Evening journal., 1901-02-18
Demand for Better Service
Is Constantly Increasing
APPROPRIATION INSUFFICIENT
Directors Will Urge Passage Of Bill
Before Legislature for Bene-
fit Of City

Members Of the Street and Sewer
Department to-day sent to Dover Dill
which will be presented TO the Legs
lature authorizing the city to borrow
800. 900 to be turned over to the depart
ment for necessary work. The pro
posed loan will extend over period
OF two years, bonds to the extent OF
$4,000 to be issued each year
In speaking of the bill, President
William Simmons, OF the Street and
Sewer Department, whose term expires
shortly, gave some pertinent reasons
why the measure should be passed by
the General Assembly and what bene-
fit it would be to the city Mr.. Sim
mons said: The department surely
needs more money. There is, in the
first place a constant demand for an
increase of lights. arc lights, espe-
cially, in the suburbs, which are not
properly lighted The department has
prepared a schedule of the needed ex-
tension and the increase in the arc
lighting. There should be 400 arc
lights which would take in all the city
from the railroad on the East side to
BrOOme street on the West side The
Sights could also bo extended out
Market street. on Concord and New
Castle avenues. over Market street
bridge to the Causeway. covering all
the leading avenues in the city, Silver
brook, Highlands and East Lake. Com
plants are constantly coming in of no
lights, especially from the Second and
Ninth wards. The department desires
to meet all demands and put in more
lights.
WOULD DECREASE CRIME.
More lights" continued Mr.. Sim
minis. would decrease the amount of
crime in the city and give better pro
lection to- householders and pedes-
triana To increase lights from the
present number to 400 would only cost
the city about $4,000, as by such an
increase the price per ligst a year
would drop from 500 to s9a
NEW SEWERS NEEDED.
Something must be done at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Union street, where
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad crosses.
1t is what is known as an inverted
kruckle and on account Of the con-
dition of the stretched enough inlets
cannot be placed in to carry off the
water. There must be a sewer laid on
Union street from Pennsylvania
avenue to Sixth street. which will cost,
not including lateral branches and in
lets about S11 900. This viii intercept
water before it gets TO that point
where there have been four or five feet
OF water and boys have gone in swim
ming
Prices run should also be condemn
ed. ] know of one or two cases where
factories would have been located
along the run had it been con-
trolled by the Street and Sewer De-
partment and a sewer built. A sewer
win cost about $40, 900, but it will only
be necessary to build a portion at a
time if the entire appropriation can
not be obtained.
WILL GO OVER BRIDGE.
IF the Board of Trade gets any in
dustries here, said Mr.. Simmons, they
viii. probably locate either over Market
street bridge OF on Cherry Island
marsh. If the Street and Sewer De
partment has to construct roads it will
be an expensive proposition. IL would
cost about $4,000 to build a broken
stone road TO the forge company, near
the lighthouse. Something should be
done TO the Causeway and the direc-
tors think it should be macadamized
to the city line, as under the present
condition 1t is an expense and ought
TO be put in proper shape. The ap-
proximate cost for this work would be
between $1,000 and $4,000. If there is
any extensive building operations ths
department must build sewers fcu
drainage purposes. There is one cass
pending that I know of. where 2.
houses are to be erected in the sub.
urbs, a sewer must be provided. The
cost will be about $4,000 on account
of IL being necessary to build a trunk
sewer In the western part of tn,
city the building Of many new house.
is contemplated which will require
sewer drainage The exact cost to Ia,
them is not known.
MORE STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
There can be no question that NOR,
street improvements are needed con
tinued President Simmons, "MarlOe
street should be improved further, bur
that cannot be done at a cost of less
than $1,000 The grade at Twenty
fifth street must be lowered before am
satisfactory work can be accomplished
Concord avenue needs looking after
II is now under the control Of thl
Great Valley Turnpike Company Thi
city should own it and commission o