Evening journal., 1918-05-02
city Department
WANTS MORE MONEY
Street and sewer Body Urges
Council TO Grant $4,000
Increase
SOLONS ASK HOW
,NEY WILL BE SPENT

That the city departments VIII ask
FOR Increases IN their appropriations
finm City Council for the coming year
MAS evident last nieht when the direc-
0f ihe Street and Sewer Depart
presented to Council their bud
Dr ihe coming year. The direc-
and ihe COuncilmen later held a
.erence during which time Colonel
1rrs w Sparks, president 0f The de-
iment. explained in detail whai the
ln0sed budget provided He said
luai while the newspapers stated that
his department had asked Tor S7SO00
more than last year. ihe request was
not more than the estimate, That was
presented by his body TO Council last
year
Owing 20 the new street paving act
putting the question of street paving
up TO the abutting property owners
no money Is sought in The new bud
set for such work but Colonel Sparks
explained that ie was necessary that
some streets be repaired TO last until
they are rebuilt. All OF the directors,
Frank w. pierson, street commissioner,
and every member OF Council were
present
At the beeinning Of the conference
Colonel Sparks, president Of the board
explained that the department had cut
q every item as far as possible,
aid that no Increases were asked
Ncopt in tho Item under labor, a
cent. increase being asked for In
th. particular. lie explained that The
department Is paying 81 cents an hour
for lanorers and that few could be OBJ
tained at that rate. As nc read of
the various items the Councllmen lis
tened with attention and when the
street lighting item was reached, CALI
ing for $4,000, George T. Lyon, presi-
dent OF Council, asked Colonel Sparks
II the city was under any obligation
20 the local traction company. Col
onel Sparks replied yes and explain
ed that owing to the actions OF a previ-
GUS Council Il had been necessary 60
owe the company money Mr. Lyon
said II was poor business 90 allow a
public service corporation TO own the
city. Colonel Sparks denied that such
was the case. Mr.. Lyon then read an
extract from a local newspaper which
stated That through the courtesy Of the
Wilmington q Philadelphia Traction
Co. no trolley cars would be operated
on Market street while the Harlan pa
rade was being held.
Colonel Sparks said that dhe Legis-
iaiure had granted the company The
right To use tho city streets.
Mr.. Lyon then inquired concerning
the method OF charging for street lights
and asked IL lights that were out for
one or more nights were paid for, or
whether the penalty provided by law,
deductlne 30 cents for each dark lamp
was taken from the monthly bills OF
the traction company. Colonel Sparks
replied that the zines lveer deducted aud
, recently one light that was out for 26
mighis WAS taken or the bin. Colonel
sparks said that the city had the cheap
est lighting rate Of any city in the
country TO This Mr.. Robertson, chair
man OF the finance committee Of Coun-
oil, replied Except Jacksonville. Fla.
which has its own plant and The city
Is lighted free Of charge"
The question was then asked Colonel
Sparks what the street paving IN Mar
ket street cost, and what portion OF il
the traction company had paid for. lie
explained that The work cost $4,000
and the compsny bore the expense for
about one-half OF II.
Colonel Sparks IN reply 20 o question
- ~ MAuN iNN ehitNh NhNlc ii WIZ
mingion cost, stated that the small
electric lights cost $40 a year, the street
ares S63 and S65. while the gas lights
ranged about s2s. Tho contract for
The last named lights. headed, had one
year TO run.
1he i.cm for snow removal Colonel
Sparks said had been kept down 20 a
minimum He recalled that during ihe
term of the late nr. J. a. sprulnco
Mayor be had seen 5000 spent 10 two
days for the removal of snow from
Market street
- Tho budget. which was received by
Nounoil and which will bo acted upon
IGfFr. Is as follows.
1he board OF directors Of the Street
and Sewer Department begs 10 sub
nit herewith The estimates Of The ordi-
nary and additional expenses OF the
Street andl Sewer Department over and
above its pyobahle revenue for the
fiscal year, beginning July 4, 1918, and
ending June 80 1919, which aggregate
the sum Of s3os,55o, divided as fol-
lows