Evening journal., 1918-05-10
BEGIN movement
FOR NEW Streets
Voters Non.Partisan League
Hears Survey Presented
by Consulting Engineer
THINK CITY SHOULD
HAVE MORE REVENUE


neer. OF Philadelphia, who made an in ,
vestigation OF the conditions OF local
streets at the request Of the league,
made a report.
Among the speakers at the meeting
were Representatives J. Edward Nc (
Nabb William NJ Connolly, Andrew j.
Cross. Robert Adair. Joseph j. Markey,
representatives Of the Portland Cement
Association, w. r. Seward, president OF
the Central Labor Union, and T. NJ.
Davis. president Of the Non-Partisan
League.
one Of the greatest needs OF the
city. it was pointed out by several OF
The speakers, Nvas larger share In the
State taxes Wilmington representing
more than half the population Of the /
state
a. L. Johnson. director Of the street /
and sewer Department. said he came
there In a private capacity and not as
representing the department. he de-
Tended the actions of the department,
and put the blame on Council as not
apprOprlsting his colleagues enough
money with which TO carry out their
street work. He praised Engineer
Simons report and thought 10 contain
ed some safe and reasonable recon-
mendations.
During the reading Of a communica-
ton from the Street and Sewer Direc-
tors. Director johnson asked that the
secretary, Leon Ryan read the com
munication slowly 80 that It could be
understood While this was being done,
the secretary stated that the money
would probably so for gasoline for the
automobiles" This caused Mr.. john
son to ask II this statement was con
-. - 10
replied NO, ! am reading boN'een the
lines"
MIR Johnson refused TO submit 60
hecklng by the president Of the league,
saving that he was not there for that
purpose
Mr.. Adalr advocated giving Whining
ton a share Of an automobile tax since
much Of the destruct on Of streets in
the city came from the use of heavy
automobile trucks Wilmington hun
dred. he declared was a geographical
division OF the state and as such Vas
entitled 10 its share Of the Stale taxes
Mr.. McNab declared something must
be done 20 increase the revenue IN
Wilmington without increasing the al
ready burdensOme taxation rate. he
said he had become converted TO the
abutting property wner scheme TOT
paving for street repairs because ht
had felt that such a plan would per
init a larger amount Of repairs to Dc
made with the us OF the same amount
OF money as is now used
Mr.. Connolly said he thought th'
wishes Of the taxpayers in the mattel
should be given more consideration
lie said the city is controlled by too
many cheap commissions. Repre-
sentatiyes Connolly and McNabb sai'
the legislators Of Kent and SUSSEX
counties always look out for their sec
tions. regardless Of politics while vii
mingtons representatives divide polit
ically and often don't agree on wha
they want for the city.
Engineer Simon told Of the bad con
diiion Of many streets he had inspected
Including Delaware avenue the Boule
ward. the New Castle Caussway ant
many Others He concluded.
The results Of this Investigation o
the surface condition Of number O
The city streets show conclusiyely tha
necessity Of immediate repaNing. O
continuous resurfacing sections q
streets. Of extensive repairing both {
surfaces and TO foundations and
continuous msintenance.
THE heavy trucking tranlc inaugt
tensi0ed recently because Of congeste
rail TRANSFORMATION has made the w
keep Of the road an important eli
ment in the national defense Th
heavy trucking has shown The failul
Of light roads and increased the mail
fenance Of heavy roads and Is toda
OF importance in determining the cha
acter Of both new and repaired higl
WAYS
Because Of this it is recommend
herewith that these roads Of Wilmin
ton as The Boulevard Delaware av
nue. and those other streets undersoii
a continuous heavy traffic be rebuilt
repaired, as is necessary, with concre
foundations OF minimum six inch thic
ness. Further, that the wearing COS
whether Of granite, brick or aspha
he heavy and under constant supe
vision after construction.
Constant supervision on well pr
pared or new roads will keep q
maintenance charge at a minimum
-Nhile a neglected supervision und
the present heavy trafilc. not on
greatly increases the cost Of repai
but ofttimes necessitates the reco
struction OF the entire roadway
1T would he desirable from a pure
engineering viewpoint 10 reconstri
an existing roads OF granite block a
brick, in service under relatively lis
trafllc, resting on cinder foundatio
by removing the present road and pl'
ing a concrete base with new bloc
This however, is not recommended
streets where there is relatively lie
traffic because OF the governmen
need for labor and material.
These roads can he repaired by
moving sections OF the block. placi
the foundation Of cinders thorough
tamped and replacing the old bio
This method Of repairing does not g
a perfect result but 10 is cheap a
with occasional maintenance shor
meet the present demands
Street Directors Letters.
While an impression had been gi'
out that the Street and Sewer Dir
tors had Ignored the leagues lett,
the following letters were sent by
Street Directors and by Presid
George W. Sparks personally on Ma,
II developed:
Wilmington, Del. May o, 1871
Voters Non-Partisan League Of D'
ware, Wilmington, Del
Gentlemen-We are in receipt OF y
letter Of April p. in reply 10 VII
would state that your impression
this board intends to do no repair "