Evening journal., 1918-01-16
NO COUNTY WORK
WITHOUT ORDERS
Levy Court Takes Steps TO
Protect Tax Payers
Against Loss
WANT CURRENT FOR
NEW CITY BRIDGE

At the meeting Of the Levy Court
yesterday afternoon, a resolution was
passed requesting the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company to sup
ply current for the operation Of the
new river front bridge by O direct wire
so that there will OF an times be snf-
flcient power 10 raise and lower the
bridge. This resolution is a result Of
the fact that durlng the past week
the bridge had 20 be operated on fire.
quent occasions by man-power.
A resolution was passed 10 the effect
that no lator, work or materials viii
be contracted for other than In cases
Of emergency excepting upon the writ
ten order Of membrs Of the court that
IN cases OF emergency labor work
or materials will not be contracted for
except upon the written order Of the
members OF the court from the district
I'm which the emergency occurs.
In connection with the payment of
bills and employees Of the county the
court passed s resolution that checks
would not be mailed 10 employees living
In Wilmington, noi 10 n~ms In the city
who have presented bills Of accounts.
In many cases, said one Of the Levy
Court members, business men have
been mailed checks and then later on
present another bin or call up. SAYING
that they had not received the check.
The new dsparture viii assure a .dou-
bic receipt one when the recipient
signs upon the receipt of the check.
and the check itself Will act as a re-
ceipt.
When a requisillon was handed IN
to members Of the court asking that
a large bottle Of a certain brand Of ink
be supplied, a hornets nest was stirred
mp.
One Of the members said he did not
believe IN having a mixture. but said
he, there should De a standard OF sup
plies Of all materials.
Harry Taylor. order clerk for the
Levy Court told The members that
some time ago he attempted 10 get the
heads OF different county Offices TO sub
init to him the kind and styles Of ma
terials most used by them. but that
only two replies were received by him
President Purks said that the taXpay-
ers Of the county looked 10 members
Of the Levy Court TO explain the eX-
penditures Of their funds aud that u
was mp to the members to protect
themselves
Following President Purk's remarks.
q resolution was then passed stating
that no county o1lce would be sup
piled with materials unless a written
list was submitted in due stated time.
County Treasurer Lippncott re-
| ported sis6,9ii SO This is the first time
In - years that here has been more
than 100000 in the treasury. There Is
now enough money on hand TO pay the
Interest on all county bonds falling
due between now and July, according
/ TO the statement Of a Levy Court mem
ber, and also pay interest on all county
/ indebtedness for the year.
A resolution which authorized the
members Of Districts Nos. and 5. to-
gether with County Engineer Wilson
10 make temporary repairs Of Barker
bridge at Newport and later 10 make the
work on The bridge permanent, was
passed
The bridge at the present time is
/ IN dangerous condition. The thaw
I Saturday loosened the ice In White Clay
and Red Clay creeks and the food that
followed carried tons of ice into the
/ Christiana river above Newport and the
Jam lodged above the bridge, finally
moving the structure from its pier at
one end and allowing lhe bridge TO drop
several feet from Us original level
Levy Court Commissioner Groves
and County Engineer Wilson spent
part Of Monday at the scene and
because of the precarious condition Of
the bridge, members OF Levy Court
were yesterday requested 10 visit the
scene and decide on what action should
he taken. All The members Of the court
with the exception of Commissioner
Fouracre visited Newport yesterday,
taking County Engineer Wilson with
them. The trip was made IN automo-
biles.
Dynamite was used where the Ice is
most seriously menacing the bridge
Members OF the court said 10 was not
desired To dislodge the ice which Is
jammed above the structure, but that
where the Ice Is threatening danger,
dynamite was used TO remove the
cause as well as to make room for a
construction gang which has been ar
ranged Tor 20 so TO the scene as soon
as possible and make temporary repairs
until permanent work can be done.