Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08
PLumHsRs PROTEST.


they Request the Water commissioners
to Reconsider Their Recent Action.
A delegation Of master plumbers in
Guiding George B. Ward. John G.
Brison, Joseph Jenkins. Alfred Cav
throp, !. N. Eaton. j. r. Traynor and
j. A. Walsh appeared before the Board
OF Water Commissioners on Tuesday
afternoon to ask tina reconsideration OF
tho resolution passed. week ago pro.
yiding for the laying OF water pines
from, the street mains to tls curb lines
by the departm mt.
Joseph Jenkins acted as spokesman
for the delegation and pressnfsd petit
ton signal by large humber of both
iourneymen and master plumbers pro-
testing against the action Of the board,
which they declared to be paternalsm
of the worst kind, - aud asking the
board to reconsider ito action.
Mr.. Trsynor read soma statistics
which he had compiled for the pur.
pose. and declared that about the only
persons who will derive any benefit
from tho change will be about 10
builders OF The city, who build houses
on speculation. and who will practically
receive donation OF si77.90 each by
the action of the board, IA the city
under tho resolution viii do that much
plumbing free for every one of them.
MIR. Gawthrop thought tho city
should not take this step as times are
bad enough now and no one wants his
business curtailed. He thought the
city should not enrrnach on the bust
ness belonging TO citizens, rs it would
he nothing less than paternalism of the
worst kind,
Mr.. Jenkins said that every plumber
in the city had a supply OF pipes and
stops on hand for which they will have
no use. The department, be thought,
ought either give them time to work
oil their present stock, or elsa buy the
materials they now have on napd, if
they intend to let the resolution stand,
but he would prefer to see the action
RECONSTRUCTED entirely.
Mr.. Hastings said that before he was
in the board he hRu been compelled to
have the sorvics pipe in front of his
property repaired at great expense
aud he thought then that as the depart.
ment collects fees for water service il
should at least bring the water to your
door instead OF compelling you to 90
after il.
The plumbers retired and the com.
missioners postponed action in order to
hear from citizens in regard to the
matter.
Special Inspector Culbert reported
that he had found hydrant at Sacred
Heart Church running and was in.
formed by the prisst 10 charge that ID
had been running for week. The
commissioners ordered a penalty Of S.
imposed.
John Guthrie appeared and asked Tor
a correction in his water rent bill for
No. GIL Iatnall street. The matter was
referred to Registrar Groho for in
vestigation.
The weekly way-roll Of 5000. II was
ordered to be drawn and the balance in
bank was reported to be sos, 9t4.25,
The March collections amounted to
500. 748. 80.
The members of tho board informally
discussed the plumbers' patition after
the meeting adjourned and it was stated
that one Of the leading plumbero of the
city had endorsed the action OF the
board. Attention was also drawn 10
bill from Uharles Stewart for repairing
a leak in the main. Mr. stewart had
boon sent by the Equitable Guarantee
nbt 1tuat w, 10 repair berYlc6 pfDe
lending into one of their houscH, but
when no had dug up the street found
the leak to be ID the city main. He
then repaired the leakage and re-.
quested the city 10 pay the bill.
Mr.. Hastings thought all such trouble
would be avoided IT tho city attended
TO all water pipes in the streets.
Registrar Grohe reported that since
the passage of the resolution number
Of new service pipes have heon put in
and applications are in hand for. 20
more. IL of which are for old houses,
which are served by one pipe ut present.
Commissioner Hastings thought that
this was another good thing as the de.
partment is always desirous Of having
each house fed by a separate service
pipo.