Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-18

those Elected by Council arc prac-
ideally Useless, but Will Have 60 be
Paid.
AZ the regular meeting OF the Directors
oi the street and Sewer Department, on
tuesday, the following opinion from CITY
u,piluiIor 'uftis' upon the question of
read. VS.
After a careful consideration of the
matters inquired of me in your resolution
of February 10th, and after full consult
tatlon on the subject with Edward g.
bradford, ESQ, as authorized by YOU,
nave arrived at the following conclusions
AS 10 the powers of your board TO appoint.
employ and discharge civil engineers for
the work of your department, which con-
clusions are concurred in by Mr. Bradford
Having recently advised the Council
that power of election of assistant en-
glneers OF the department of surveying
and engineering was still vested in the
Council chief engineer and two assistant
engineers were elected by that body. as
authorized by the ordinance passed June
9th, 1871, and the amendments thereto,
Il understand your resolution to relate
70 your powers to appoint employ and
discharge other, civil engineers than the
engineers elected by the Council
BY section OF the act of Assembly
creating your board, power is given the
directors to appoint, employ and dis.
charge all officers, agents, ministers and
servants necessary for the management
and services of the duties imposed upon
SAID directors by this act, or by any law,
ordinances, rules or regulations appertain-
Ing, to or affecting said duties;' and by the
fitth section of the act it is provided that
all officers and servants of the city
engaged or employed ON or in connection
with the streets and sewers thereof 4
shall continue to perform the duties now
devoived upon them by the laws and ordi-
nances of said city until said directors
shall otherwise order
by the language of section 6, above
quoted, II seems to me that your board has
been given the power to employ other civil
engineers for the work connected with the
streets and sewers, to act in cooperation
with the chief engineer and under his
supervision; and further, that the officers
OF the city appointed by the Council, and
called assistant engineers. can still be re-
qulred by the chief engineer, while con
ducting the engineering and surveying
work OF your department, to render ser,
vice in connection with the streets and
sewers Of the city, until otherwise ordered
by you board by proper resolution.
CHARLES NJ. CURTIS, city Solicitor"
In accordance with this opinion the
board then passed resolution creating
the Office Of engineer in charge of sewers
and an assistant at salaries Of 81 800 and
Sl,OSO respectively. The resolution re-
quires them to give bond in the sum of
S2,0tO each for faithful performance of
Their duties, the terms of office to begin
February LIST. 1892 and continue ut the
pleasure of the board.
tor engineer in charge of sewers Presi-
dent Carpenter nominated T. Chalkley
liatton, who is at present in charge Of
this work. The nomination was seconded
a. l.ut. lxasa.r
clared elected
For assistant engineer Mr.. Carpenter
nominated Theodore A. Lessen. The
nomination was seconded by Mr. Chambers
and he was declared elected.
FOURTH STREET WHARF.
Fourth street wharf is leased to Enoch
Moore, until March, 1893, at $3.50 per year
and he subjects it to the Wilmington
Steamboat Company. The company de-
sires % improve ITS property at the foot of
Fourth street, and to include the wharf in
the improvements Application was
therefore made for lease of the wharf
Tor live years from March, 1898. The
board granted the application, and the
lease will be effected at a rental of $500
per annum.
CAN REMOVE TRIES FROM SIDEWALKS.
Upon the application of Patrick Long
or compensation for two shade trees re-
following communication from the citv
solicitor was read and filed:
The application Of Patrick Long of January
.hln last 10 you Tor compensation for two shade
trees standing In front OF his dwelling no 30,
at the corner OF che tut and Linden streetp
which were removed by you, having been re-
iorred 10 me for my advice AS to the legal
nhpiliiy IN mo matter, and IL having been rop-
resented 10 me that the said trees wero re-
moved MS distractions 10 tho proper construc-
lion OF sewer inlet and a street crossing,
was legal, and that there is no To- al liability
Tor 80 dong such as entities Mr. Long to any
compensation. CHARLES NJ. CURTIS,
City Solicitor.
OTHER BUSINESS.
Engineer Hatton was instructed to re-
pair all damage to houses in the vicinity
OF Chestnut and franklin streets caused
by the blasts in making the excavations
for Clements Run sewer, and charge the
cost to John Mcfarland, contractor for
constructing the sewer.
The Wilmington City Railway Com
pany was authorized to extend its tracks
along Ninth street from Market to Church,
70 Eleventh, to Walnut and thence to
Ninth.
II. b. Griiliths and Edmund Halves, Jr..
were elected engineers on sewer work ut
salaries of S75 per month, for such time
~s their services may be required.
george Rommell and Paul Ward were
continued asfodmen of the department.
PLENTY OF ENGINEERS
The Street and Sewer Department will
not oppose the selections for engineers
made by City Council, but will endeavor
TO find work for them. This is the best
thing to do under the circumstances, as
Councils officials are in for the term for
which they were elected and can draw their
salaries whether they work or not.
The engineers elected by City Council
are Samuel keemle first assistant and
Francis 4. Price second assistant. The
former was intended by Council, to take
t. Chalkley Hatton's place, and draw his
salary of II, 500 per anuum, but this the
department will not allow. Engineer
keemle will therefore have to be content
with the salary of 81 zoe provided by ordi-
nance of City Council for the office Of first
assistant engineer. Second Assistant Price,
under the ordinance of City Council by
the, authority of which he was elected
will draw salary OF $500. While IN the
employ of the department his salary was
$1,000. He is therefore a loser to the ex-
tent of 800 year by the arrangement.
The result is that the department will
have an ample force of engineers and the
City Council, by its premature and unwar-
ranted action, has soisted upon the public
two useless officials, whose salaries will
amount to 81 800 per annum.
The Railroad Agent at Newark.
aHl-