Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-14
BIDS FOR RODNEY
PARK WORK OPENED
Estimates for Building Retaining
Wall Referred; New Tennis
Courts Planned.

Bids for building the retaining wall Of
the Ca,sar Rodney memorial were opened
hv the Park Commission at their monthly
meeting yesterday afternoon and re-
ferred to the executive committee with
power TO act The bidders were G. II.
Tindell. Alexander Petrillo, Joseph Hamil
ton Elwood 'Talley and Stewart and Don
ohue. The bids are somewhat complex IN
nature. different estimates being given for
foundation and surface masonry, so that
II will require considerable figuring to
ascertain which was the lowest bid. The
executive committee will probably report
its action at a special meeting of the whole
board To he called soon for that purpose.
The superintendent of parks was direct
ed to look into the matter of laying out
additional courts at the Rodney street
tennis grounds There are only two courts
there now and there is great demand for
more As there IS space for additional
courts. il was the opinion of the commits
sioners that the public ought to have
them.
II was brought TO the attention of the
board that spectators AT the baseball
diamond at Third and Adams streets were
not adequately protected from foul balls.
One Of the commissioners reported that
scarcely a day passed that someone was
not injured due 10 the crowding Of the
spectators INTO the field and close 20 the
base lines. The park superintendent was
asked TO submit an estimate on the cost of
wiring of the sides of the diamond to keep
the fans AT q safe distance
The tennis courts along the Brandywine
river. near Adams street. have been
damaged BY washouts II was the opinion
of the board that the courts be put into
shape as soon as feasible
A report Of the dolngs of the executive
committee at their special meeting August
II was read rs follows
THE secretary presented letter from
the Caesar Rodney equestrian statue
committe and from the Wilmington
Fountain Society. stating that they will
furnish the Park Commission with funds
to meet the payments for the work on the
Rodney monument and the two fountains
respectively as they become due.
''The following resolution was adopted
Resolved. that the contract for furnish
ing the labor and material and doing the
work necessary 10 furnish and deliver, set
point. and clean the cut cast stone Of
Rodney square. with the Onandaga
Lltholite Co. is hereby approved, in the
following amounts:
For the steps, platform, curb, bal
istrade, wall facing, posts. etc s35, 1923
For the monument, including mod
cling and carving .....F... e,l2i
For the two fountains. . 2,07O
For the inscription 81 65 per letter
" Further be il resolved that the mayor
Is hereby requested to execute the con-
tract on behalf Of the city
a new backstop has been erected at
kirkwood Park. The Van Buren bridge IS
being repaired by raising the sidewalk and
the roadbed The Water Department is
doing the work Mr. Baynard is contlnu-
inc his work of putting the roadway of
Eighteenth street, beyond Rodney in
condition for travel. There have been 93l
baseball permits issued to date
The attendance at the swimming
pools has been as follows: Brandywine,
9. 9.707: kirkwood, 5297; Delamore, 2 9,2S5;
Walnut. 620S.
The treasurer's report, read and adopt
ed. follows.
Oyerdraft at last report ..... s., ,b19
Cash from mayor and Council =. 10000
Cash from rents ......-.<.... $50
Cash from swimming pools. 332
Cash from sale of wood ....... IL
Cash from interest on bank. - 10
George Souder, representing the union
stone and brick masons, and President
Kramer of the Central Labor Union, adj
dressed the board, asking that union labor
only be employed on the construction of
the Rodney memorial. They submitted a
list Of fair concerns in the city engaged
in various building and construction work,
asking the board to be guided by it IN
ordering public Improvements.