Evening journal., 1918-10-08
Street DIRECTORS
ANSWER CRITICS
Continued From First Page,

be done-nay, II should have been done
on the departments own initiative.
But It wasn't"
This statement Is absolutely untrue.
The department has been working
strenuously always to keep the streets
OF Wilmington as clean az the funds
provided for the purpose would permit.
We have been hampered, as all indus
trial concerns have been hampered for
months, with scarcity OF labor. Our
force has been cut in half, and not
withstandlng the fact that we arc pay
ing current r0tes for labor, have been
unable 20 secure any more.
During the prevailing epidemic, In
spite OF the charge, we have made more
strenuous efforts 10 accomplish this
purpose. and have run what equipment
we could man night as well as day. in
order to accomplish Il. Our big power
flusher has been out OF service, as we
have had two men drafted from II, and
TO this time have been unable TO re-
place them.
There Is no shortage OF water supply
as stated but what would II avail 10
wash down the streets unless you had
a man 10 shovel up the refuse and a
cart TO draw II away? What good
would a fire hose be 10 wash the dirt
from a street on grade to the bottom
and there let II lie, as II wauld neces-
sarily have 10 do unless labor could
be procured 20 remove it7
The question has been asked-"When
did we have an efficient street clean
/ F,or lao " al
say never" but II the people who are
now so awakened through this dread
ful calamity which is upon us, VIII
exercise a little Of their energy at the
time that city budgets are being franz
ed, and assist the City Of Wilmington
I'm seeing that enough is being appro-
priated TO properly care for the streets,
then someone would be Justly charge
able for nOn-accomplishment.
The suggestion has been made that
we take all the men on the rolls OF the
department and place them exclusively
on street cleaning. We do not think
the person who made that suggestion
gave the slightest thought 10 the oc-
cupations OF the men on the roll other
than the street cleaning crew.
We have, all told, approximately one
]
number, thirty are engaged I'M street
cleaning twenty-one engaged in remov-
ing ashes five In removing accumula-
tons from the sewers, thlrty-one lay
Ing sewers.
We know OF no class above cited
from which it would be safe to draw
for the benefit Of street cleaning, but
the critics may be able TO inform us.
We are always open to suggestions
and advice, and court II, but we would
Ike a little justice and a little investi-
cation before criticisms are thrown to
the public press, and statements made
which the writer would find upon in
vestlgation could not be verified.
The cleaning Of streets Is almost ex-
cluslvely a matter Of labor, and the ag-
gregate cost is in accordance TO the pre-
vaillng wage scales. From July 1, 1917
to July 4, 1918. our department eX-
pended for street cleaning S5372.S3 more
than the appropriation covering that
| Item. Our appropriation for the current
year Is less than for the one cited, so
that in the absence OF monetary re-
| lief, even though 10 becomes possible
to secure labor, should tho current rate
prevail, the city Of Wilmington Is
spending all that it has TO spend for
the item OF cleaning the streets, and
| this department, In order TO keep as
nearly as possible within It's apprOpria-
| tiOn, has suspended all operations I'M
der the current appropriation with the
exception OF street lighting, street and
sewer cleaning, and the removing Of
ashes. and even with that reduction,
our accrued deficit for the months of
July and August September balance
streets having not yet been completely
amounts TO $4,000.
We would indeed appreciate advice,
suggestions or information as TO how
we can make one dollar buy one dollar
and a half worth OF labor. We freely
confess that we do not know, but main
tain that we are utilizing that which Is
available TO the utmost OF our ability.
We are cleaning all streets in their
turn and trying to keep the naturally
dirty streets in as good a condition as
possible.
II the inhabitants Of Wilmington,
and particularly the merchants OF the
business streets, would refrain from
throwing and sweeping rubbish and
particularly paper into the streets. Il
would assist the city Of Wilmington
very materially in the cleanliness Of the
streets. There are many people who
pay no attention 10 this, and deliberate
ly throw any kind Of waste material
that may come into their hands into
/ the public streets.
/ There would he less unjust criticism
4 II people who write such articles would
get the facts which are always avail
able before writing. In this instance
the Street and Sewer Department could
! have furnished facts that would have
| explained or dlsproved all OF the state
ments made in the criticism Of its
work.
Every Bond shortens the way TO Berlin.
| IllIN Innrn