Evening journal., 1916-02-25
council Objects TO
CLOSING OF Street
Thinks City Should Receive
More Than $3.50 for
Hamilton Court
ALSO PROD ABOUT
STREET PAVING COST

The Street and Sewer Department
came in for a great deal OF discussion
and criticism before City Council last
night In resolution adopted and
ordered sent TO the department. Coun-
Gil stated in plain words their disap-
proyal of the action or the Depart
ment in vacating Hamilton Court at
the request Of the Wilmington Auto
mobile Company for the nominal sum
of $3.50.
The resolution was opposed by City
Councilman McDermott. who said that
the three supreme rulers of the
streets. Directors Sparks, Rudolph
and Murphy" should be invited TO
appear before Council for a hearing
on the subject
Councilman Oscar c. Draper. who
presented the resolution. said that
with land selling at S4O0 foot in the
nenghborhood of Hamilton Court. it
seemed as If the city was not re-
ceiving what they should when TIE
bed Of the street, about 30 by 60 feet,
was 10 be turned over TO the automo-
bile company for the nominal fee OF
$3.50
Councilman Draper said that the
space would accommodate at least six
automobiles. which would bring the
company $3.50 year i'm storage
charges II was explained that the
order of the Street and Sewer De-
partmont ordering the street vacated
must be approved by the court before
the street can be closed The Will
mington Automobile Compl is said
to contemplate erecting a wall to en-
close the court.
The resolution sets forth that the
$3.50 is out Of all proportion to the
value Of the land and the Council ex-
pressed its disapproval of the action
OF the Street and Sewer Department
unless the city gets in return some
thing near the actual value of the
land involved and also that the clos
ing Of the street viii moi WORK hard
shin upon the adjoining property
holders
Another matter considered by Coun-
cil last night was just how much the
Street and Sewer Department saved
on the contract for street paving re-
Gently awarded to the Topeka Paving
Company, Last year Council appro-
priated money for the work on an es-
innate submitted by the Street and
Sewer Department and when the pro-
posals were opened it was found that
the cost was less than had been cN-
pected
II is TO find out if possible what
the city saved and how and where
II did it that the following resolu-
ton was adopted and a copy ordered
sent to the department:
Wilmington. Del, Feb "A, 1916.
whereas, In the spring of 1915
the Board of Directors of the Street
and Sewer Department did submit 20
The Council of Wilmington a state
ment Of the estimated cost of paving
certain streets in accordance with a
list submitted by the said The Coun-
Gil and
Whereas. Upon receiving propo-
sails from private paving corporations
IT was ascertained that the price per
square yard of paving was consider
ably less than the price per square
yard figured in the estimate submit
led to the board of Directors OF the
street and Sewer Department to The
Council and
whereas, Inc Board OF directors
Of the Street and Sewer Department
did award a contract for large
amount of street paving 10 the To
peka Paving Company at a price per
square yard considerably less than
that which was contained in the esti-
mate OF the cost Of paving which was
computed by the Board of Directors
OF the Street and Sewer Department
and submitted to The Council now
therefore be it
Resolved. BY The Council of Viii
mington: That the Board of Direc-
tors OF the Street and Sewer Depart.
metn be and it hereby is requested &c
furnish to The Council at an early
date, an itemizod statement OF the
amount Of money which has been
saved to the city by reason of tho
contract awarded to the Topeka Paw.