say" he sail
that the bridge is apparently safe f
reasonable traffic. He said howeve
that he had reached the conclusio
that there is an obligation on Il
part of New Castle county TO build
new bridge. This fact is brougl
about by statistics which he produce
showing the amount of taxes paid
the ward in 1912 and 1913, and Il
percentage Of building operations an
costs within a specified time. TT
statistics for 1912 show that out
an assessed valuation for the entil
| city Of $50, 453 ESQ. the ward paid {
| S7,003,271, or in actual figures Il
ward paid $107, 5000 in taxes In tn
year. In 1913. the total city assessC
valuation was $50 ,525,7lS, of viii,
| the Ninth ward was assessed Mt 81
61S,991, and that they paid in tn
year a total of S116,570.55 in taxes. !
| II 1911 he further showed that 60 p
| cent. of the building permits and
per cent. of the value for the enti
city We're issued for Ninth ward ope
atoms.
Ill From April 80. 1911, to August 3
4
III Wilmington amounted TO S4.134,0C
| OF which Sl,350,000 were issued +
III Ninth ward operations. Mr.. Mary
| said it was not matter of Min
| ward bridge, but of city bridge. ri
| matter, he further stated. is heyol
| debate, and New Castle county shou
| build the bridge with the utmost e
III petition.
II Louis Kramer said he Thorough
III agreed with Mr.. Marvel. but belle,
II that New Castle county should not !
the entire cost of construction of
| bridge. He suggested that the "
| mington and Philadelphia Traction Co
III pany, which used the bridge, should I
$4,000 toward building a new bride
I'LL Chairman Stroud called on Com
| Engineer James Wilson, who sta
that the Levy Court had tried 10
| all the requirements as asked and {
| of some of the Improvements that
| been made. lie said the bridge at
III present time looks physically safe W
the exception of the wear and tear
p years Of service Mr.. Wilson $
| he was not going TO recommend
| way or the other, but would be glad
| superintend the construction of Il
| bridge should It be SO decided