Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-13
STREET DIRECTORS
INSIST ON SIDEWALKS
Disregard Threat of Suit and
Order Property Owners to
Do Work.

DlSroGardlnE an impNeu threat W
legal resistance in the event the city
attempts to enforce its decision q
some weeks ago to have sidewalks laid
on both sides of Market street north
from Thirty third street to the city
line 10 avoid the dangerous conditions
existing there because OF people hav-
Ing TO walk in the street. directors
Of the Street and Sewer Department
at their meeting this morning in
struCtcd Frank W. Pierson. street
Commissioners, to give the property
owners in that section the legal twenty
day notice 10 have the work done. In
the event the pavements are not In
stalled then the city will do tho work
and lien tho cost against the abutting
properties. This action was taken fol
lowing the receipt OF a petition from
a majority Of the property owners ask
ing that pavements he installed
Howard y. Stayton Of 1901 Market
street. IN a letter 10 the board, stated
that II certain conditions are not com
piled with this work will not he done
by the city until all legal methods of
defense have been exhausted He
claims that over two years ago
when the State Highway Department
WAS building the Philadelphia pike.
the contractor doing the work advised
him that acting on orders he got from
Mr.. Pierson. he proceeded 10 remove
from 2i3 TO ( feet from the front Of
his Stayton's. property. including the
frame work OF a new fence running
the entire width of his property OF
ls5 feet. He claims this was done while
he was away on his vacation and ne
never recovered even one OF the fence
posts the terrace was left in bad
shape and is still IN bad shape and
efforts OF his counsel TO secure a set
Element with the city solicitor then
and now failed OF results.
Mr.. Stayton reminds the directors
that the property has been in the pos
session OF the people there for more
than so years and he adds: we are
not at all apprehensive Of the prop
e1-ty being oonfiscated by the city nor
do we believe they wish 10 do so when
they fully understand the situation.
Therefore II the city will discharge
Its just obligations to me In this mat
ter and pay for the property and dam
age and make arrangements for the
additional ground needed fer the pave
ment the work viii be started immed
lately. on the other hand this work
will not be done by the city until all
legal methods OF defense have been
exha listed.
| Mr.. Pierson denied that the city
ever took any of the Stayton property
He explained TO the board that when
the pike WAS rebuilt II was found the
roadway was 40 feet wide and that
the lines OF the adjoining properties
extended down TO this roadway but
/ II II was necessary for the new high
way right of way 10 encroach on what
the owners thought was their land. the
property in question was taken but
only within the 40 foot right Of way
as established
The decision Of the board today Il
issue the legal notices required
will il is explained. bring the situation
there be any resistance to the board,
orders in the matter the case will b,
fought out by the city in the court.
If any OF The parties concerned Sc,
mt 10 carry their objections TO court
for the directors have agreed and the,
claim 10 have legal advise backin,
them in this matter than they car
on behalf of the city condemn privat,
property for the laying Of publ,
sidewalks.