Evening journal., 1894-05-18


Street Improvements and Mayor short
lidge Said the Wants OF the Women
Were Numerous But Should BE Ac-
complIshed.
Certainly a more interesting meeting
than that of last night is seldom held in
the New Century Building. The New.
Century Club was represented, also the
various city departments, with the ex-
ception Of the Water Commission.
About fifteen members of the New Cen.
tury Club were present and perhaps twice
that number of men.
The object of this meeting was to dis
cusg the best means of waging warfare
against the dirt and filth that now reigns
in this city The move originated with
the New Century Club women, and at a
recent meeting of that body, Mrs Fran
ces S. Garrett, Mrs. William w. Pusey
and Miss Warner were appointed com
mittee to investigate the conditions Of
the streets and markets, and to report
the result of the investigations at the
meeting last night.
After the meeting had been called to
order by the president, Mrs Charles r.
Miller, Mrs Garrett, as chairman Of the
committee. read the report, which was
Of an unusually interesting nature.
II stated that there was a great need
for cleanliness in the city streets aud
market houses There is no reason why
Wilmington, which is the garden spot Of
the world, should not be one Of the
clesnest cities in the world. The women
Of the Century Club are loudly calling
on the city authorities for improvement
They want all the paper and refuse
removed from the streets; they want a
street sweeping machine that will clean
the streets, and not leave little piles of
dirt here and there to be scattered by
the first passing horse they want all
poultry brought TO this city dressed
they want the market houses cleaned.
Condition of the Market Houses.
On Monday the committee visited the
mai ket houses aud was dismayed at the
unhealthy conditions it found. Eighth
street market was filthy, and a member
of the committee WAS told that It had
had not been scrubbed for seven years,
because the water faculties are so poor
In the Third street market the windows
were covered with dust. and the isles
were filed with refuse matter
The committee found Second street
market the cleanest and of the most
attractive appearance. On King street
between Third and Fourth, was discov-
cred all sorts of refuse, paper, boxes,
garbage, dust rags and tatters
In closing, the report suggested as the
city of Jerusalem is cleaned, so make IL
imperative that every property holder
here remove his own dirt The com
mlttee made these suggestions. not out
of a spirit of antagonism, but from a
spirit of helpfulness.
Mayor shOrtlldge on the Question.
After Mrs. Garrett finished reading the
report, Mayor Shortlidge rose and said
that though the wants of the COMMITTEES 9
are numerous, they are reasonable and
none bat that can be accomplished.
Chairman Ga awthrop, of the Street and
Sewer Department, thought the women
had a right to ask for cleaner streets, and
the department intended to have them
made cleaner. II also intends to buy a
new street sprinkler and TO put a new
fire plug on King street, at Second, so
that the fish market may be cleaned.
Mr. Gawthrop also thought the sugges-
tion about paper a good one There is a
law on that subject, and should be prop.
erly enforced. de wants, on the part of
the department, to cooperate with the
women in keeping the city clean. But
they should also secure the assistance OF
the Water Department. But Mr. Cav.
throp promised that all these things
should come about in the proper time.
In reply to Mrs. Garrett's question
about Eighth street market Mr.. Cav
throp said that it should be cleaned, but
that there is no sewerage except that
belonging to private property. He also
agreed the water commissioners should
allow a greater amount of water fol-
cleaning the gutter.
But" said Colonel Enoch Moore, ''thC
Water Department is run for revenue
only"
Mrs. Pusey was interested in the paw
ing of Second street, and Mr.. GawthroI
assured her that though the committet
has no idea how much money it takes, il
shall be done.
Must Not Throw Paper in the Street.
Judge Ball said that there is already
a law against throwing refuse matter
into the streets Chief Dolsn has beer
notified to instruct police officers Il
enforce this law.
Colonel Moore thought it was right L
enforce that law. He said that coming
up King street the other day, yOunl
woman rushed out of one of the mil
lllnery shops and dumped a lot of psPe
| In the street. But, it was done by
girl, and what could he doY There is
law against such. but If he had en-
deavored to enforce 1t he would hav
made himself obnoxious
Here there was a soft chorus Of noes
from the women.
Colonel Moore further stated tha
several members Of the Street and Sewe
Department had travelled about 1,4O
miles looking for a model street sweep
ing machine, but, as yet, had not foun
it.
Want Chicago Law Here.
President of Police Commission J. "
Lawson said that the paper and refus
on King street is matter of annoyauc
to him. That the milliners and she
store-keepers seem to think they hay
the liberty of throwing all sorts of stu
into the street. He thinks IL good ide
for the city to take hold of that, an
that IL would also be good thing to q
Y | here az in ChicapO-orraqt q narann fo