Middletown transcript., 1894-07-07

ing the last seven years. These figures, il
| view of the financial straits of this period
! make It obvious that the building of sewer
and the improvement of streets hav,
reached high water mark. The time ha
come when this important work must b.
limited. and 1t is respectfully suggested
that the sum of $1OO, 900 per year. added tt
the income Of the street and sewer com
mission from wharf rents. taxes on tele
graph and other electric poles. curb and
sewer liens, etc. should be ample for stree
and sewer expenditures for the next five
or six years. Expenses are being cut dowr
in all private enterprises, and the same rule
must be applied to public affairs.
In this connection it may be said that II
is very desirable that the Park Commits
sion should be furnished with larger means
for the improvement of their trust. This
is perhaps the only feature in our muni.
cipal economy which is in need of public
loan. 1t would be relief to the taxpayers
of this generation if the annual appropri-
ations to the parks, which have recently
reached 5000, should be reduced to one
half that sum while a loan of some rea-
sonable amount should be secured for
them at low rate of interest and sufficient
to put them in such condition as to make
them easier of access and more attractive
to the people. 1t Is important, however,
before the plans for larger expenditure OF
money are perfected, that more harmonious
relations should be established between the
Park Commission and the commissions
which control the water and the streets.
Not the least of the evils that have
sprung from our divided and disjointed
system of municipal government is the ab-
solute independence which the several
commissions enjoy in respect to each other.
In the parks private munifcence has done
more for us than public foresight. The
Brandywine Is the most beautiful heritage
of Wilmington, and it behooves this gene
ration to preserve what is left of its natu-
raj attractiveness. The Wilmington City
Railway Company should be encouraged
to extend its lines to the parks on both sidcs
of the Brandywine, while all the facilities
in the power of the Street and Sewer Com
mission and of the Water Commission
should be placed to their advantage.
The water supply Of Wilmington is in a
satisfactory condition. Every part Of the
city generously proved for, and the water
u.orLe opd Tho earu;oa thoro foro oro ornpla
for the demands of the community. The
have done their work well,
and there is perhaps but single criticism
that suggests itself in respect to their
general management. The water tax is as
a fact heavier than is necessary. To be
sure, the commission annually turn over
to the treasury of the city comfortable
surplus and thus assist indirectly to relieve
the burden of taxation by direct levy. But
this suggests at once another of the anoma-
lies and evils of our patchwork system OF
The water tax should not
provide for a dollar more than is necessary
for the Water Department, and the money
furnished by its annual surplus would
better be raised by direct taxation. for
then the people would know what and
how much they are paying to the city. An
upon the present system O.
divided ard Independent accounts would
be conversion of all the revenues of the
Street and Sewer and of the Water Com
mission into the city treasury, while to
your honorable body should be given the
power of appropriating annually the
required for the management of
these two departments. Then, in times OF
distress, as at present, City Council exer-
else their discretion to limiting appropria-
tions as is and must be done in respect to
other departments of the city. The Water
Commission, since its creation ten years
ago, collected more than $1,2OO.0OO. and
turned into the city treasury as surplus
about 5000, 900. or IS per centum of the
total collection. The largest measure of
ought to prevail in supplying
water for public purposes, especially for
the cleaning of the streets and market
houses. On this question there should be
no differences between the respective com.
missions, and there would be none If both
departments we're directly under the con-
troll of the mayor, where enlightened city
of to-day places them.
The Police Commission, the latest out
rage perpeirated by the Legislature
of the state upon this helpless community
cost the taxpayers $4,000 this year and
they have exceeded this appropriation by
nearly $4,000. Compared with Reading. Pa.
a city ofabout the same population of Will
We pay annually $4,000 more
for maintaince of peace than is found nec-
,ssary by our sister city. This commits
sion was created for purely partisans rea-
sons, and the next Legislature ought to
wipe it out. Under a judicious admins
ion of the mayors Office this department
could be conducted at a cost not exceeding
$50, 900. In the interest of public business
he police force should be employed an
lually to make full census of the city
and 1t would be exceedingly instructive if
we could now have an accurate census cf
If the employed and unemployed persons
If the city.
The brightest page in the current history
If Wilmington relates to our public
Ichools. These have been left TO local con-
rol, and the system in all its details COM
,arss favorably with that of any ether city
n the Union. The children of every part |
If the city have equa, and ample facilities
or education. The schools are carefully |
,rsded.
The public Library. placed upon free
,asis during the past year, is O worthy OBJ
ect of our encouragement and support.
Private generosity alone has made this
,reat institution possible and both our
public and our selfish interest exact from
Is the small appropriation annually re-
luired for it,
The sanitation of the city is in excellent
,and and the community is absolutely
protected as far as human care and intel
igence can guard against the invidious in
Dads of contagious or infectious diseases
The city has been purged ofthe disease
breeding spots and the Street and the
;ewer Department has contributed nota
rosutf Tho hnild,