Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-11
STREET ANDSEVER FINANCES
Fiscal Report of Department
Since January lst.
COLLECTION OF LIENS
AGGREGATING S89,6O9
Bank Balance Is $57,232.76
$2S,385.23 More Than Was
In Treasury a Year Ago.
ffhe Expenditures Exclusive of Routine
Work Were s54,O2s.13, Which Included
Paving and the Construction of Sewers In
Different Parts of the City.

Much has been said recently relative
to the finances of the Street and Sewer |
Department, and in order to ascertain |
she facts a reporter of The Gazette |
made an investigation and as q result |
obtained some very interesting in |
formation from the books of the de-
\ partment.
The new directors, President Thomas
4 ii. Melvin and Andrew L. johnson, |
Il went into office last January, Mr.. John |
son on the 14th and Mr.. Melvin on the
plst. Not knowing the financial con-
/ dition of the department they at once
requested the secretary, Harvey J.
I Wiley, to prepare statement, showing
the assets and liabilities. This work
II was done as rapidly as possible by Mr..
A Wiley and his secretary, Leslie V.
4 Christy, and the report, which was
submitted to the directors early in
II February. showed that of the total
assets, which amounted to S16l, 918 81,
the great bulk was in liens which had
not been collected, the bank balance
being 81, ,S08. Sc The directors found
that they were badly in need of money
to conduct the affairs of the depart
ment and at once decided upon policy
n of rigid collections, with the result
that all of the large individual liens
and many Of the small ones have been
A paid, the total collections to November
1st amounting to $4,000. 81 This
n money was in addition to the appro-
rriation from Council.
The largest lien was that against the
II Peoples Railway Co., for paving. Only
a portion Of the bill had been rendered
lat that time, but the amount that was
then due and accruing, according to
the books of the department, amounted
49, = H. "a Ill Ls
| III which had been rendered was in dispute
n and for that reason had not been paid
n The company contended that it was
charged for material for which it was
II not required to pay, and as there was
\, difference of opinion on this point be-
tween the company and the depart
ment, there had been no settlement,
Inv an adjustment of the matter not hay-
VH ing been reached. When the new board
went into Office the representatives of
the company conferred with the di-
reotors several times, explaining their
Il contention that they had been charged
more than they thought they should
have to pay and as a result the bill was
n reduced S16 600, and the company paid
\ N the bill in full, which then amounted
to $36, 542. 49. The Wilmington City
Railway 10. paid a paving bill amount
ing to 81, 245. 66.
Il,k The bulk of the collections during
the year were sewer liens the total Of
these collections from February lst to
\ November 1st, amounting to S42, 1872 Is.
p At the beginning of the year the sewer
liens amounted to SIG, 691. 90, but the
X collections have reduced this amount
IN, considerably, notwithstanding the TACT
lgl that many sewers have been built, thus
NJ adding new liens. Just how much the
AZ reduction is could not be ascertained,
No as the accounts are kept in several
!, books and the totals have not been
INV footed up, as the departments year
III does not end until the last of January.
|gII On the first of February the liens ft
f|A curbing, sidewalk and miscellaneous
J, work amounted to S17, 76S. 6S. Since
IN that time the collections on these items
3)i has been added during the year; there.
MI fore this account shows a reduction.
.M On the first of December, 1901, the
'3} department had balance of S2S, SAT. SO.
ljX The balance on the first of DeUembe ter,
]SS 1902, amounted TO S57, 232. 76, which
was 1928, 1885, % more than on the sam,
n date last year and about $50, 600 NOR,
than when the new directors went intt
n office.
lI# Since the first of February severa
4 extraordinary expenditures have beer
prior to the incumbency of the new
board. The Board of Park Commits
m } sioners was paid $1,000, being half tn,
M Y cost of the Lowering avenue bridge
I Tho sum of 81, 600 was paid for title Il
~ the bed of Woodlawn avenue.
f4U During the same period the boarC
z has spent 81, 300 in the matter o
n Y abolishing the grade crossing wher
the B. & o. railroad crosses Lowering
Gsl1 -
r streets, and S28, 946. 30 for new sewers
n 81 The total of these expenditures not con
4 templated in the routine work of tn
& Il Fl department for the period mentione
IN was s54, OPS. 13. OF course, it was in
tended 20 do some paving, build som
IN n se wers and do the other work mentioned
u &i II possible, but the execution of thes
* K plans was contingent on the boar
IN having the money with which to pa
III the cost. The routine work and regu
I.f lar expenses, suoh as street cleaning
'& lighting, collection of ashes, salaries
/ sewer cleaning, maintenance, &c., nal
VI ''arally took precedence, and had th
3W board not been successful in maxim
the collections given above it is hardl
|XE likely that much would have been don
I in the shape of making improvements
& During the period mentioned trun
( sewers havo been laid in Walnut stree
&-AN from Ninth to the Brandywine an
HXN Union street from Sixth to Pennsy
n vania avenue, and tributary sewers hay
IA been laid as follows: In Poplar stree
from Taylor to Ninth, Sixth street an
Bayard avenue, Fourth street an
Il ttHnodlawn avenue, Stroud street, Eight
E Elayenue, Franklin street between Ell
\ and Linden, Buena Vista street fro
I n, Vandever avenue to the Brandywin,
II VI Third street between West and Wasi
II ington, Front street between Mark
II and Orange, Walnut street betwee
MI II Fourth and Fifth. Sixth and Seyent
.t streets, between Van Buren and Ha
NV rison, Ninth street between Broom
|0 and Rodney, Fourteenth street betwee
(lfA French and Walnut, Cedar ana Brow
iii streets, Sycamore street between Jacl
III 1 son and Van Buren, Adams street b
III tween Chestnut and Elm, Washingtc
m y street between Second and Thir
lEg Bayard avenue between Gilpin aven,
I1 and Parkway, Twenty third street b
tyesa PiLa aai Sprsce, Maple sire
4