Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-26
COUNCIL COMMITTEE
CONSIDERS STREET
WIDENING MATTER
Ninth, Washington and Front Dis
cusscd and Are Taken Under
Amusement.
LICENSE OF ENGINEERS

Widening of Front street between
French and Walnut and Washington
street from Delaware avenue to the new
bridge came up before Council at meet
ING of the committee of the whole last
night.
After discussion by directors of the
Street and Sewer Department and the
committee. Council took the matter
under advisement. President George
Lyon expressed pleasure of the Council
in listening to the proposals.
The widening of Ninth street was also
mentioned along with conditions on
Front street. Andrew l.. Johnson, presi-
dent of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment, announced the plan for Front
street He suggested that Council take
up the matter. Sentiment I'm favor of
creating new and wider building lines
developed during the meeting, until
somebody reminded Council tnat Phila-
delphia had tried setting some of its
building lines back and then quit.
TO my mind Ninth street ought 20 be
widened all the way through" said
Councilman Forwood. "1he city will be
much bigger some day. Any new build
ings should follow new lines. Eventually
we would then have q wide street and a
beautiful street. We must look to the
future Looking possibly so years ahead,
we will probably need much wider
streets" City Solicitor John W. Huxley
ipstanced new buildings in Chestnut street
Philadelphia, when he called attention to
new building lines. there, which, he said,
are set back.
Street Commissioner Charles Rudolph
criticized this plan and reminded the body
of New York $ efforts to create new and
wider lines and the necessity of changing
the lines they met with.
Frank Pierson, street commissioner,
told Of one man who came here 10 select
n building site ''The man soon stopped
and said Wait, don like the entrance
To the town But the man with him pre-
vailed upon him to come on up into the
heart of the city and he did, and is here
yet. That shows, IN my judgment, that
II paws to widen some streets anyway.
President George Lyon thanked the
commissioners for appearing before the
body with the matter and added that he
did not wish To see any city get ahead of
Wilmington in this matter of wide, ample
streets.
Councilman Mulvena called attention
TO Fourth street. Mr.. Johnson, Street
and Sewer Department, replied that all
had been done that was possible IN re-
gard To this street.
the Street and Sewer Department had
not put through the proposed drainage
at Third street bridge. and wanted to
know when it would be completed. He
said there were unsanltary conditions
there. Mr.. Pierson replied that this Is n
big lob and that IL Will take months to
get ready for the work.
A committee Of stationary engineers
appeared before the Council committee
and asked that the pending ordinance re-
auiring all stationary engineers to be
licensed be passed.
President Lyon observed that he was
for the ordinance if its object was to pro-
tect lives, as stated by the firemen and
engineers present. Councilman Kane
seemed opposed to the ordinance. He
wanted to know if it was not a State
matter. eve have been before the legis-
lature," replied the engineers.
Have we ever had any fatal explosions
where these stationary fremen work.
asked Mr.. Kane.
I'VE don't care TO wait till then, re-
torted President Lyon.
What effect would this ordinance
have upon our High School and the 400
pupils there?" asked Councilman Mearns.
This was not definitely answered.
IF there Is no engineer IN charge at
the High School, then i say one should
have a licensed engineer IN charge at
such a place as this, broke IN Council
man Forwood.
II agree with you" said President
Lvon. "If that boiler carries 100 pounds
pressure there should be licensed man
in charge spoke up the engineers dele
gate.
President Lyon said he did not care
whether the appointment of examining
engineers should be up to the mayor, under
the ordinance.
Eve prefer the seven men of the Coun-
Gil to pass upon mans qualifications for
this board to one man, the mayor, as
suming the responsibility, said the
engineer.
The city solicitor called halt to con-
sider whether the proposed fee of So a
wear for the first year would raise enough
money 10 finance the ordinance. The en-
gineer thought il would.
City Solicitor Huxley voiced his belief
in all licenses dating from the citys fiscal
year, in July.
Councilman Murray objected to going
into the matter without an idea what sort
of an examination Is to be prescribed for
each applicant.
THAT will be up to the board to de-
eide" replied the engineer.