Evening journal., 1919-02-14
LOPDELLS Want To IGfVE HEARING ON
CLOSE Land Deal CITY School BILLS
Want City Rather Than
Private Interests to Own
River Front
COUNCIL AGAIN
REFERS QUESTION

DloCubSlOu OF uuduCldl mdbttIS OC-
cupied the greater portion OF the ses-
sion Of City Council, last night, the
city solons wrestling with money mat
ters ranging from s2,5O0,O00 down to IS
cents and while the various payrolls
were approved and ordered paid, the
two extreme financial matters were re-
ferred TO Council as the committee Of
the whole. The smallest amount dis
cussed was that Of "a check drawn to
the order Of Helen Nicholas, for IS
cents, for services in cleaning the city
building. 1t was stated that the wo-
man had lost her check and on motion
OF Councilman Robertson Of the finance
committee, who appeared TO be in a
quandary over the loss, had the sub
ject referred TO Council as a commit
tee OF the whole. Several OF the mem
bers thought a resolution should have
been adopted cancelling the check and
providing for the issuance Of another
check.
The other financial question up for
discussion was that involving the
river front project, the Harbor Board
calling the attention Of Council to the
fact that the option which the board
had on the LObdell property expired
December 81, 1918, and that in the
meantime there were private interests
who did not consider $1,000 an acre too
high a price for certain parts Of the
company's property. But rather than
sell a part of the tract, the Lobdell
Company preferred to sell the tract as
a whole at 5000 per acre to the city,
to be used in the pier development
project.
The letter pointed out that the Lob
dell Company wants the matter closed
and is anxious to hear what action the
board intends 10 take.
The second part Of the communica-
ton suggested that the Harbor Boards
financing authority be brOadened, sub
ject to the approval Of Council, since
the spending OF about two and one
half million dollars is involved in the
project.
After the communication had been
read by Clerk Of Council Simmons, Mr..
Robertson OF the finance committee,
in moving that the matter be referred
to Council sitting as committe OF the
whole, said:
1T would be well II Lobdell's inter
ests in the matter were presented in
the communication as well as the
other side"
On motion Of Mr.. Robertson, it was
decided to have City Solicitor Bayard
institute suit against the Postal Tele-
graph Company to recover taxes for
the years i9l3-i9is on three and five
tcnths miles Of city streets used by
that company. The bill amounts to
S2.27t.26.
The request Of the Board Of Water
Commissioners for $4,000 on account
OF the quarterly appropriation was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
Former Judge Daniel o, Hastings
sent a letter for the Mcmahon Broth
ers, Inc, in which he stated the firm
had appealed from the orders of Build
ing Inspector Preston TO tear down the
walls Of their warehouse at Third and
Orange streets which was recently
damaged by fire. It was stated that
the firm desired a hearing with the
Councilmen on the subject
A petition was received, signed by
% citizens who live on Tenth, Elev-
enth. Madison and Monroe streets, urg-
ing Council not TO issue a permit which !
will allow the conversion OF the Ham |
mond laundry building, situated on |
Eleventh street between Madison and
Monroe streets, into a public garage. |
The petition points out the menace that
such a garage would be 10 school chill 1
dren nearby and protested the issuance
Of the pernnrt. The communication /
was referred to Council sitting as a
Of the whole.
Another recommendation was receiv-
ed from the Street and Sewer Depart !
nent declaring that the department is
willing to place its engineers and other
at the disposal Of Council for
The erection OF the proposed public
comfort stations, provided Council |
would approve the undertaking and
provide funds for il. The letter points
Dut that the Central Labor Union sug-
gested the proposed three stations
should be located at Fourth and Mar
zet streets, Tenth and Market streets
and Delaware avenue and Washington
street.