Evening journal., 1915-02-11
SOUTH SIDE Wants
BETTER highways
City Engineer Prepares ESti-
mate OF Cost Following
Complaint
WANT PAY FOR
ASSESSMENT BOARD

AOOLOOaNlLlN DOAAD
City Engineer Taylor was instructed
by City Council last night to inspect
the banks OF the Christiana river, and
the streets in South Wilmington. and
TO prepare an estimate Of the cost
/ of improving the thoroughfarcs He
win present his findings to Council
on noNt Wednesday night. This ac-
( ton was taken at a conference held
/ between Mayor Howell, City Solicl-
tor Hastings. Councilmon and repre-
scntativcs of manufacturing plants in
South Wilmington and officials Of the
Street and Sewer Department.
George c. bobdell, of the Lohdoll
/ Car Wheel Company. spoke OF the
condition of Christiana avenue as
result of the recent floods. and OK
planned in detail how the water had
ntorforrcd with the iohdoll plant.
The greatest danger at this time, he
said. was from fire. the road boins
n an impossible condition lie said
the street has been 50 badly washed
that tho water pipe is exposed, and
he asked that the city have the grade
of the street elevated AT least four
feet. He did not ask for an olabor-
atcly constructed highway. but only
something that will be serviccablo
and which will be above high water
and any future floods.
MIR. Lohdoll said II the city would
take care of tho end OF Christiann
avenue from the Goding plant to the
city proper. the company would take
cure of tho end from the Golding
plant 10 the Lobdell works lie said
his company has already done much
toward keeping Christiana avenue ln
rioper repair, at least 10 keep Il open
for traffic.
There was "A long discussion as 10
the question of the river banks. who
owns them. who should keep them in
repair and what should be done to
make them strong enough TO with
stand the pressure Of nigh tides and
I floods. Tho condition of South VIII
) mington and the houses there as a
result of the recent floods was por-
: trayod by Councilman Cook of the
: Second ward and others who are ia
S miliar with them.
Street Commissioner picrson
thought il would be wise to have a
r. dredge in the river as tho banks
., could then be quickly and chcaply re
n paired Mayor Howell declared thi
j. conditions existing In that section
e now are a disgrace to the city. Ill
cited the case of one property owno
+ who has been reduced from an income
/. of 500 a month from her houses 4
t nothing because her tenants hav,
been compelled TO move or live In
p the second story and they will not
- pay any rent He expressed the be.
0 lief that property owners who pay
q taxes should be Afforded some relief
and the business concerns should be
D, protected, especially should some
( thing be done because Of the talk OF
, riverfront.
e II was explained by City Solicitor
e Hastings that at the present time thcr'
e was no law compelling owners of th'
4 river banks to repair the damage. li
! has prepared a bin covering this sub
ieot. This bill has been endorsed by
y City Council.
a Councilman StoNcr said under the Law
n marsh land is exempt If the owners vii
keep the river banks in repair. If the!
fail in this he thought the city shoul'
tax their property and the city thcl
Z possibly could have the repairs made
e All agreed that the situation is i'm
4 possible and that something should b
done. II was finally decided 10 have En-
. gineer Taylor's report next week AM
!. thcm decide ON what is TO be done.
- Mayor Howell addressed Council rcla
. tive 10 Chancellor Curtis recent dccis
. ion that Council had no legal right q
( appropriate $500 additional salary q
= the members of the Board of Assess
g ment Revision aud Appeals for cXtr
q work done last year. The members q
/. the board are William r. White, Wellc
j. 4. Stovcr and G. 4. Anderson. II wa
+ explained that the decision would hay
r some effect ON Councils future actio
G in increasing the pay OF other officials.
Mayor Howell said that IL was Tho
opinion of all that tho extra money
= was for work done and he did moi
think any one wanted the money re.
turned TO the city. II was the thought
of the Mayor that Council should gC
to Dover and have the act legalizej
+ under which the money was paid.
City Solicitor Hastings said he has
=, prepared a bill which. II adopted. vii
- enable Council TO increase salaries
7, and which will also validate the ac
!, under which Council had acted. II,
D' said he will look into the matter be
y fore the next pay day.
'u Councilman Draper said he has ar
'e ranged for a meeting with the com
5, mittee on municipal corporations O
y the legislature for a conference wit.
CT Council and other city officials mex
n Tuesday to consider municipal bill:
ne and he urged all the members to at
a tend this meeting. Mr. Hastings sal
en- he did not doubt that the Legislator
y intended to give Council the prope
nc authority when IL passed the aS
OF which was found to be wrong. Tn
m. question will be determined at ne,
lly Tuesdays conference.
ne Mr.. Zimmerman made complain
ad Of what he termed the insulting MAJ
en- ner in which he had been treated 4
lat the Reliance Fire Company member
err on Tuesday night when he visited ii
iiremen with the fire committee
ar Council. The members of Council di
Zoe not think any action should be take
II and Mr.. Zimmermann' effort TO haN
IN Council demand an apology from N
Ikel Reliance fremen failed.
The trouble appears TO have d,
iyi vcloped when the company refused
la permit Mr. Zimmerman to ride o
an the engine when il was taken out fC
air test run. He said last night he wa
A Ia. oil Il hr. fal