Evening journal., 1910-06-14
STREET LOAN
BOBS UP AGAIN
Eleventh WarderS Yet of
Opinion That Ordinance
Should be More Specific
ADOPT MORE
RESOLUTIONS ON SUBJECT

Despite the opinion of Mayor Spruanoe
that the Street and Sewer Department is
the proper body, under the law, to name
streets for Improvement the Eleventh
Ward Democratic Legion which wanted
certain streets i'm that ward improved
rather than the ones provided for by the
Street and Sewer Department in the $2OO
900 bond issue for the purpose. is not satis-
fed with the present status of the case.
The legion also continues to be Of the
opinion that full information concerning
the streets to be paved including the esti-
mated cost of such Improvements, should /
bo set out at this time that tax PAYERS |
may have full knowledge Of the improve |
ment.
At a meeting Of the legion last night the
following resolution was adopted:
Whereas, The Eleventh Ward Demo- |
cratic Legion has received from his honor
the mayor, of Wilmington, j. Harvey
spruance a communication in reply to the
resolutions adopted by this Legion in reg
ular meeting held May 3lst. 1910.
Whereas, The Eleventh Ward Demo-
cratic Legion is stin of tho opinion that
greater precaution could and should have
been observed to protect the interests Of
and give to the taxpayers Of the city of
Wilmington business-llke system Of
street paving which would conform abso-
lutely to the requirements Of the acts
creating the Board of Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department. therefore,
bo it
Resolved, That this Legion appreciates
the fact as stated In his honor's commu-
nication that the act OF the State Legis-
iature requires full list Of improvements
as far as practicable which in the iudg-
ment of the Board of Directors OF the
Street and Sewer Department shall be
made but are not of the opinion that it is
entirely within the discretion Of the Board
of Directors Of the Street and Sewer
Department. and that they are the sole
judges of whether or not the list is made
as far as practical, but II Is a duty in
cumhent upon the Mayor and Council who
borrow the money and compel tho tax
payers thereby to pay same, TO use their
judgment whether said list Is as far as
practicable OF not. and De It further
Resolved That in view Of the fact
that the Board OF Directors 81 sthe- street
and Sewer Department and Council have
TO the width. length and extent Of an
streets and avenues Of this city and have
already done sufficient amount Of paving
to warrant their hling with the Council
a full and detailed list OF streets TO he
paved their extent. their length and tho
number Of yards OF paving Of the various
kinds proposed as well as the estimate OF
the cost Of same based upon. the costs Of
the paving heretofore done by said De
partment, and not only by said Depart
ment but what q could be done for II said
list were submitted for public estimates
and proposals, and this IS nothing more
than would be expected 'bv any business
Arm Of its employees and moreso by tho
tax payers Of this city who must pay the
interest and face OF all the bonds issued
for such work. and be II further
Resolved. That this Legion in reply
to the statement Of his honor, the
mayor, TO the fact that he is assured
by the Board of Directors Of the Street
and Sewer Department that they can
expend 5000, 900 this year: this Legion
respectfully shows that from the re-
/ port Of the Board Of Directors of the
Street and Sewer Department for the
year ending 1909 the department was
only able 10 expend. exclusive Of pur-
chase Of paving plant. paying for
Z widening of streets and paying for
+ utilities not specified in the list of inn
provements submitted, the sum of
$139,656.S4, and this Legion deplores a
( system whereby the proceeds of large
bond issues are allowed to remain idle
5 at an interest rate Of two per cent
while the taxpayers of the city are
compelled to pay at the rate of four
per cent for same. and be 1t further.
Resolved. That the Eleventh Ward
Democratic Legion appreciates all his
honor, the mayor, states TO the ef-
feet that If the Board of Directors Of
the Street and Sewer Department fail
? to give any portion Of the city the
highest priced paving. IL is beyond the
power of the mayor and Council to
compel the Board of Directors of the
! Street and Sewer Department to do sos
but respectfully urges that they do
not contend that any portion of the
city should receive any higher priced
s paving than any other portion; but
e such specifications as TO the kind of
r material should be submitted to the
mayor and Council in the first instance
In order that the taxpayers may de-
termine whether or not the paving as
done or contemplated to be done by the
: Board Of Directors Of the Street and
q Sewer Department is done as econom-
d ically as It can be done by public con-
. tracts, and particularly in view of the
h fact that the directors by reason OF
g taking stone from some streets anc
d utilizing them in paving other streets
e that a considerable saving should b,
& shown per square yard than has here.
Ie tofore been done. and be it further
IS Resolved, That this Legion appreci
d ates the intent of the mayor as stated
n IN his letter to see that money pro
vided for the contemplated bond issu,
lg is expended upon the streets Of tn
of city; but are unable to reconcile tina.
ct such intent may be inforced in view
ID OF the statement as previously mad
l. in said communication to the effec
ID that the entire authority over tn,
street paving list lies in the Boar,
1t OF Directors OF the Street and Sewer
NJ Department, and II this absolute
% authority is vested In said board, tha,
Is a detailed list showing the number O
$ yards and kind OF paving cannot b.
ie secured from the board prior TO tn.
q Issuance Of bonds, then It must neces
i sarily follow that the power Of the
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