Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-21
Circulation Every 1A1GE
Evening Yesterday x4xOC
The New Washington Bridge.

Announcement was made, yesterday,
that Through the generosity of Alfred !.
du Pont," the project of constructing a
new bridge across the Brandywine at
Washington street would be continued
along the enlarged and improved plans
adopted by the Bridge Commission, at a
cost estimated at about 100000. This
was not intended to mean that MIR. du
Pont would contribute, from his own
means, the difference between this cost
and the sum provided by law for the enter
prise-S5OO. .OOO-but would guarantee
pavmefft of the additional charge under
the contract. TO be reimbursed, should
his expenditure be required, by the Levy
Court. after due authority to provide for
the increased cost shall have been OBJ
tanned from the Legislature at its. session
next wear The good effect of this ar
rangement, however, is that work on the
project will not have to be delayed. nor
the quality and character of the new
bridge impaired in any manner by reason
of the financial situation.
But, after all, this arrangement is a
''makeshift, and it will be apparent to
anv man of sound business ability, who
gives serious consideration to the prog
ress of the bridge proposition. that 1T
is hardly in accord with. the
safe policy that should attend the
prosecution of all public enter
prises. While nothing but good may at
tend the results in this instance, 1t Will
not be denied-it cannot be in Justice
that the precedent established Is at least
unwise and unbusinesslike. 1t is one that
would be tolerated in private business
affairs only with grave uncertainty, and
one that, as a rule, should be held foreign
to the performance Of all public work.
The Bridge Commission entered upon
It's duties with full knowledge OF the fact
that il was limited to an expenditure OF
s5O0,OOO in the CONSTRUCTION OF the new
bridge. Plans were prepared with due
respect to this limitation, but subsequent
ly. other and better plans were adopted,
increasing the width OF the bridge from
64 TO 72 feet. That this change, of itself,
was wise and practical will not be dis
puted. but, in connection with other
changes, it resulted in large increase IN
the estimates of construction, all the bids
for the performance OF the work run
ming far ahead Of the commission S fnan-
cial limit of $500, 900. The contract, how
ever, was awarded in accordance with the |
new and enlarged plans, at bid OF about |
s74s.OOO, with the understanding and |
agreement that Mr.. du Pont would be re- |
sponsible to the contractors for the amount /
In excess of the fund at the commits |
sion's control, while Mr. du Pont, if called /
upon for final settlement, viii look TO the
Legislature and Levy Court for reimburse
ment.
By this arrangement the community
is assured of 8 consummation OF this i'm
portant improvement within a reason
able time, but whether the course adopted
is one that will meet with general ap-
proval is another matter. The objection
to depending upon a private citizen to
meet a public responsibility may not
prove bothersome, but it is different when
it comes 10 considering the moral effect
of such departures from the rule OF sound
procedure and legal limit In the per-
formance of public work If it shall be
accepted as altogether right and proper
in this instance, how about future emer-
gencies OF similar character? Shall it
become regular practice? If so, how
long would it be before selfish schemers
would promote a project at stated cost,
placed within reasonable limits for the
purpose of deceiving the public, and then
enlarge both its scope and its
cost after the community had been firmly
bound by plans and contracts.
There can be no other conclusion than
that the Bridge Commission should have
done one or two things: Prepared plans
in accord with the limit OF the original
appropriation, S5OO,0OO, and built the
best bridge that sum of money would pro-
duee. or, if a larger and finer bridge SEEM
I'd absolutely essential to meeting public
iohldbu aho peuPiIO HOFitSto, d"diOeu
until the legal authority 10 incur the ad-
litional expense was obtained. Il
The commissioners who had in charge
he construction Of our splendid new pub
ic building adopted the practical and
proper course. They called for plans that
would come within the amount of money
and secured the best building it
vas possible to secure for the limit And
hey gave the public eminently satisfac-
DRY results, without exceeding this limit.