Daily Republican., 1881-10-25
Opening ard Grading Streets.

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Oponing ard Grading Streets.
1t is = great mistake on the part OF
the City Council to enter into contracts
for opening and grading streets long
before the appropriations are made for
that purpose. The appropriation made
at the commencement of the present fla.
cal year for opening ami grading streets,
W. are informed are we'll nigh exhaus-
ted, and not single contract has been
entered into by the present opening
streets committee since the present tis-
cal year commenced, ths first of July.
The money has been expended in pay.
ment of contracts and work ordered by
the City Council last year, and it is
feared that there is not sufficient money
on hand TO complete that work. This is
certainly all wrong. The opening and
grading of streets should be done where
important Improvements are made, and
sufficient funds of the appropriations
for that purpose should always be re-
tanned to meet just such expenses. 1t
is not q commendable policy, simply
because there is certain amount of
money on hand appropriated to grading
and opening streets, to spend it all i'm
mediately on the first work that offers.
This is making no allowance whatever
for contingencies, that may arise before
the fiscal year expires. Often import
ant improvements are suddenly pro-
,jected of great interest to the city, and
the completion of those improvements
depends entirely upon the opening and
grading of the streets upon which they
are located. If the money appropri-
ated for such work is exhausted in old
contracts of not half the Importance of
the newly projected improvements then
of course the latter is either retarded
in the work or will fail entirely. 1t
would be much better plan to always
reserve share of the appropriations for
opening and grading streets, at least
until half the fiscal year had expired.
If this was done, then important i'm
provements projected in the latter half
of the year need not be retarded and
kept back on account of an exhausted
appropriation.
The difficulties arising from an ex-
hausted appropriation are severely felt
the present year. 1t is probable that
there never has been year in the his
tory of Wilmington when so many ex-
tensive and important Improvements
have been projected. AS we have al
ready said the completion of many of
them depends on the opening and grad
ing of the streets and we may add the
laying of water pipe. 1t is found how
ever that .he money appropriated has
been spent in completing last years
contracts, and consequently many of
the projected improvements will have
to be abandoned entirely or postponed
until next years appropriations can be
applied. This plan always keeps the
city year behind the improvements
that ase going on, whereas the city
should be the leader in enterprises of
this character. 1t is not our purpose to
find fault or to censure the mem mbers of
the present committee on opening and
grading streets. They have done the
hest they could under the circumstances
and they have been compelled to con-
fine themselves to fulfilling old con-
tracts made last year, and for which
they are in no way responsible. These
contracts have to be con- pleted, whether
they are necessary or not at the present
time for developing the city's interests.
The present committee, of which Mr..
B. r. Townsend is chairman, is desi-
rous of avoiding the mistakes of the past
as much as possible, by not entering
into any new contracts for opening and
grading streets which are not absolute
ly necessary, and even then they will
not contract for work which will over
run in cost the amount appropriated.
This is no doubt the proper stand for
the committee to take, but if rigidly
adhered to, it must prove great back.
set to q number of building enterprises
already commenced with the expecta.
tion of the streets being opened and
graded by the City Council.
THE IMPROVEMENT boom which is
fairly turning our city up side dow n has
induced the city passenger Railroad
Company to look after the extension o.
its lateral branches. The Fourth street
line will never be made lucrative and
self-payiDg institution until 1t is ex-
tended. We understand that it is the
object Of the company as soon as ar.
rangements can be made to extend The
line up Spruce street to Eleventh street
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