Evening journal., 1894-12-29
LEGISLATION NEEDED
Things the Street and Sewer
Department Will Ask For.
FIRsT OF ALL MORE MONEY WANTEr

| AppropFthtions-Ehe Opening Of streets
and Building of Overhead Bridges.
Equalization OF Expenditures and As-
sessments-salt on Tracks luxurious.
"What legislation will your commits
| sion ask for2" WAS the query put to
Samuel Chambers, OF the Street and
Sewer Department, by an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter
~ cannot speak with authority was
| the answer, "and even X | could, it
might possibly defeat the end aimed at,
by making our anticipated wants public.
There never was movement anticipated,
no matter how worthy, nor how much a
benefit TO the general public, that there
was not opposition, IN many instances
unreasonable and unwarranted, know
our needs are many, and while ! know
that the matter Of proposed legislation
has been discussed by US, still, as | said,
/ do not think It wise to discuss them
now How about an extra appropria.
tion2 VIII that ba one Of the things
asked forg' asked the scribe.
Yes we will ask for some more money.
Just how much cannot say We need
money very badly for streets and sewers,
and should have more than we get
Another thing we may try to have
changed Is the law relative TO condem-
nation Of streets. at present, when a
street Is TO be opened or widened, appli.
cation Is made TO the resident Judge. and
he appoints the commission. In cases
where he is not at home or for some
cause cannot DO reached, there is delay
which Is annoying and seriously retards
the work of the department | do not
know just how this can be remedled, OF
where this appointing power can be best
placed to subserye the public interests,
but ! know that almost any change
would be for the better
"Some time ago the power was vested
In the City Council and, / believe, worked
very we'll la other cities noticeably
cities in New York state, this power Ii
vested In the common council and there
never has been cause for complaint
Another question we will touch Ii
one which certainly needs action on tbs
part Of the Legislature, and that Is the
matter Of overhead bridges. The publ,
sentiment Is strongly against railroad
crossing streets or roads at grade. aud
IL Is bnt a question OF time when tkerl
I will be no such danger spots TO menac
life and limb Already sour Council ha
. taken steps TO compel the P Pennsylvania
ros to bridge its tracks at Fourth ans
Church streets, and although IL w0ull
! take sharp eyes to SEQ what has been
: accomplished, 1t will not be long -befor
I there will be an overhead crossing a
5 this point. Now / think that an &C
should be passed fixing q time withi
which theaei bridges shall he completed
FIRST Of course, compelling them TO b
: built, then the tims in which they shal
be completed, and sthen determinin
who shall pay for them Take tn
bridge az Fourth and Church. for II
stance The railroad, the city and
perhaps. the street railway, are a
Z benefited The act should determin
Just what part Of the expsnss shall fal
on each or any OF the parties benefited
/ There is one thing ] think should
!. given attention, too, and that is th
!, equalization Of the expenditures an
assessments. Under the law the expense
: : Of each department increase 8 per cent
annually. At the same time the assess
ments increase at about the rate Of ~ pl
cent annually. AS you see, this Is
J, serious discrepancy and IL will be only
II matter of time when the clty's debt wi
10 be more than it can handle The eli
Z sinking fund now pays per cent. on A
r amount, and think there should be aon
method whereby the assessments and g
= pendltures can be equalized How, | q
le not prepared to say. These are Il
n principal things have in my mind in Il
d line Of legislation just now. There wi
,e be others, but | am not prepared to Ia
ot on them now"
g Said another gentleman who is inte
10 ested In the city: There is one thing
a should like to see the Legislature
20 some other body with power tab
10 action on, and that is the sprinkliDg
ls salt on the street railway tracks. IL
a know that when You freeze cream "
IA mix salt with the ice to reduce the tel
'n perature far below what the ice aloI
~ would make It. So when the salt al
OF the Ice and snow mix IL makes q slusl
re compound much colder than thei ice orif
DO nally is This ruins tho feet Of horses, 70
ne footwear, and when carried on the IL
o. into your houses destroys carpets wur
ce than sand or dirt would do.
Ia "In other cities the use OF salt
d. strictly prohibited Local Boards
a Health have issued their manifest
V. against the use OF salt as a menace
Of health and promoter OF diseases Of t
lungs and respiratory organs, pne
A. monia, diphtheria, cons umption and I
al like. Physicians have agreed with the
IN on this point. yet the street railro
or companies. In order to save few dolla
ng and few hours time, persist in usi
or the salt With them it is the old mot
Of the public be d..
y, The Wilmington City Electric 70
y. has already grabbed everything in Il
an shape Of privilege, that it can, and
even on the alert to get more. In retn
IL seems unwilling to give the city an
m. thing The rail way company should
st. made to pay AN annual tax on its rolli
be stock, and should be compelled to ks
an the roadbed, between its tracks and
". certain distance on either side, In ord
ha and when any paving is to be done u
by should be compelled 10 pave in the 50
ICE way as the rest Of the street is paved
~ More Christmas Enjoyment
SS At Calvary p. E. Church's Sun'
- school festival last night, Bishop O.
~ man addressed the children, and pie
ing cautata was rendered, several or
school memb' rs participating.