Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-30

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Results of Good Management.
The annual abatement OF the Will
Water Department, which was
to the Water Commissioners
at their meeting Tuesday night. was a
very gratifying one. 1t showed that
tho receipts OF The past year amounted
to 1854, CSl 81, and the expenditures to
ss4, 0S5. IS, leaving Il surplus OF SG9,'
700, II, This surplus according to Gus
tom, will lie trrnsd over to City Coun.
Gil and applied TO the general expenses
OF tho city.
This gratifying showing lie the result
of years of careful and busir sssliRe
management OF the city's Water De-
psrtnsut. Since Its creation, in 1881,
this branch Of the city government bias
never been operated 10 accordance With
the modern political methods OF
conducting municipal affairs From
the very first political considerations
have heen absolutely Ignored by the
members OF the department Employees
were measured by their fitness and
capacity, aud not BY the ticket they
voted, or the local political influence
they Possessed. And their tenure Of
Office, instead of hoing depsndent upou
the political result OF tharecurring city
elections, depended entirely upon their
proper and faithful performance Of the
duties assigned them, Tho result was
the formation OF body OF capable and
honest employees, all OF whom work TO
the interests of tie department us they
would to their own.
Time was when tho Wilmington Water
Department was conducted as politi-
cal machine, and its official places
awarded for political services, but it is
needless to say that the department
never showed sixty Thousand dollar
surplus at the close of tho year i'll thuse
days. Nor would IL ever have done SO
under the old management. hut under
the nor. partisan, business methods OF
the commission IL has proved a molol
of municipal service. The capacity Of
the department has been kept fully
abreast Of the public needs The plant
is of the hest, and in perfect condition,
1t includes a filtering system which
makes our drinking water as pure and
wholesome as any city in the country
can boast OF. Largo mains carry amplc
quantities of water to all parts Of the
city, and tho distribution 10 complete.
The reservoirs ara well constructed anc
in good order. In fact, ths entire
plant is 10 the highest condition o.
antive and effective operation, and th,
service is given to the people at watei
rates as low as the people OF any incor
porateu community enjoy.
While all the commissioners and al
the employees are entitled to credit fo
this gratifying stats of affairs. mont
will deny the statement that to Presi
dent William 4. Porter the major por
tion of the credit justly belongs. II,
has worked faithfully for the depart
ment aud given to its affairs the sam
careful and intelligent supervision tha
he bestowed upon his private concerns
kesolutely and successfully he has re
sisted every movement in the direction
Of making the department a politicu
machine. as OF old. And To his effort
mainly tho people of Wilmington ow
il that they are the poEssssors of a com
plete and effective system OF wnter sup
ply and distribution, which stands ns
mode! of its kind, and a striking exampl
of what municipal government ough
to be, and can BIZ il the propsr men ar
secured and the proper methods applied