Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-24


above named society in the year 1897,
through this department by the cleo
tion OF your secretary ms its representa-.
tive: this membership entities tho city
to representation Of as many munich
pal officers rs it may be pleased to dele
gate, and in connection | would most
respectfully represent that j was, ac-
coiupanied by our street commissioner,
plumbing inspector and your honnrcd
selves, in attendance upon the sixth
annual convention of the American
Society of Municipal improvements
held at Toronto, Ontario, from October
LIST to 9th, inclusive, the objects OF this
society, as you are aware, is to dis
seminate information aud experience
upon, and to promote the best methods
to be employed in the management Of
municipal departments and in the con-
struction of municipal works. The
meetings were well attended by able
and experienced representative person
ages from the principal cities of the
United States and the Dominion Of
Canada, who presented papers on all
subjects known to municipalities,
which papers were thoroughly dis
cussed, not in an argumentative man
her, but by individual questioning,
NHiCu bub bu6Cb OI Uub
the experiences Of practically the whole
membership on the questions in hand;
Among other Interesting points
brought forward during the meetings
was the fact that there seems to be a
universal tendency among all the peo.
PIE of the world to concentrate in large
cities, for instance, nearly 80 per cent
of the population of New York State is
concentrated in Greater New York;
this illustration is applicable to our
State of Delaware and the Uity of Will.
mington, showing as itdoes the stupend-
GUS work Of undertaking to provide
smooth highways well lighted, sanitary
drainage and many other things neces-
sary for health, convenience, beauty and
commercial prosperity when with
sufficient funds in hand for such WORK,
while without sufficient moneys, the
question is simply an impossibility.
"There are 2l2 cities IN the United
States of 15,000 population or more,
and a total population of 1928, 662,
and from the returns made by rs of
them, assuming these to have been a
fair average, the expenditure during
1898 for municipal improvements had
been:
Streets, $40, 3O1, 1877; water supply,
S32, S67, 458 sewage, s14, 057, 142 public
lighting and buildings, ,s26, 779, SIT;
parks and bridges, s22, 1893, 566.
1.-The cost of police and fire protec-
tion reached the enormous sum of
500, $3.50, 023. These figures are thought
to be under estimated rather than over
estimated actual expenditure. The
| figures quoted do not include the vast
sums expended for water front improve
ments, education, libraries, museums,
public baths, markets, charities, and
| corrections. Other vast sums are spent
| for purposes distinctly municipal, in
which members Of the society are
deeply interested, but which it is the
almost universal custom to leave to
| private enterprise, such as railways fol
| urban and interurban travel, supplying
light, heat and power, telegraph and
telephone. &c.
1.-THE subjects discussed we're: Elec-
trio Street Lighting, Electrolysis, Sewer
| age and Sanitation Municipal Data,
| Taxation and Assessment, Street Paw
ing, TALL classes), Damages from non
repair of Highways, Experiences with
| Portland Clements, Water Works and
Water Supply, Covering of Reservoirs
| and Impounding of Water, Filtration
Plants, Disposition of Garbage and
Street Cleaning, City Government and
Legislation, Coating of Cast Iron and
Steel Pipes, Municipal Franchises,
| These discussions were recorded by
stenographers and will be reported in
full, together with the original papers
in the Convention Reports thus pre-
serving to members information of a
practical nature, most valuable to a
municIEal management.
"We were cordially received by his
worship, John Shaw, mayor, and the
city aldermen in the new City Hall,
where the convention was held. a most
cost of over 50. 00O, 600 Just such an
other building should be placed In our
city and as such erection will require
at least two years time it should be
commenced at once.''
| The important resolutions passed
during the year are printed IN full.
| STREET LIGHTING.
| Concerning street lighting the report
says:
"Under contract with the Whining
tor Coal Gas Co. there were in use
February LIST, 1899, SD gas lamps t16
| candle power. During the year new
lamps were placed in Jefferson street
between Ninth and Tenth streets, Scott
street between Gilpin and Shallcross
avenues. Lamps were removed from
Monroe street between Tenth and
| Eleventh streets to southwest corner
| Eleventh and Monroe streets. Number
of gas lamps in use February LIST, 1900,
was 516. Gas lamps cost SIG. GO per
lamp per year, burning all night and
every night
"Under contract with the Whining
| ton City Electric Co, there were in
use February LIST, 1900, 2G3 arc IamEs
| 1900 candle power. No new lights
have been added during the past
year. Arc LAMPS cost S100 per lamp
per year, burning all night and every
night.
"Under contract with tho Whining
| ton City Electric Co. there were in use
February 1st, 1899, 551 incandescent
| lamps "a candle power) During the
| year six new lights were added: Ford
avenue between Lancaster avenue and
| Sixth street: number OF incandesoent
lamps in use FebIu ary' LIST, 1900. 557.
1ncanduscent lamps cost SSH per
lamp per year, burning all night and
| every night. Cost of arc lighting for
| year, s26, 300. o.; incandescent lighting,
sl1, 119.0s; gas lighting, 5s,62l. 80 !;
total, SIG, 041. o."
.Ns FINANCES.
The financial statement is as follows
CURRENT EXPENSES.
Balance February list. 1882. .....S 43, ago. 96
/ Receipts for year ending January
| 3lst, lo0O. ...............,..... l42,9o6. II
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