Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-22
Street Department
COMES IN FOR RAPS
fContinued From Pare ono. }

Continued From Page Onc)
organizations, had met a stumbling
block that may result in abandon
ment of the plan to condemn the Del
aware Avenue Church.
There is talk now OF curving Della
ware avenue into West and Tenth
streets in a manner that will permit
the church to be continued on its
present site.
Mr.. Emmons, who followed Mr..
Sparks in addressing Council on the
subject, did not mince words. He
referred to the present plan of the
Street and Sewer Department, in
sscertaining through commissions.
damages incidental to the widening
OF the street and the removal OF abut-
ting property, as "a mere fishing ex-
petition" Mr.. Emmons objected 10
the procedure of the Street and
Sewer Department in the matter. say
ing the project was not a public
necessity and that the Street and
Sewer Department had no right to
take the initiative in such a matter
for a private citizen. The department,
he said, had no intention Of carrying
through their plans il the price of the
work did not suit the person who was
, TO pay for the work
When the conference started. Council.
man Oscar c. Draper explained the oh.
ject of the conference, saying that
Council, or at least some Of its members
were not familiar with the proposed
widening of Tenth street until Tuesday
of this week, when the Street and Sewer
/ Department caused to be published a
statement concerning the proposed i'm.
! provements. This. he said. explained al
that Council wanted to know. unless Mr.
! Sparks desired TO supplement the state
] ment
Mr.. Sparks explained that secrecy hat
been maintained in the matter becaus,
It was the experience Of everyone that
| when 1t became known that a public
! spirited citizen wanted to plirchas,
| property the prices were advanced. Al
a result the Street and Sewer Depart
ment and Council had to "sit tight" il
the matter, he said.
In reply TO a question. Mr.. Spark
said that there was no surety that tn
proposed improvements would be carrie,
out, and Councilman Kano asked if tn
commissions would not cost propert,
owners considerable money in engaginl
| attorneys and the like.
Mr. EmInons was then given the priv
lego Of the floor. He said he represent
ed one of the interested parties. Della
ware Avenue Baptist Church. He sal
the published statement of the Stree
and Sewer Department showed tina
there was animus in tho condemnatio
. matter and denied that the church ha
. squatted on the land in question. II
} also denied that work lad been rushe
ON the church night and dav to tax
position of the land. Tie further sal
? that the Street and Sewer Department
0 had no right to turn over the machiner
of law possessed by them to an ont
}. slider whose money was 10 be annie
e for the public good.
He referred to the statement 4,
g the departments letter that the cit
o would be put to no expense in tn
e work and then declared that II IN
r members OF the board had had IN
e interest OF the citizens at heart the
would have made provision whereof
{ the owners OF the properties woul
5 have been put 20 no expense I'm IN
5 matter. especially when there is n
70 assurance that the plans will be car
s ried to completion. He said the ind
Z vidual citizen is entitled to as muc
consideration as the citizens coileC
lively.
Mr. Emmons declared there SCENE
TO be no justice in the thing and thf
: there should be some chance for IN
: property owners to be heard as
whether the opening OF the street wa
necessary. He said they had bee
: given no such opportunity in thi
. case and in many other cases. II
said the church is not convinced III,
: the opening OF the street is nece,
sary improvement. but il Il was
would not oppose IL.
lie said there seems to be somethin
more back OF the whole thing tia
z the mere opening OF Tenth street.
r Mr.. Emmons said the procedure
3 the Street and Sewer Department
z the matter was opening the door
{ corruption" The present church. I
e said, was erected so years ago an
:. by its service TO the city il was e
d titled TO its location. lie said a
church was erected ten years aft,