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

Total expenses S137, 944 48
Plumbing Inspector Kane made 220
inspections during the year and re-
ceived 1872 in fees.
The report of T. Chalkley Hatton,
engineer in charge of sewers, is as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen submit herewith the
annual statement of the work done by
the Sewer Department during the year
ending January 3lst, 1900.
"Our total expenditure has been but
S2l, 10s 10 divided as follows For ex-
tensions, S17, $50. OF; repairs, 81, 1872. 81,
and cleaning 50, 1865. %, making total
expenditures for sewers since the organ
Ration Of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment of 1889, 1913. OF, during which time
there has been 4S. 40 miles Of new sewer
laid, and all of the old storm water
sewers repaired.
I'VE have done less work this year
than any year since the organization of
the department, not because there was
not demand for the usual extensions,
but because we had not the funds to
meet these demands. Many petitions
for new sewers have had to be acted
upon unfavorably, which fact has doubt
lessly retarded building operations, but
as there was very little money for i'm
provements, our extensions have been
confined to those sewers, from the
building of which, sufficient assess
ments could be collected to pay the cost
of construction, hence the extensions
have been entirely of lateral or small
sew ers; the time. however, has arrived
when some main sewers must be con-
strueted in order to reach parts of the
city, which are being rapidly de.
veloped to do this funds must be pro-
vided besides those which you obtain
from your regular yearly appropriation.
THE time has at last arrived when no
one desires to purchase property for
either home or an Investment which
is not connected with public sewer.
Builders are loath to develope piece
of ground unless sewerage facilities are
afforded, and, as necessary sequence
to the problem. sewers must be extended
II we desire the city to grow
II have year after year called your
attention to. the necessity Of making
some start upon the sewerage system
for South Wilmington, but the neces-
sary funds have not been available L
would, however, urge you to make a
start in this direction, so that the good
available building ground in that sec
tion may be developed, as it would be
il sewerage facilities were provided.
The Highlands is being rapidly de-
veloped and yet there isn't main
sewer within several hundred feet of
the district, and the same is true of
Eastlake.
"We are extending the Brandy
wine intercepting sewer from Kent
mere to Rockland to take care of
the increasing liquid filth from the
mills of the Bancroft & Sons Co., the
company lie returning to the city the
cost of this extension, but when fin
ished it will belong to the city and be
part Of its system. The work is of a
difficult nature because of the ambuDd-
ance of water and Iocls, but hope yet
to finish it within tho estimated cost.
"a new brick invert was built in
Shipley Run sewer from the north side
of Third street to point about 200 feet
southerly therefrom which joins the
two inyerts previously constructed, thus
a new sewer has been made of SIMPLIFY
Run sewer throughout its entire length.
except between Eighth and Ninth
streets, since the department has had
charge Of it, tho major portion of the
expenditure for sewer repairs was for
the pur pose of constructing this tricK
Lnvert.
Tho cleaning of the sewers has
been Systematically performed during
the year and very few complaints have
been received from foul sewers; FORUM
ately our sewers are built at such a
grade as to be self-cleansing, and our
chief difficulty and expense is keeping
the storm water inlets free, and those
sewers which are partially tide locked.
The entire system is mechanically
flushed several times year, by the
use of our flushing tank, and this
method has SO far proved very satisfac-
tory and economical.
II thank you very much for your
cordial cooperation at all times in the
management of the Sev~r Department.
and commend to you for your favorable
consideration the good ard faithful
WORK of my assistants both in Office and
field"
Tabulated statements accompany the
ranOrtS