Evening journal., 1921-04-07
HURRY START ON
new LIBRARY
Council is Urged to Sell
Bonds TO Provide Neces-
sary Money
ASKS
FOR SHORT DELAY

OAN ~ AN(ANA <L - 4
II City Council can see its way
clear to float bond issue OF $780,
900 before the end Of the city's fiscal
year, June so. work will be started
within a few weeks on the new
100000 Public Library Building at
the southeast corner Of Tenth and
Market streets, fronting on Caesar
Rodney Square. John p. Nields, rep
resenting the Wilmington Institute
Free Library Association. urged
Council, sitting in committee Of the
whole, last night TO act promptly. so
as to take advantage Of present
building costs and provide employ
ment for idle workmen.
Charles Forwood. chairman Of the
finance committee. asked that action
be deferred until April IS, when bids
for the S45O.OOO bond issue for
street improvement will be opened.
Mr.. Nields replied that he probably
would have a proposal to make at
the regular meeting OF Council to-
night which he believed would OBJ
viate waiting until April is, and
would enable Council to authorize a
bond issue for the library at once
There is now a new aspect 20 the
Library proposition, said Mr.
Nields. I'VE know today that we
can put up the building for half a
million dollars. We have in hand
over 100000, and City Council is
authorized to bond the city for
5000. 1000"
"Other cities" he continued, ARE
letting contracts for municipal work,
realizing that the building boom
which has started will raise the
price OF building material. II this
thing Is to be done. II should be done
now" He pointed out that az the
present time there are lots OF labor
ing men out OF employment, and
economists and others who have a
knowledge OF building conditions,
say now is the time for this work TO
be done. This. he said, was the
consensus Of opinion OF those who
looked at the matter both from "A
theorctic and scientific standpoint.
Another important factor in the
matter was pointed out by Mr..
Nieids. The present Wilmington
Institute property is not aAsessable,
and the sooner the new building Is
completed and occupied, the sooner
the Wilmington Institute will be able
to dispose OF its property at Eighth
and Market streets. and the city will
be able TO realize considerable taxes
on the property He prophesied
that within a short time after the
maturity OF the 100000 bonds. all
that the city will be called on TO ex-
pend on the new building will have
been realized in taxes on the present
library site. In addition to this hs
shid, there was the constant danger
that the contents OF the presen
building might be destroyed by fr'
and cause a loss hard TO replace.
Edgar NJ Hopes Jr., told Coun
cilmen that the new library building
could not be built within the next nv,
years, at least for the price at which
Il can he built now. Lumber. he said
has reached rock bottom. cement. .ha,
advanced in price, and when con.
struction work becomes active prices
are going to go up. Lumber. he said
was only rs per cent. higher now
than in 1919.
The question was then raised by
Councilman James G. Mearns as C
whether or not Wilmington labor
would be employed in the construc.
ton OF the building While con,
/ tractors here bid on these big jobs
he said. they never seem 20 gel
the work" Local contractors" de-
clared Councilman John j. Mulvcna
"are not as a general rule ever
considered" He suggested that q
clause might be inserted In the con
tract that local labor as far al
feasible. should be employed
] Councilman Charles Forwood
i chairman Of the finance committee
said the $3.50. 900 bond issue for i'm
provement OF certain city streets wa
now being advertised at ~ per cent
and the committee would like TO Sc
what the bids will be before decid
ing to advertise for bids on the bon
issues OF s5l6.026 for the improve
ment Of Washington, Broome. Kinf
Fourth and Heald streets. and IN
s2O0, 900 for the new library build
ing.
The paving. curbing and gutterin
Of Washington, Broome, Fourth
King and Heald streets, as estimate
by the Street and Sewer Department
] lin .,rt erTG o0G annortioroa IA
follows: For widening Washingto
street from SO feet G inches 10 4
feet. TO conform to the width OF IN
new bridge across the Brandywin
| creek at Washington street. $31,317
Broome street, ss3.534, Fourth stree
S2SO.250; King street, S99,34O
Heald street from Christiana 10 Lob
| doll. S21h2h