Evening journal., 1920-01-29
WOULD EXPEDITE
9Th ST. PROJECT
If City is 10 Widen Street
Trust Company Hopes
All Will Agree
SAY LOSS TO SAVINGS
FUND WILL BE 100000

society, II City Council IS determined
70 carry out its plan OF widening Ninth
street, between Market and King, were
discussed by the members OF Council
meeting as a committee OF the whole.
and Robert II. Richards and Charles
Warner Smith, attorneys for the saw
ings Fund Society, last night.
After the matter had been discussed
az some length, 10 was decided 10 allow
/ lt 10 lie over until more accurate fig
ures can be obtained from the contrac-
tors and engineers for the proposed
new building for the society. as to the
additional cost of changing the plans
already started on for the new building.
These figures will be obtained as soon
as possible. counsel for the society as
sured Council
Mr.. Richards and Mrs. Smith told
Council that 10 have the plans for the
new building changed. would cost be-
tween forty and sixty thousands OF
dollars additional. The society has had
the plans drawn and the contract
awarded, and the stone and steel 10 be
used In the construction OF the build
Ing Is now being cut by sub-contractors.
they set forth The building that Is
proposed Is to be 60 feet, inches on
Market street and 2i0 feet on Ninth
street.
In order 70 expedite the settling OF
the matter, and thus 10 keep the dam
ages at as low a figure as possible, Mr..
Richards suggested, II Council finally
decides on carrying out the project,
/ that both sides agree on a commission
to assess the damages. and that both
sides bind themselves 70 accept the
awards Of the commission.
Such an arbitration. Mr.. Richards
pointed out. would avoid the delay Of
having probably three commissions ap-
pointed. II the resident judge was ap-
piled to appoint such commission
which would take probably six months
before damages would finally be set
tied upon. He explained TO Council the
regular condemnation procedure; that,
II one OF the parties disagree with The
awards Of the FIRST commission, a sec
ond may be appointed; again, II one OF
the parties disagrees with the second
commissions award, a third may be
lappolnted. after which the resident
Judge determines the award upon the
three commissions returns. This would
consume about six months, Mr.. Rich
ards said.
Mr.. smith frst addressed Council. He
remarked al the opening that the So
ciety does not question the right OF the
city 70 condemn land needed for public
use. provided that the owner receives
fun compensation.
The wilmington Savings Fund Soeiel :
decided upon building q new bank
building 10 replace It's present quar-
ters early in February last year ana
the contract FOR the building was
awarded on October ~. Of last year. II
was not until Octobr %, he stated, that
the society received from the city The
first notice Of It's desire 10 widen Ninth
street.
Mr.. Smith said that the general oon-
tractor has already let sub-contracts IN
volving about $4,000. \ large part OF
the speclally-cut stone is ready for de
livery, ne said. The dimensions OF The
sstone and steel sashing Will have 10 De
, changed according 10 the plans, II the
width Of the building Is 10 be six feet
narrower than the original plans. II
would require two or three months ne
said. 10 draw new plans.
The delay that VIII be caused IS the
vital thing he said because OF the con
stantly changing cost Of labor and
materials. The society is now occu-
pying temporary offices he stated.
The new building Of the society Is
one that will be a benefit 70 the city
and one TO be proud Of he said. II will
cost a little less than a half million
dollars.
Remarking that he would not attempt
fo dissuads council from something
that they had decided % do and be-
lIeved 10 be their duty 10 do, Mr.. Rich
ards added his approval 10 the pro-
nosed plan OF widening the street. His
purpose. he said. was 20 try TO make
ihern understand the approximate cost
Of condemning the land so that they
win be better able 10 decide whether
tbev will persist in the project, and
secondlv. II they are determined 70
carry out the project regardless OF the
cost nc desired 10 suggest means OF
expedlting the accomplishments OF the
Mr. richards touched on the fact that
steel ordered for the new building has
been rolled and cut, and stone has been
cut and ready for delivery. These
materials will have % be recut Il. the
Dimensions OF the building are changed
he said. The added cost OF construction
OF changing the dimensions is estimated
az between forty and sixty thousand
dollars, ne said.
Hinder the law, Mr.. Richards ex-
nlalned. when property is condemned
for nublic use. the owner Is entitled 10
oompensatlon FOR the property and any
damages that necessarily flow from u
n Is obvious, he said. that the damage:
that would be entalled in carrying oul
the Ninth street widening project would
be large. and that the city ousht "a
realize that fully before entering into
any understanding whether u Is prac'
/ tlcable 10 carry out the plans.
In explaining tho usual condemnation
procedure. Ai-. Richards referred 70 the
! law that unfortunately exists, anc
! termed 10 "antlquated and out or datt
and cumbersome"
A speedy determination Of the dam
ages was urged by Mr.. Richards in case
Council decides 10 carry out the pro
iect. He suggested that the Council anC
the savings fund agree on commission
TO assess damages. and that the ilrst re'
turn OF that commission VIII be ac-
cepted Both sides would be bound b!
the commissions award.
Mayor Taylor suggested that the so
clety have figures prepared as TO th'
additional cost of the chang OF plans
20 which Mr.. Richards answered tha'
the figures will be prepared fo'
Council as soon as possible In order