Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-10-06
For the Delaware State journal.

MR. EDITOR:
My attention has been
called to a communication in last Tues
days Delaware Gazette, signed "a Tax
Payer" which is certainly curiosity.
The author of this remarkable production
seems to feel it his duty 20 create dissatis-
faction among the people in regard to the
manner in which the public money is ex-
pended by our City Fathers if he possibly
can do it.
lie evidently labors under the same
mistake made by civil engineer, who,
when our Council was laying the large
new main for forcing water into the old
reservoirs, declared that the friction would
be so great that the new engine could not
possibly supply the water required, and
would be a failure.
As do not now propose to enter fully
into an exposition of the fallacy of this
Tax Payers method of saving the peoples
money (eaving that for future occasion,)
l shall only give it a passing notice
In the first place his plan for forcing
the water into the new basin is not as
good as the one now in progress, which L
contend, on thorough investigation, will
be found to be the only feasible one.
In regard to the costs Of the city maps,
perhaps he forgets that not great while
since Democratic City Council paid
quite a round sum for map, not made
by the yeriest tyro in his profession"
but by one who was said to be skilled in
the art, which when framed and put in
place made every pretty picture" but
when examined for reference was found to
be utterly worthless, the Brandywine river
being laid down incorrectly and not a
mark or figure could be found to guide
the observer in ascertaining the size of
the squares or the gradients.
A Tax Payer is either ignorant of the
cost Of the last map made, or states will
fully what he knows to be untrue. 1t
did not cost oae-third the amount he
states, and as to the map now in progress,
no mORey has been attUaaced upon Il, and
| am credibly informed will not cost as
much by one-half us the last one did, and
further, he knows (perhaps none better)
that to lay down the courses and distances
Of the Brandywine, as the boundary of
our city to a scale of 800 feet to the inch,
the lines must be Uery exact or the survey
would not close.
1t will not be long ere this grumbler
will have chance to examine the new
map, required, not by the errors in the
one he calls pretty picture but, by rea-
son OF the extension Of the City bounda-
ries and oela.yei for the very best OF rea-
sons-that it may be correct
His ugly fling at the capabilities Of the
gentlemen engaged on this new map is
uncalled for and ungenerous. He says
the map mGy be accurate, but he doubts
it, and then kindly informs the people he
will wait it is done before he passes final
Judgment upon it. Kind, rery kind he is
to the public. and for his disnterestedness
he should be amply remunerated
Perhaps he is a civil engineer; perhaps
he has drawn maps, made plats, &c, and
although not as "well informed upon
hydraulics" as some others, he might, (if
he could get the people to elect him.
make passably fair Chairman of the
Watering Committee.
Perhaps he has plenty of leisure now,
and might induce the Council to give him
the chance to exhibit his skill as a civil
engineer by appointing him with power
to carry out his plans, and, at the same
time, overlook the finishing of the city
map But it is reasonable to suppose the
Council knew what they were about in the
matter and are unwilling to try any other
plans than those adopted after a very
careful calculation
Before | close [ desire to say that there
is not more careful and correct man in
all his duties in levelling, giving lines and
surveying generally than Daniel Farra,
ESQ, one of our City Regulators, who
has in charge the furnishing of all grades
sizes sizes Of squares new and old,) and
the outline boundaries of our city.
desire, in few days, to ia e up this
subject again, and show,g5J careful
calculation that the plan nov in progress,
for furnishing the city with water rom the
new basins, is far superior to the one pro
posed by the grumbling Tax Payer
Truly yours, ALPHA.
SEPT 30 1865.