Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-09
STREET IMPROVEMENTS
MEET WITH OPPOSITION
Most OF the Directors Notified
When Told Costs Will be
Slight.

Directors or the Street ana sewer |
Department at their meeting this
morning listened 20 number OF I
speeches by residents In favor OF and /
opposed to the resurfacing of West
street between Fifth and Seventh and /
Madison street between Front and
Ninth and az the preponderance OF
opinion seemed TO indicate the belief
that the improvements should be
carried out, Il was agreed TO have both
thorouehfares improved as quickly as
| possible. The costs viii be assessed
against the abutting property owners,
according to their pro rata share. hut
| they will have three years in which to
make payment and it was stated the
assessments IN each case win not be
excessive
The meeting this morning vas the
time fixed for the public hearing on
the proposed plans and large number
of people appeared In response TO the
notices that had been sent out. Madi-
con street was taken up first and a
representative of the Wilmington Sash
and door Company told the board
Madison street IL now In bad shape,
that Il needs fixing and that the re-
surfacing would be good thing. They
favored the plan and are willing 70
pay their share Of the costs.
George Basler of Third and Madison
eaid he would like TO see the street
J paved end no thought II needed It.
lie favored the project. but he launch
ed into q discussion Of how certain
work was done on some other streets
end President johnson advised him
they were there 10 consider Madison
street and not to listen to a scoldlng
on conditions in general.
NJ. T.. McCaferty Of 52f Madison
street wa opposed to the undertaking
saying no thought the people had
enough taxes 10 pay now jacob
Ostro thought the street should be
paved for IL is In need OF repairs and
traffic there Is heavy. George Rich
$ ardson, colored of S3s Madison street
d thought his blocA is in fairly good
condition and ne did not think it re.
quired any attention right at thls
: time. Miss Lorca OF PA Madison
u street thought the paving was al
u right but that the street is not KEEP
clean and she thought somethini
- should be done to have the dirt re
= n moved.
y W. Freedman Of s15 Madison stree
, thought he would like TO see the re
surfacing done II the costs were no
excessive. Ho said business there (
not very good and the men in busi
ness cannot stand FOR any addItiona
taxes upon them now. A. S. Reed di
not object to the resurfacing but h
!, did have some doubt he said as 2
:. whether u was necessary right st thl
- time. Mr.. Bsder again spoke IN favo
- Of the plan saying Madison street !
"A in bad shape. that It's present con
:" dition is n disgrace TO the city an
,r that by having It improved 80 woul
- holp business. Hs said once 10 is 70
surfaced Il will be flrst cIas
=. thoroughfare.
!. The board decided 10 have the vvorl
81, dons. Asphalt two inches thick wi
~ be spread over the present pawn
40 and the street will then be Just lik
4 Market street is now
-, The hearing on the resurfacing {
.a West street developed into an inter
: esting session In which some OF IN
property owners present expresse
themselves freely regarding the wor
the street department has done in th
80 past. George J. Miller OF 5O2 Wes
- street opposed the Improvement, say
Ing the street is in fair condition nov
John J. King of 500 West at first OF
posed the work because Of what I
understood the cost would amount
but when Street Commissioner PIE,
al son explained to him about how muc
the assessment would ne and how
on could be paid he withdrew his obie,
m tons and said under such condition
he1 he would not oppose the new wor
ry Michael Nigro of 6O4 West oppose
nd the work. as he did not think IL wa
81 necessary. Mrs. Sarah H. White
e. 5O9 West said the street was resu,
J. faced year ago and as a result II
I'd dirt from It had almost ruined II
s. properties along there. Paints wei
Or, SpOiieu ana the houses were filled wit
A. stone dust and it was impossible
sit out front, she claimed.
@ President Johnson explained II
II. work done then was only a tempora,
lis arrangement but that this new wo,
nix VIII not be anything Ike 1t. Mrs. Viii
d. wanted 70 know why the resurfacir
q had not been done right in the ar
place and she wanted to know why Il
at board, as business men, would spel
the city's money for cheap things tn
-, were only temporary. Mr.. Pierson sa
70 1t was done only to I'LL in the ruts al
on eliminate the noise but Mrs. VIII
za thought better Judgment should
ar displayed IN putting down streets Z
cA Whlch the tax payers are charged.
the end. however. she said II the ne
work did not cost more than $3.50 o
foot she would be in favor Of the ne
work this year.
Mrs. Edna Stehi of SIG West spoI
mt along lines similar TO Mrs. Whit,
ter statements regarding the dust and di
De- The board finally agreed TO have T.
nd resurfacing done as soon as possib
yht