Evening journal., 1909-02-15

partment now rents its present offices.
so admirably adapted for its business,
for the small figure of five dollars per
month. / am informed that under its
agreement with the Government, 1t is
to have at least six months notice, be-
fore being compelled to remove its
Offices. | am further informed that the
Government has no intention and no
expectation Of notifying the Water De-
partment TO leave those offices. and II
is likely and more than likely that the
Department can stay there for 10 years
or possibly 20 years. Therefore the
only reasons that can suggest them
selves to me for such removal, would
be first, to secure better quarters. or
at least as good quarters. at no greater
expense, or second. to make other oc-
casions and manufacture other reasons
for the unnecessary expenditure Of the
public moneys.
In two instances, at least, within the
last year. has the Water Department
gone by any public necessity or public
call, in it's anxious effort to spend
mi ney. No matter. II at times, the
beginning of one week would see the
end of the weeks pay roll unprovided
for. Still useless expenditure was in
dulged in.
Less than $500 would have put Cool
Spring Park I'm the best of condition.
But the Water Board Commissioners.
having the ectasies supposed to belong
only to millionaires, regardless of the
fact that it was the publlc's money,
and not their own. spent $4,000 at
least, in attempting to beautify and
adorn Cool Spring Park, and this
against the protest of every resident
on its borders.
A plumbing shop fitted up in accord
ance with the ideas Of a private citi-
zen, in the plumbing business, was not
In accordance with the notions Of these
millionaires, endowed with the publics
money, but they must needs spend
another $4,000 of the public moneys to
fit up plumbing shop.
Now for fear that that numerous
class of citizens, who have business
with the Water Department, is not
getting sufficient physical exercise,
fearing that the location at Sixth and
King streets, a location within one
square OF the central business district
Of the city, at an annual rent Of $50
per year, is too convenient to the peo-
pie who pay the freight, they would
have us go to the Brandywine bridge,
to gaze upon the beauties placed there
by the self same department. at an
expense of many hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars of the taxpayers money.
$50 per year is too little for the city to
pay. Sixth and King is too convenient
for the average citizen. II is also
unhealthful, in that he gets additional
fresh air from the bosom Of the Bran
DIVINE, If compelled to walk from Sixth
and Market to the Brandywine to pay
his water tax or to pay an unnecessary
10 cents car fare. there and back.
Now in all this removal of offices.
does the Water Department take its
master, the public, into its confidence,
as to the expense required for such
removal? Certainly not Did it tell
the public it would spend $4,000 in
Cool Spring Park, hoping TO make the
city beautiful, In times of panic and
distress? Did it tell the dear public.
that $4,000 plumbing shops were quite
the proper thing? Did It whisper into
the ear of the same trusting public,
that $4,000 stables for horses were
infinitely desirable things2 And if for
the comfort and convenience of the
poor plumbers it would spend $4,000
If for the proper housing Of 5 horses
and wagons it would spend SIT. 900
surely to prepare proper surroundings
for such an august body as our de-
lightful Board of Water Commission
ers. $4,000 would be too small sum.
compared with the other expenditures
just mentioned. S25,0O0l Surely they
will spend that much, but is it enough,
SS,333.33 for each Commissioner?
Brother Knox. even though he seems
to be so unreasonable, so unwise, so
imprudent. so meanly parsimonious as
to oppose these expenditures, never
theless win come in for some Of thu
reflected glory OF the new Offices.
The bricks used in the stable above
mentioned. in price and quality, think
| am safe in saying. are better than
the bricks used in any private dwell
ing in Wilmington. Having gone to
such limits in the erection Of stable.
will not our masters, the Commission
ers, seek. IN order that they may not
demean themselves, the most expen-
sive outlet possible. for their ideas, in
the adornment, arrangement and fit
ting up Of their new Offices What
matter II they don't know where the
money is coming from? What differ
ence does that make? As st. Paul said
Faith is the substance OF things hoped
for and the evidence OF things not
seem" And our Board Of Water Com
missioners certainly are giving the
greatest exhibition Of faith TO be met
with. since st. Paul wrote the dehni-
tion above given.
They are starting to build a filter
plant at a contract price of s255. 0Oc
which judging from past experiments
Of the Water Department, will cost
about 100000 and not one cent Of the
money is in sight. and the only pos
sible chance to get any. is to force
II they can. a bond issue and obtain
money which the same Commissioners
pledged their words OF honor. rs gen
tlemen. to the Legislature Of 1907. II
use for another purpose, and legsi-
mate purpose.
The Legislature Is now in session
II these gentlemen OF the Water De-
partment want to use good faAh witt
the citizens Of Wilmington. and Will
the legislative body why not go before
the Legislature and ask its approva
in the only proper way. OF this pro.
posed expenditure. which be II under
stood. is being made by two men and
two men alone, without the properI,
expressed approval OF this city o.
nearly 100000 people or any Of it.
duly elected representatives anywhere
OF course. the gentlemen who get Job.
I Will likely approve. especially any gen.
| tleman whose pay begins before hi.