Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-10
CITY DEPARTMENTS
OUTLINE THEIR NEEDS
Conference Last Night Between
Councilmen and Board
Representatives.

Former Mayor Horace Wilson, presl-
dent of the Board of Water Commissioners
appeared before the members OF City
Council last night and advised that body
Ia meet the situation. financially, that Is
now facing the city. without crippling the
DEPARTMENTS He said that if Council cut
of the departments. financially. with con-
dltions prevailing as they are, the city Will
find itself in bad way.
"Thcsn are unusual times. brought
about by the war he said, and II you
don't heed these appeals being made, You
will all make the mistake of your lives
Don't put tho city IN an lgnominlous
position The way TO do this is to ind out
what is needed and do 1t.
Cant. Wilson made this statement IN
recess of Council when the Water Depart
mcnts budget for the coming tscai year
was presented MIR. Wilson was accom-
panied hv City Engineer Hopes. Alter
Tho budget had been presented by Cap
tain Wilson and tho large items explained,
Councilman Robertson. chairman of the
finance committee. explained that every
department of the city government
Thought that its needs were paramount To
any others.
Exception was taken 10 this by Mr.
Wilson who told the chairman OF the
finance committee that he differed with
him and continued by pointing out the
fact that he tWilsonl had made ont and
helned make out more budgets than any
other member present last night, with
the exception Of Councilman Kane and
said that he knew just what had to be
done.
In explaining the estimates OF the Water
DEPARTMENT. Captain Wilson stated that
that departmcnt thought it proper 10 ex-
Il 4 Tor hn
wear. lie SAID that the department would
need nj least $40, $50, as compared with
sl50.OO0 for the present fiscal year, with
which tn run the works tie explained
that this sum did not take care of any
extension work or service mains, which,
Cantaln Wilson. sad in normal times
would cost about $4,000, but under
prrsent conditions would cost double this
amount. or about $4,000
Tho wage increase was also brought out
hv tho head of the Water Department,
who presented the fact 10 Councll that
number of the employees uf the depart
mpnt had continued their work out oil
patriotism to the city, rs they could get
work elsewhere nj much increased
salary lie sad that plumbers Of the dc
nartmcnt were receiving hut s24 week,
which he pointed ont, was very low for
men in thus occupation lie SAID that the
greatest increases had been given to labor
crs of the department
In continuing Mr. " ilsOn pointed out
that tho du Pont Companys housing
operatlons at Nawaset Park and the same
opcrafion of the Emergency Fleet Cor-
porafian al Front and | mon streets,
would t;s.e place during the next iscal
wear and that water extensions would
have to he made at both these places,
and therefore would increase the cost OF
tins work a great deal above tho average
He pointed out that the work ct the
DUPONT Company would cost about $50
GOO while that at Front and mon streets
would he about $4,000, bringing TINS
total up to abou; 100000.
Tho matter OF installation Of extensions
seemed 10 he favored by tho majority
Of tho members 81 Council. rs II was the
opinion that his work would pay Tor II
Sclf. Councilman Kane said that he
thought the city would be paid IN st least
l. wears
In answer 10 Councilman RobertSons
question as to how much the department
was asking for as a total IN It's budget, Mir.
Wilson answered S3hq. 80, but that the
department vas Scli-s,stainlng The
httlr fellow pays the big sums, said Mr..
Robertson. while the big consumers OF
water got of easy
CITY Engineer Hopes explained 70
Council that the estimates of extensions
and service mains was a doubtful matter.
as the prices changed over night
HARBoR BOARDS ESTIMATE.
Charles Warner. president Of the Board
If Harhor Commissioners asked Council
To continue the annual appropriation OF
$4,000 allowed hv Council He pointed
out this amount was for tho continuing
Of surveys and working out Of the local
harhor plans
The Board OF Park Commissioners