Evening journal., 1911-01-10
CITY NEEDS ~
MORE REVENUI

Continued from First Page)
now goes into the general fund Of
city. This year he said $4,000 of-wat
bonds were not taken up and had to
re-issued as sinking fund bonds. He sai
that unless something was done IT,
city's credit might be impaired
Mr.. Kienle said that when Council Fl
es an appropriation it is hard TO g
that body to increase it.
Mr.. Kane remarked that that STATE
ment was not quite right and that IT,
finance committee of Council had a.
ready decided to give the department
increase of appropriation next year. II
thought that Council should do this an
not the Legislature and added that ther
were men in Council who knew enough {
know that the business of the Water De
partment increases each year and
consequence requires more money a
as operating expenses.
Need Sl50,000 Next eYar.
Mr.. kienle was asked what he though
the board would need the next fsca
year and he replied Sl50,OOO The de
partment's present appropriation is Sl20,
0OO
Mr.. Kienle informed the legislators
that a bill containing just what the Wat
er Board wanted was now being prepared
and would be ready within few davs
The letter sent to the members Of the
Legislature by the board follows;
The Board of Water Commissioners
Of the city of Wilmington finds itself
in the position of the directors of a
prosperous and highly profitable busi-
ness concern, which, through the de-
mands of it's owners for excessive
profits, is crippled for want Of funds
to properly manage its affairs, and this
condition is likely to exist so long as
1t is limited in it's appropriation by
City Council.
Previous to 1907 the Board had con.
troll of its own funds, from which It
paid its operating expenses, made the
extensions, improvements, alterations
and repairs required by the system.
paid the interest on the bonds issued
for It's benefit and turned over to City
Council the unexpended balance at the
end of its fiscal year and in the 20
years that this condition existed It
had so turned over to Council no less
sum than $685., ,34735.
In 1907, however, an amendment TO
the city charter was passed by the
Legislature, whereby the Board was
put upon a yearly minimum appropria-
tion of S120000--to be given it by
/ City Council, and in return was re-
quired to turn over to It all Of it's
receipts Of whatever nature.
The experience Of the three years
during which this latter plan has been
in force has shown conclusiyely that
this appropriation is not sufficient for
the proper operation Of the Depart
ment. While 1t is true that expenses
were kept within the appropriation for
the first two years. and were but a
little over $1,000 greater last year,
necessary work has been deferred
repairs have not been kept up, and
there is no fund from which to draw
to take care of extraordinary condi-
tions. Building operations have been
deferred owing to the inability Of the
Department to furnish the required
extensions of mains and services, anC
it has been impossible to take advant.
age of low prices of pipe and fittings
purchases Of same having to be made
only as funds permitted
The provision of the new law com
pellihg the Board to turn over all III
receipts TO council works a hardship
any benefit from the sale Of its ole
upon it, inasmuch as It cannot receiy
material, for the replacement of any
of its fixtures damaged by accident
although paid for by the parties caus
ing the damage-it is not even per
mitted to retain the interest on it
bank balances.
If the Board Of Water Commission,
ers can have restored to it the con
ditions obtaining under the act Great
ing 1t, and in addition thereto be per
mitted to retain any surplus whicl
may accrue In order to establish
reserve fund, 1t will be in position m,
. will agree to pay all Outstanding waite
bonds as they mature with the accrue
interest on same pay its operatin
expenses and make such permanen
improvements, extensions and add
e tiOns such as new reservoirs, filte
; plants, pumping machinery, etc., a
may be required by the future growt