Evening journal., 1899-02-10
FRIDAY. FEB. 10, 1898
CONSUMER AND NoN-cONsUAfnR.


of water In the City Of Wilmington
have not only supplrted the Water
Department. but paid over to City
Council over half million Of dollars
in surplus. Now let us see what else
nhey have done and are doing f1r the
benefit Of the non-c0nsumer They
are giving him drink; they are keep
ing him clean; they are keeping him
cool and comfortable. They are pro-
tecting his property from fire, and HIS
life from the possibility Of death in
the flames. We find in the depart
mant's report for 1897 that the water
consumers gave to the various fire
companies Of the city S196 worth OF
water: to the city buildings, $52l.59
worth Of water; to the public ait large,
S2s.521!59 worth II water for zoo hy-
drants over $40 apiece, andno the pubiie
school, buildings, s66673 worth "
water These are some OF the gratui-
ties whicn the water consumers give
ITO the aon-consumeTs Of water to re-
lieve their burden OF taxation under
the general levy The free supply in
cludes two parl0s. fifteen public drink
ing fountains, the State Armcgg, and
the water with which to sprinkle
the streets during the dry and heated
months Of Summer In 1897 the Cool
Spring Park maintenance was $4,000.
The park expense-in addition To thie
was s906.33. About $500 square yarde
OF tar pavement were laid in Cool
Spring Park at large expense, and IN
his report Chief Engineer Bond sug-
gesNs that the remaining walks be i'm
proved in like manner. Do non-con-
sumers Of water obtain no benefit from
such park maintenance and improve
ment? In the Est Of expenditures foi
1897 we find an interest item OF $40,
235 Is this interest on something fol
the payment Of which water con.
sumsns have already provided money
but which money has been diverted t,
other uses? Why pay such a large in
terest item and turn over a sGsulu
az neary 100000?
Tsese Water Commissioners seem tt
uegard q cmselves as the CONSERVATION
OF every interest but. that Of the waite
consumers. They are running park
for the Board OF Park Commissioners
sprinkirg etredts for the Board OF Di
rectcrs Of the Street and Sewer De
partment furnishing free water 70
the Fire Department at the expeuee c
the water consumer. and without tn
least recognition OF the liability Of tn
ron-coasumer under the general levy
Furnishing free waiter to an of tn
Schools Of the city for the Board q
Public Education, relieving the non
consumer Of any and all liability there
for, and giving the State OF Dslawar
free water f-r the Armory in this cit
at the sole expense Of the consumer
OF water and t1 the exemption OF th
non-consumer.
The water for the city buildings. fc
khe drinking fountains. for the Fir
Department, for the public schools, fc
The parks and for the Armlry shou.
be supplied with money from the gei
eral fund, which is supposed to. be co
lected by an equitable assessment upo
both consumer and non-consume
Surely b5th Of these classes deri1
proporJionate benefit from such wat
In its application for safety and con
f-Tt. We do not believe that the Wat
Commissioners viii c,ntend thar co
Spring Park is maintained solely 4
the pleasure and benefit Of the co
sume1s OF water who pay every dol.
Tor its maintenance. The money co
tr!buted to the Board of Park Cor
missioners comes cut OF the genef
levy, and yet here we have the Boa
OF Waier Commissioners magntainf,
one Of the most expensive parks in L
city, outside N Brandywine Park.
the exclusive expense Of the wal
CONSUMERS and for the equa. enio
ment Of the non-consumels of wat
THESE things are all right. excspt
in the manner in which they are p.
fer. Instead Of the water q nsuu
beTiug the full harden cf their ma
terarce, the non-ccnsumer should d
his proportionate share, for he enj,
ther benefits to the same propouti,
ate degree.
We are waiting f5r the report Of
Board OF Water Commissioners for
year 1898. 1t is cur desire to anal.
j. carefully, and to demonstrate to
water consumers. by facts and fgu
taken from it, the gr-ss injustice
certain items Of expense for VIII
they are paying In addition to contI
uting nearly 100000 a year to the g
ersl fund in the shape cf surplus.
Now another word with respect
the position of Ralph De Soto in
late war with Spain. We propose