Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-26
DIRECTORS IN A DILEMMA
People Are Clamoring for
improvements.
BUT THERE IS A DEARTH OF MONEY
The Situation May Stop Build
Ing Operations.
BuiIders Want Sewer Facilities for All New
Houses, and the Department HAS Not the
money for the Purpose - The Subject
Thoroughly Considered by the Street and
sewer Directors.

The directors of the Street and Sewer
Department find themselves in an un-
certain position between the devil and
the deep sea. On the one side arc the
people clamoring for sewer facilities
and improved streets, and on the other
an appropriation lacking sufficient
qualities of rubber to permit its being
stretched to cover all the desired i'm
provements. Between the demands of
the people and the inability to meet
their desires, the directors are in
state Of dismay. A suggested remedy
whereby both tho devil and the deep
sea were to be eliminated, or satisfied
was to have City Council appropriate
more money TO the Street and Sewer
Department, to enable the prosecution
of work.
This whole matter was brought up at
the meeting of tho street and sewer
directors Tuesday evening, when no less
than three strong requests for the
doing of things were heard and to every
one the directors returned the cry of
mo money! One of these requests
was for sewer facilities for Is houses,
another for sewer facilities for the new
Ford block at Tenth and Market streets,
and another for repairs to streets on the
W SiNo ihp pCOIit tlitlV an
open door into the city. In discussing
some of these, the declaration was
made that unless the department is
enabled to give sewer facilities, build
ing operations will be seriously ham
pered, il not checked.
Patrick Neary was the petitioner for
sewer facilities for Is houses which he
proposes to build on Cornell street be
tween Second and Third. He secured
permission to set 2T5 feet of curb on
Cornell and 2l5 on Second, but when
the directors spoke Of the poverty of
the department as to putting down
new sewers, he said that without sewer
facilities he would not build the houses.
Director Simmons remarked that the
prospects were that considerable build
ing would be done this year and as a
consequence there would be demand
for sewers; but unless more money is
given the department to build sewers,
the building of houses will cease. As
new houses mean increased revenue
for the citysh he thought the city was
standing in its own light not to furnish
| the money to build the sewers. Mr..
Neary spoke in similar vein, saying
that each house would increase the
assessment and bring additional revenue
into the city treasury. He thought
| Council should agree to bond issue
| for building new sewers or increase the
appropriations so that sewer facilities
can be extended to all parts of the city.
President Pratt stated that Councils
appropriation was only about sufficient
to pay the fixed expenses of the depart
ment, lighting alone costing about one
half the total. Mr.. Simmons said that
without some guaranty that sewer liens
would be paid when sewers were built,
or unless more money is given the de-
| partment, very few new sewers can be
built.
A rather novel offer was made to the
board by Peter j. Ford. who wants
sewer facilities for the new six story
building which is to be erected at the
southwest corner Of Tenth and Market
streets. The cellar will be so low that
it cannot be drained into any sewer
within convenient distance, as at pre-
sent built. Mr.. Ford suggested that a
sewer might be laid on Tenth street
from French to Market so that the
building could be connected with the
sewer on Frenoh street He said he
would be willing to pay his share Of
the expense, aud when the board set
before him the unfortunate financial
position Of the department. he volun-
teered to loan the money and wait for
payment. II haven't got much.'' he
added, but | can get some together. /"
President Pratt asked what the de-
partment was to do for money, and Mr..
Ford suggested to ask for $50, 900. Mr..
Pratt spoke of the board as having gone
down on its knees heretofore to secure
money. OF the 800, 600 the department
now receives, about SS5, 900 is spent in
fixed charges.
Mr.. Ford expressed the view that
anything that would increase the
revenue Of the city should be done. Ht
again made his offer to loan tho money
for building a connecting sewer that
would give his building sewer faoili
ties.
The department instructed Engineer
Hatton to look into the matter and ht
may submit an estimate on the cos
in order TO accommodate the Ford
building.
incidentally Mr.. Simmons venturet
J tho opinion that the department ha
done more work on less money than any
, other department in the United States
, Discussing what the department hat
! best do to secure additional funds, Mr.
J Simmons suggested that with tn,
people at their backs they would go t,
Dover. The directors desire to know
! how the people feel on the subject.
! The request for repairs to streets il
the Highlands was presented by dele
cation comprising Frank e. Haley, J
w Anderson, james Nj. Smith, Norri:
S. Luton and BENJAMIN X. Smedley
MIR. Haley produced petition and /
: plot Indicating what is desired. Fl,
,, explained that since the department
had graded streets In the Highlands
so that water pipe could be laid, tn
7 streets have been in bad condition
and in some places are almost impas
+. sible. The residents desire ways t,
= get to Rising Sun and into the city
Delivery wagons find it hard place t
get around.
President Pratt reminded the spokes
a man that the department had grade,
: streets in reply to requests for waite
: facilities, at n large expense.
4 Mr.. Haley remarked that il there wa
. a fire there he did not believe tw
I horses could pull an engine, through
: To this, Mr.. Pratt averred that befot
! the pipes were laid there would hav
= been no water to fight the fire, excep
in the wells, and the people waute
city water because their wells wer
going dry. When Mr.. Haley supgeste
!. that the people Of the Highlands go
/ little for the money they paid as taxes
q Mr.. Pratt held thai they had don
b pretty we'll, and they pay only one-hal
i the city rate.
!, The specific request Of the people q
oil the district was that the department
o put RiyerTiew avenue, Sixteenth an
y Eighteenth streets into pussable condi