Evening journal., 1914-01-22
PROTECT THE
WATER SUPPLY
City May Build Henry Clay
Sewer TO Keep Impurl-
ties Out
ALL DEPARTMENTS
SEEM TO Be AGREE

Mayor Harrison w. Howell, members
! laf City Council, Board Of Water Com
missioners, Board Of Park Commission
ers. Board of Health and Board OF
STREET and Sewer Directors at confer
cnce n the City Hall last evening, dis
cussed the city drinking water and
means to prevent It's pollution.
Il is believed that the best way to
accomplish this better protection for the
citizens Fl Wilmington is u sewer o.
Henry Clay. which will afford drainage
for all that section and eliminate much
OF the pollution of the Brandywine
creek After tho matter had been care
fully discussed. Council assured the
other officials that they will give the
subject their careful consideration.
Ihe cost Of the Henry Clay sewer
project is roughly estimated az $4,000
Of this sum the dupont Powder Com
pany has offered 10 contribute $4,000
lrcnee DUPONT. a member OF the Park
Board. stated last night that he himself
will contribute an additional $1,000,
making a total of $4,000 the city will
receive from outside sources. The con-
struction of the sewer will mean the
acquisition by the city of a big indus
trial plant in the shape of the dupont
Powder COmpnny's immense mechanical
department. which will be brought here
from New Jersey ii the sewer is built.
Captain Horace Wilson of the
Water Board informed the officials
present that his department believes
in placing all possible safeguards
about the drinking water supply. He
declared there Is q sewer tC Henry
Clay now, but that there is still pol
luton from septic tanks, and engl-
neers agree that such tanks are not
always reliable.
Chief Engineer 70. NJ. Hopes, Jr.,
of the water board declared that the
water cannot be properly protected
unless there are adequate sewers for
sewage. He gave In detail the data
showing the actual number of houses,
the population and the cases of di-
rect pollution in the Henry Clay sec
tion. Mr.. DUPONT believed It was an
outrage to drain into the city's drink
ing water supply, and he mentioned
how unreliable are the septic tanks.
He said the only permanent cure y
sewer such as the one proposed.
President of Council William F.
White said that Council had no al
formative hut to go ahead with the
work, as their duty in the matter was
clear.
Councilman Weller E Stover point
ed out the fact that # Council can
afford to spend the money which the
sewer would cost. the city would be
accomplishing something by bringing
to Wilmington the big plant which
the dupont Powder Company contem-
plates transferring to this city.
Colonel Sparks, president Of the
Street and Sewer Department, told in
detail about the conditions he had
found on a tour of inspection along
the city water shed
Mayor Howell requested that IL
Council goes into the matter the
project should be carried out in a
thorough manner.
A sewer all the way TO the State
line was Councilman Haneys sugges-
tion. and he believed the Legislature
would help financially I'm the project
Colonel Sparks agreed that this
would be the real solution of the
problem but mentioned that To do it
would necessitate a large sewer at
this end 'hich would cost much
money.
Council agreed at the end OF the
conference that they would give their
immediate attention TO the matter.