Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-10

INTERESTING CORRESPONDENTS
Secondary RYAN rad the following
correspondence:
From the president OF the league to
George W. Sparks, president OF tho Board
of Directors of the Street and Sewer
Department.
"As from all reports the Voters Non
Partisan League has received, we CLEAN ""
fact that YOU are the moving spirit OF tho
HOARD of Directors Of the Street and
Sewer Department Of the city OF VIII
minpton. the league mt ItS meeting to-
night Nav y instructed me to ask YOU
to apncar before our meeting next Thurs
day evening. Nav q, at our headquarters,
together with Frank ". Picrson, street
commissioner
"Thcrc are any number of points that
the league desires 10 discuss with Won and
MIR Picrson regarding the present horrible
condition of the streets OF Wilmington
few DAYS ago, prior TO the last meeting OF
YOUR board we addressed letter TO the
board asking certain questions about WI
minpton's street conditions. To tins date
we have not received reply TO our letter,
so we are adopting this method OF IN
utlring 10 the manner IN which YOU ana
the street commissioner are handling VII
minrton's street paving and repair.
"As ofhcc-holders, vou have certain
specified duty 10 perform II YOU are to
have the respect OF the people OF W ilmlng-
ton. Your action in failing to reply TO our
letter makes II appear that YOU desire To
conduct your affairs as YOU yourselves
desire. instead of the way that the people
of Wilmington want YOU TO conduct your
affairs
'If Won desire to bring with you tho
other members Of The board we extend
like invitation ia them but we know We
must rest our case for the seeking ot IN
formation IN the hands OF YOU md MIR
picrson. because every report VIZ have re-
ccved is 10 the effect that YOU and nc run
the department to Your own satisfaction
and to the dissatisfaction OF the taxpayers,
rent PAYERS and people Of Wilmington
we shall expect Won ut orr meeting
Thursday evening. May 9. at \ 20 cl'"k
MIR Sparks ~ tho league:
am IN receipt of your letter ot the
I'd addressed To mo personally, and IN
reply would SAY that will he unable to
attend the meeting OF May ., "a well "a
two other officials Of tho BOARD OF Di-
rectofs az the Street and Sewer lhrpart-
mcnt. who have previous and important
engagements.
ANY suggestions vour organization
or any citizen or body Of citizens can
make rs Ia the bcttcrmeut of street
conditions Of the city will he thankfully
received bv the BOARD 81 Directors OF the
Street and Sewer Department, | am s'irc
This board meets Tuesday morning of
each week at 10 O'Clock and any person
or persons appearing before them will be
given a full hearing and their subject
matter careful consideration
From the Board ri Directors OF the
Street and Sewer Department to the
league. !.
we are IN receipt of your letter of
April -. IN reply to which we would state
that your impression that this board m
tend to de- no ppair work this year IS
erroneous We will maintain tho streets
Of Wilmington to tho utmost degree
compatible with thn appropriation as
made to us nv the Council and will pay
a wage scale in proportion to that APP
preparation.
For the current wear ending June
20 through the abnormal advance Of
the wage scale, We have very little money
left to take carr Of this work, so We can
only do the highly essential things
s'Of the ttrcctf Ia which YOU rrfcr.
Delaware avenue is beyond the point OF
repair. The Boulevard Is in course of
rrT,ajr. NandcvcF avenue Will be re-
haired as soon as the contractors who
Law that character OF pavement have their
plant IN operation. that We can got the
material with which 10 DO Il. Delaware
avenue through the lnstuImentalIty Of
citizen IS - he taken care 81 this year II
sufficient labor is ohtalnablc 10 remove
the propcrty now tncroachng upon the
sidewalks IS wldoned for relavlng of
curb and sidewalks and tho installation
0f underground work all of which IS
necessary before the roadway can he
paved
"Wc have been requested as have all
Municipalities. BY the Federal govern
mrnt to abandon the idea Of the building
Of new roads or STREETS for the immediate
present and have been informed hy the
Council that no money will he appTopriat-
&c for this purpose. and rs the same must
come bv special appropriation. exclusive
Of our current budget tho matter is
beyond our action, oven though the labor
were available. as you state,
ENGINEER 5 REPORT.
After these prcllmnaries Engineer
Simon submitted his report, as follows:
In accordance with your desire, I
have made an investigation OF the sur
lace conditions OF NUMBER OF StFpPtS ana
h)uIevardS 81 Wilmington and am re-
porting herewith the results of this ex-
animation with general recommendations
a. how best 10 proceed with repairs to such
streets as permit of repairs and where and
how 10 rcpave where rcsuriacnC Is be-
yond the possibility Of economic and
successful repaving. The streets examined
were.
A. Delaware avenue-W ashington
street 10 PENNSYLVANIA avenue
e. Ninth street-FTench to Lombard.
G. Lombard North Of Ninth
d. Sixteenth from Water Works, west
two blocks
T. On Washington street to Boulevard
J. Boulevard
G. last approach Market street bridge
H South Head two blocks
l. Fourth bridge approach
J. TIfth-French to Spruce
h West on Last Sixth street from
Spruce.
l. On Eighth Spruce to French
On Delaware avenue the bItufninIous
top coat was badly worn and in many
eases II Is worn away entirely, exposing
the foundation and causing uneven and
nough roadway The curling has settled
and does not extend In places sufficient
distance above the paving TO give proper
drainage.
While it would be possible to repair this
paving the cost Of repairs would prob
ably closely approximate the cost Of re-
paving. Consequently because Of the high
cost Of repairs with relatively inferior re-
Sulf If X recommended that Delaware