Evening journal., 1919-03-31
COL. SPAI rs OUT
CT TU]LIC SERVICE
Street Board Clears tp
$4,000 Deficit During
HIS IL Year Term
PROUD OF MUkK
OF DEP ARTMEN /

r
the Street and Sewer Department after
twelve years service was given a
dinner at the Wilmington Club on sat
urday night. The affair was informal.
Josiah Marvil was presiding officer.
In replying TO the speeches OF com
mendation, Colonel Sparks said In part
My senses would indeed be dulled
II did not appreciate. and appreciate
keenly, the honor you do me tonight.
Il have been most fortunate in my
associates. For ten years no dlscordant
note has been struck In our board. We
have differed many times In private,
but were always a unit before conclu-
sions were reached.
ITO be a thoroughly efficient onlcial
Of this city, and be happy, one must
be Of callous hide.
But, let me talk shop, for awhile
and tell you why we OF the board feel
better satisfied with ourselves than the
public seems TO be with US. We are
| the big department OF the city, the
deparimnt whose work or whose
negligence Is more apparent than the
others; but, like all Of them, gets the
knocks and no plaudits, so pardon me.
II / pat our backs for a few moments.
When | entered the department, II was
carrying a deficit Of $4,000. That den-
cit was reduced 10 nothing at one time.
but owing 10 a breach Of faith OF an
other department OF the city. II was in
creased 10 about $4,000 in one year,
and since then, through inadequate ap-
preparations and the necessity Of ex-
pendture which the board was unable
10 reduce, II had arisen 10 approx
mstely $4,000, but II lie one OF the grst-
/ .flcatlons OF my life, that, despite the
! treatment we have received from the
appropriating department OF the city,
/ through economy Of operation and
! fearless Of the slams OF the people, we
have approximately wiped out that de-
ilcit. and when ! leave the department
on Monday next, leave II practically
free from indebtedness, other than cur
sent. ! also leave a loyal and compe-
tent organization, without which the
results would not have been obtained.
for after all we are but the directors
and they do the rest.
MY predecessor said when he threw
OF the mantel OF ONCE, 1 feel like
man out OF JAIL and so do /. and / hall
my freedom, but will confess would
| like, were II possible, one more year OF
service. Personally, for sixteen years,
long before ! ever thought OF being
Identified, have striven 10 have the
laws governing the Street and Sewer
Department so changed as 10 make II
workable, and now, and not until now
my. last effort has been crowned with
success. and | leave to my successors
the fruits, OF which will be unable Ia
partake, and ! am selfish enough tC
crave a taste and 70 be OF the organ.
ization when Il has the opportunity e
show what can be done when you have
the means with which TO do.
Since my appointment In 1907. have
seen the plumbers mounds and ditches
that prevailed on every street abolished
Il have seen 81 miles Of sewers built
Il have seen s5 miles Of street paving
laId.
Il have seen 10 miles OF new curb set
by the department. irrespective OF that
by private cont actors.
II have seen $500 sewer connections,
nearly one-half OF the aggregate par
cells OF property In the city
u have seen the installation OF motor
power fushers for the cleaning OF such
| streets as were susceptible OF that
| method succeed the old broom.
Il have heard competent engineers
declare the street paving by our own
men TO be superior 70 the work done
by contractors.
II have heard an engineer OF national
repute declare Market street the most
artistically lighted street in America.
Il have seen 10 the United states
Statistical Atlas Of Municipalities. that
we are the most economically con-
Quoted city in the country.
~ have seen criticism by municipal
research surveyors. that we do not keep
detail cost accounts OF repairs and re-
garded by them as a great laXity. We
cannot AFFORD it. We put what we
have 10 expend on the streets instead
of into the pockets OF clerks for the
keenine OF records Of no particular
lbeneflt other than knowledge.
Il have seen a big department con-
dpctod by the smallest clerical force OF
cnv dersrtment In the city. AMI the
records we'll and efficiently kept.
~ have seen where the city OF Wash
linrion gxpends annually s2500OO for
of1ce EXPENSES IN their street depart
ment. while we. this year. had appro-
priated to us sist,0OO 10 run the wnoie
department. and in spite OF IL our board
was complimented by a board Of town
manners. city engineers and architects
Who visited the city few months ago
on the condition OF the streets, which
our citizens consider in such deplorabl'
condition.
Il have seen the City Engineering De
partment. II it could be so called
. which at times had not a graduated en-
rIneer in the corps taken from IN
realms Of partisan politics and iiabl
. 10 chanse every two years. place
under the jurisdiction OF our board
where the ability and loyalty OF tn
, man alone counts and each englnee
required to be a real one.
, Il have seen an abuttins pawn
, bill. the only way in which a city wl
, ever be improved. passed and just no'
beglnnIng 10 function. This Is gres
personal qualification, for a devote'
q personally. fourteen years to tn
, propa0anda.
! IL have seen Eleventh street frol
: French 10 Washington. Tenth stree
! from French 10 Tatnill. ont stree
from Market 10 French widened. and
start on the widening. repaving an
tree plant ng on Delaware avenue.
once said that II ! could see Markt
street, French street, Fourth sire,
!, King street and F ront street newl
= paved throughout. was ready 10 gu.