Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-11

Yunuary 3lst, has been compiled Ey
3ecretary Harvey j. Wiley. 1t con-
ains the following:
In preparing this statement it has
been deemed of interest to our citizens
to make mention in general manner
pf The work accomplished In the paving
knd improving Of our streets and
hsanues by this department to this
3Ate When this department assumed
lurtsdiction of the streets and high
4s34, sewers, &C., in the year 1887,
I'M Corporate limits OF the city covered
lnrea OF about nine square miles
nontaining about 75 miles OF streets,
Whale at the present time we have an
Ereasof more than 10 square miles con-
aining approximately "a miles of
treets, averaging about SO feet in
width, making an increase of 20 per
pent in the mileage of streets to be
Ealzen care of and ultimately improved
~ paving. Our city had but few, il
t<ys good streets aud the principal
natarials used upon our highways were
kshes and tho primitive cobble stones.
Commenoing with the season OF 1891
The department hogan the work Of
zeneral street improvements, and with
he better conditions for street traffic
pnme urgent demands from our oitizens
to pave the streets in their particular
pelghborhOod; such demands could not
10 oomplied with Immediately, con-
Fequently the directors were compelled
% do the work as their best Judgment
iictnted, resulting In the paving and
mproving of the streets on the most
iiieot lines OF public traffic and travel,
which proved to be highly satisfactory
~ aFtt
brovements have been continued to the
present timo with as much expedency
ss has been compatible with coed
york, and it has been with much re.
krst that we were compelled, OH
Acoount of insufficient funds, to cur
Fail the amount OF paving which had
Pthefwise been contemplated
The work of repairing our streets re.
,eiyed considerable attention during
be past season and much good was
bffected, the street comm ssioner having
most judiciously expended over seven
honsand dollars in thit direction, to
ay nothing OF extensive repairs made
rom material rendered available from
ections of streets where paving inn
7royements were being made.
Vufnparing The condition OF our
treets with those of other cities of the
wi11e size and larger, you will find
hHt we have cleaner highways and at
,sa cost. We have about 81 miles of
Neets and avenues improved, which
ave been cleaned most effectively by
Md hrooms and the sweeping ma.
ISkipes for general work aud by the
tuol cart system for lirick payements
idon the highways in the line of
uoral business travel. Owing to the
'evelence OF good weather, the street
mJn lssioner found it necessary to
sap the street cleaning corps at work
4 ~ longer season than has been here
fore practicable and tho cost for the
ur's cleaning was but fraction
ore than Sl5, 600. making an average
stFof about S27S per miie OF imp owed
rfests, or Sl96 to each one thousand OF
3Nr population, and one and one half
hAnte per square yard of improved
tttets; being an averaged COST less per
uAre yard than large number Of
I3Ner ican cities.
'rhe cleaning of streets by the barrow
jsfrol system has met with such
rPneral satisfaction that persons re-
tutng In those sections ot tine city
mere the system has not been intro
r1oed, gave petitioned for such service.
DO sweepings gatheret by this corps
hsye been deposited in stable yards
uithin the districts until recently, but
az pre- now confronted with refusals
aom large number Of the stable
ovners to permit this practice, par
nppiarly during early spiing and fall
We winter seasons, necessitating the
ytces OF carts; this being con-
ten which We must meet, | would
hNe st the adoption of the hand patrol
nrtholding nest OF cans or vessels,
which means patrolInan will have
eihclent sessels to be filled and set
ong his route 10 be collected and
tntied into wagon or cart which
VI be required to follow and make
Nections from several districts; this
sueme will permit patrolman to re-
ghn at work upon his district at all
'nes; thon again the brick paved
gfeets in the business sections at
AMI, could be most effectively and
Woughly cleansed by flushing such
\. MONS at night with water from our
bsc hydrants.
She cost for lighting our streets
aring the past year was S45, 593. 81,
iicn means 90 cents for each of our
" a00 inhabitants, cost comparatively
i9all When we consider that of the
snt cities of our country, there is
beid for each inhabitant in New York,
aHcents: Baltimore, 68 tsnts; San
erancisco, Il cents; New Orleans, so
lflts; Washington, S3 cents: Cieve.
erIds SO cents; Boston, 81. 10, and Gin
ii Sl.:0 FOR each one.
inphere hape been issued 996 permits
Id Hpndry persons entitled under the
'suiations, to open beds of streets for
purposo OF making sewer con-
a6ans or laying and repairing service
,eIes of various kinds and for de-
fltinR building materials, &c., many
edmits including permission to per.
mMork in or about several properties
oining each other. The figures do
o. inclu6e the numerous openings
II ae by the Water Department in ex-
ding mains and renewing service
II ees A record OF all openings is Kept
pc is possible to locate any one,
ed'ether with the person responsible
fhe same
iolhese permits are divided into
he'ses, as follows; For use of streets,
for opening streets, 696; for use
swers, 176; total, 996.
,ura5eral years ago We had street name
tsta erected at the Intersections Of
va etrests. using the blue enameled
81 these signs were attractive and
m Tor q oamparatigelY short time,