Evening journal., 1913-12-29
ASSESSMENT
OF CHURCHES
IS DISCUSSED
Conversation Comes Up When
Mayor Drops in at Water
Board Meeting
ROUTINE WORK OF
THE COMMISSION

Mayor Harrison ". Howell was an
interested spectator at the weekly mee.-
ing of the Board of Water Commissions
ers this morning. Following the regular
meeting of the board, Captain Horace
Wilson, addressing Mayor Howell, SAID
he was glad TO see the mayor at the
meeting. Mr. Hiles added his pleas
ure.
Mayor Howell replied that he was
glad he was present and had learned
much he had wanted to know about the
department during his visit Mr.. Hilles
followed with a general review Of the
work OF the department. While discuss
ing betterments in the service during the
year. Captain Wilson said he thought
water should be paid for by the gallon
and that there should be no minimum
rate on the water service. Then there
would be no waste and the manufactur-
er would pay for what he gets and the
same would apply to the householder
Mayor Howell said he would like to
see all real estate in the city on the
assessment list He believed the prop
erty OF each city department should
be placed on the assessment list.
Mr.. Hilles inquired if the city as
sessment was finished and also sa'd
he understood that the Water Depart
ment's property was to be valued by
the assessors. Mayor Howell replied
that the assessment is not complete
and that the water plant-is to be add
ed to the assessment.
Mr.. Wilson remarked that that
means S3,O0O,O0O more on the assess
ment.
Just see what that will do to the
assessment" the Mayor added.
Mr.. Hilles asked If the churches
are to be assessed under the new sys-
TEN, to which Mayor Howell replied:
81 do not know, but they ought to do
So"
It was pointed out that assessment
Of the churches would increase the
city tax figures by one million dol
lars.
Ear be it from me-" said Mayor
Howell, ito want to have churches
and other property assessed. They
are now exempt from taxation and
deserve to be exempt | want them
10 remain exempt, but they are part
of the real estate in the city of VIII
mington They stand for the credit
of the city just the same as the bal
ance OF our real estate. City Coun-
ell can arrange the matter by ex-
empting the deserving properties now
exempt But we would know just
how much property the city owned
The Water Department has its S3,-
100000 plant and if the school houses
the churches. the parks and the prop
arty of churches and societies nov
exempt were assessed, our assess
ment value would go up several mil
lions.
"The city of Wilmington shoulS
know what it costs to run each de
partment, as Mr.. Hiiles remarked
and let each department arrange iti
1udget accordingly.
Al the meeting of the commission
Chief Engineer Hopes reported tina
,lirino the week an extension had beei
built on Ninth street between Woodlawi
and Bavard avenues. One siX-inch stree
stop was placed at same place ron
services were renewed and one servic
was repaired.
Twenty-Five r~w meters were install
cd: thirteen meters were repaired an
one meter was removed and one mete
yoke placed at curb.
The balance i'm bank was reported L
be 81 .5s2.l3 and $4,000 additional re
ceived from City Conucil.
The commission took up the ques
lion of meters at the plant Of tn
American Car and Foundry Company
There are three meters in use there
an 8 inch and a 6-inch meter for fir
protection as we'll as a two-inch me
ter used for office purposes. Captai
Wilson objected to the removal OF tn
small meter and let all the waite
used by the company come throug
one meter The company owns IN
meters.
Upon motion Of Captain Wilson
motion was adopted refusing the re
moval of the two-inch meter
During the month of January IN
Water Department office will be ope
each Saturday afternoon.