Evening journal., 1915-01-20

would appear advisable to request
the assistance of the Board of Park
Commissioners in closing the bridge
10 heavy vehicular traffic. No imme-
diate danger should be inferred from
this suggestion which is made en-
tirely in the interests of precaution.
The recommendations of the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters
have incurred the writer's hearty
approval and should be complied
with as rapidly as the finances of
the Department permit Especially
important are those referring to the
distribution system, and while the
changes advised are expensive, the
report as inserted IN the appendix
should be used as a definite guide
for future work. It might be well
10 add that many of .he recommends
tions we're already within the know
ledge Of the Department and the ac-
tion of the National Board is there
fcre largely one of confirmation.
In connection with the administra-
tive and executive work Of the De-
partment, it is strongly urged that
system of cost accounting be in
stalled and that the registrar be
given the necessary assistance for
such work. Under the voucher sys-
tom, in general use at present, ~
chases of material and supplies are
recorded only as cash is paid out,
and not as the material Is actually
consumed. IL is frequently argued
that this method Is sufficiently ac-
curate for municipal purposes. as
the overlapping items az the begin
ming and end of the year. will year
in and year out, equalize each other.
| The distinction between cash pay
ments for any particular period and
sctual expenses for such period Is
! thus confused and q comparison or
operating costs rendered extremely
unreliable. in addition, the conf
putation of unit costs is practically
! impossible. except at great Difficult
| ty. Discrepancies will further ap-
| pear in the yearly balance sheet
! since such items as uneXpired in
! surance. tools and material on hand,
]
| agsets In correcting this condition
which the requirements of success
! ful administration demand. the at
tention of your board is respectfully
! directed to the uniform classiflca-
ton of accounts for water utilities
prescribed by the Railroad Commits
sion Of Wisconsin, and to the litera-
tiirc of the Bureau of Municipal Ike
a., g
The time is now rapidly approach
ing when extensions to the filtration
| system and additional storage capa-
city will be required. For 1913-14
the average daily consumption OF
the city was 1l.4S6,105 gallons. while
the maximum filtering capacity un
Ger favorable conditions as to initial
quality of the water is but $1,000. 900
gallons. To be sure. the consumption
foi the past year is but a slight in
crease over 1928, but this fact can
be attributed to the general business
depression and the moral effect OF
installing meters on all properties
! l Wilmington is TO be the city which
recent growth predicts, the Water
Department must grow even faster
there can be no indifference to an
issue of such vital Importance.
During the month of July. 1912, tho
average daily consumption (nOt
pumpage) was 13.250.O0O gallons
dangerously near the capacity of tn,
plant AS regards storage capacity
less than three days supply is nov
available. This quantity il woulC
appear, even assuming an increas'
to four days supply by meteragc, il
entirely too small for a city of thl
size of Wilmington. Further tn,
condition of the Brandywine watc
Is such that during periods of freshe
OF heavy rains, il is unfit for pump
> age, the condition frequently persist
ing for three to FIVE days at a time
Sufficient storage capacity to It'd
over such periods is not only neces
sary but matter upon which tn
sanitary quality of the water serious
ly depends. AS the Department al
ready has one storage and sedimen
teton reservoir at Weldin Farm. tn
logical place for expansion appear
. TO be at this point. OF the total eX
tensions necessary. the new reser
voir is undoubtedly more urgent tha
additional filters.-recent advance
in the science of water purificatio
suggesting careful study OF the lat
ter requirement before extending tn
present plant or committing the De
partment TO any particular method.