Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-03-03
TINE WATER SUPPLY,

The water wCrks OF this city have been tinl
e:ed with for the last twelve or fifteen years anC
no substantial and lasting improvement has beer
effected. The city was kept in constant alarm fol
several years until the legislature gave its sane
ton by an act to increase the debt Of the city q
extend the water works; but in the same act pro-
vided that commissioners should be appointed IN
der whose direction the work should be done.
The passage ofthis act settled the matter for q
while, and although the Commissioners, Messrs.
Victor DUPONT and Geo. w. Sparks were aPpOin-
ted, nothing further was heard from the Council
about the necessity for e1pending $500 900 in the
erection of new water works The consequence
was q saving of $4,000 year in interest for q
number Of years
We are not suffering very much now from de-
hcency in water supply. But still we do not
think it would be well 70 wait two years longer
before we commence the work Of snlaTging the
capacity of the water works. Whether the
Council will refuse to borrow the money and al
low the work TO 60 on should the legislature pass
a bill containing the names Of Commissioners, is q
question we haIe been asked but cannot answer.
In that case they would be assuming great res
possibility. But it might result as formerly to
the advantage o. As city in the saving Of So, 900
or $4,000 year.
II the Council found by neat calculation that |
there was sufficient capacity in the present works
to give the CITY its customary supply Of water for
two years longer We have no doubt it would refuse
TO 60 into the market to borrow Eve hundred
thousand dollars TO be expended under the direc-
ton OF Commissioners.
Whether Commissioners were appointed OF not |
II that sum was wanted by the city, il could not
be borrowed without paying heavy discount
W it'll the Improvements that have been ordered to
water works, we inclined TO believe the sur
ply Of water will be sufficient for the next five
years. But should not like to assert this as iAct
while there are Others who ought to be able to
give, from calculation, reliable information on the
subject.
OF course, If commissioners are appointed, they
will be gentlemen living in Wilmington, familiar
with our water works and the needs of the city
md be responsible for their acts as other officers
are. They will be sworn officers, required to per-
form certain duties, and giving heavy security for
The faithful discharge thereof Their responsible
y will not be to single ward without seculity);
'ut to the whole city. When the Eighth street
'asin was built-we heard Of responsibility res
ing on any one for its leaky condition. It was Q
Cnown that it would not hold water and for pear. r
J year the Council kept the gates locked around
to conceal the fact that it was worthless iob-
let no body was responsible. In fact it iS diff
ult to conceive how the members of council can
e held responsible for bad management in such
Hairs
The only way 10 complete such works econmically
nd well is t. contract for them with parties
rho understand their business and refuse to pay e
ntil the work is proved to be well dene THIS is d
ne policy which Democrats proposed 10 follow .
NO years ago, and although in power but a single
ear they accomplished the best and cheapest i'm.
rovment to our water works that has been made
II many years, in the laying of the great main on
leventh and Jefferson streets. Shoull water
be appointed they would be watch
BY the whole twenty-Ons Councilman and ev- I
, step they took would be criticised, and their
rors, II they made any, would be exposed every
aur'dny night, as they should be, by . council
lndful Of our city's interest. But if commits
'ners are not appointed who will be responsible 1
who Will have the authority to call the several
embers Of the Council and their superintendents
aoeountS