Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-06-05
NO MONEY NOW TO
clean CITY Streets
Board Passes Buck" TO
Council for Depleted
Finances
MUST STRUGGLE
NEXT YEAR. TOO

directors OF the Street and Sewer
department this morning in omen ses-
sion passed the buck" TO Council for
the refusal Of the directors IN allow
any more street lights 10 be erected
TINS year or next, for the order stop-
p ny all street sprlnkllne from TO-DAY
until me end Of the present fiscal year
ana Tor any epidemics OF disease
wien may result from unclean streets
and neg ecNd sewers.
In a vigorous statement issued in
open meeting through President
George W. Sparks. the directors dis.
claim any adding OF Their appropria.
ton requos.s for the next fiscal year
and make Il plain that the directors
reel that Council did not act for the
the best interests OF the city I'm cut
ing the requested appropriation Of
100000 TO 1925 600. The statement
broadly says that because Of Councils
actions this past week and IN other
years. the board staggers under def
CTS, the accumulation OF which viii
be stopped from now on, no matter
what work has TO be stopped
When the specific amount Of money
for any one line OF work is exhausted
the directors Will stop that work. they
say and let Council assume the bamo
for unfinished Jobs. because CounaS
failed TO appropriate every cent Of 80
$40 600 which was demanded
The statement OF the board follows
For several years past. the Street
and Sewer Department has been esti-
mating and presenting TO the Counc I
/ for its consideration, the amounts of
money necessary. by items. to conduct
its department, and the estimates as
made have been absolute and never
padded, but in every instance, the APP
propr alton as made has been much
less than the amount estimated. In
consequence, a deficit has accumu-
lated. under which the department Is
staggering. and the increasing OF
which. It proposes 10 stop. IL has
been criticised for improper fulfill
ment OF its duties, when it has done
everything II could do with the
amount OF money available, as cheapls
and cheaper tAan in other cities. ant
as clearly presented TO the committed
OF the whole OF the Council. In the
budget just set up. this department
made a request for S2750 600 for thu
next ensuing corporate year an'
clearly showed to the Council that il
consequence Of the increase in cos
OF labor Of 80 Is per cent and a Xix
increase in cost OF material, thi
amount was necessary. The Council
I in its Judgment, could only see II
way clear to allow us S225,0O
whereas, our expenditures for the cul
rent year will exceed that
at is now our desire 70 advise {
3 public that for the coming year the
e penditures of the department viii
e made in exact accord with the amou
s Of money appropriated for each speci
{ item, and when that item shall ha
: been exhausted the department will 50
: work in that line, let II be what 10 ma
Z with the exception of street cleaning.
this regard we have shown the Coun'
that even in the inadequate way
T which the streets have been cleaned. v
} fare doing more work than the neighbo
boring cities. but from a sanitary stan'
point we will not assume the obligatio
of probable epidemics. and will endeav'
to the same degree "a In the past.
clean the streets within the amount al
propriated. but If this il not suilicen
we win continue the work even thong
the city incurs a deficit
Moreover. no additional stree
lights will be installed during ia
coming year unless an additional ar
preparation be made for this purpos'
Our appropriation for the currer
year for street sprinkling, havin
been exhausted about May 1. and IN
. Council having failed TO make us a
extraordinary appropriation, as pc
our request TO meet the above mel
toned unforeseen increase in cost
. labor, we will be compelled. from tn
} date. 10 entirely suspend all stree
sprinkling for the balance OF the col
. porate year. July ]. We deeply II
1 greet to infiict upon the public the al
noyance that this will occasion bl
N we do not feel that we are justine
N In increasing our expenditures ovs
and above that which the appropyia
ing department OF the city OF wi
, mington feels that we should have.
"The amounts as set up in n
budget OF the department for the con
ing year will be as follows:
General commandments $500
Street commissioner and sec
retarv ...... ..... 2.5O
street cleaning ....... 4OI5
Rsnov,nq ashes ......... 1000
Renairs 10 improved streets. 1850
Repairs to unimproved streets 4Ou
Repairs TO cutters and cross
ings .... ....f-.s -t..ssss ou
Snow removal ......-t.-.... oV
street sprinkling ....... 2.50
| =. -. on