Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-20

ment or the City, which has charge
Of all the engineering work Of our
Department together with the work
of making curb and building lines and
making property surveys as ordered
also. the preparation of plans show
Ing sewer construction and connec-
tions. plans for the liening OF assess
ments for sewer and street paving.
and the preparing and recording OF
full data on grades. elevations, widths
and lengths OF the city streets. In this
department is the registry Office where
all deeds OF properties are registered.
these records showing the ownership
and Dimensions OF each parcel and
piece of land within the city. This
office also records for public informa-
ton and government use, the amount
Of rain and snow fall and the daily
temperature.
The Plumbing Inspector Is an officer
of the Street and Sewer Department.
His duty is to inspect all sanitary
plumbing and gas piping within tho
city In order to safe guard the health
Of the citizens.
| We have an officer known as a side
walk inspector. The curbing, paving
and repairing of the public sidewalks
is the duty OF the property owners.
/ am sorry to say that many of our
citizens are negligent in keeping their
sidewalks in proper repair as required
by the City Charter. II takes con-
tinual nagging from this officer of
the Department and In some cases
legal action to accomplish results. Last
year. we sent out 1.175 notices to prop
erty owners for the repairing or the
laying of sidewalks. of which number
LIS complied. There were 306 per
mits issued for now cement curbs and
sidewalks. Even so, the condition
OF sidewalks is far from satisfactory
or a credit to the city.
A few years ago tho Legislature
placed the Clerk of the Market under
the Jurisdiction of our Department
which necessitated the making of rules
and regulations by the department for
the government of the public curb
stone markets. At that time the mar
ket streets-King and Madison streets
were In a deplorable condition.
During last year we established q
! now market on the west side OF the
: city, on Lincoln street between Soc
| ond and Eighth streets. and the popu-
= larity of this market is evidenced by
, the rapidity with which tho space,
( were rented.
: During the past few months. the De,
5 partment has erected approximately q,
y 500 street name signs throughout th'
city. These had been needed for some
time, but the funds We're not available
= before.
y The department, by act of the Legis
lature, has Jurisdiction and super
s vision over the trees planted upol
the sidewalks Of the city. For thi
e work we have a forester and one as
Il sistant. We trim, spray and generMl
n take care of the trees as far as ou
r force will permit us to do. The plant
& ing of the trees and their removal 70
g any cause Is done by the propert
= owner As IT is impossible for us {
C care for all the trees with out limite
" force, permits are issued TO the own
y ers TO do such trimming. spraying Q
" treating as they may desire, but sue
n permits are not issued 10 tenants.
~ How Taxes Are Spent.
l would call to your attention this
a our department In its appropriate
" from the Council for the year begin
ming July ], 1921. will receive 12.6
- from cach dollar Of taxes paid 10 th
N city. This means that a tax paye
paving on $4,000 assessment, pal
s76 in taxes. and the Street and Sew
er Department received from hh
" $3.50 per year for street cleanin
- street lighting, removal OF ashes ar
zia orA s,.ip ,
a sewers, repairs TO unimproVed street
removal of snow. when necessary, ar
all the routine work of the depar
- ment. For the year beginning July
~ 1922, we will receive less on the doll;
!. than that. Our department does u
: receive all the taxes paid, but rath
- one-eighth or less, Of each dollar; Il
/, balance goes for the police and II
=, protection, health and school al
~ other purposes.
90 The Street and Sewer Department
- practically the housekeeper OF the cit
q. and as any good housekeeper or hou
a. wife does, we earnestly endeavor
- administer to the needs and cater
az the wishes and desires of our faui
,is Of citizens 10 the fullest extent of o
:. allowance.
The big work Of the Street a.
10, Sewer Department is the constructi
~d of new street paving and the unde
,e, ground work incidental thereto. viii
n means the installation and renewal
y. sewers and public utility pipes a,
nd conduits for future use and develo
nm nents.
Last year. the department paved
,e- city blocks. totaling 92,426 squa
mr. yards, or 4.63 miles, or 10 miles
ut county road at regulation width, at
,e- cost Of $3.50 per square yard for &
a, phalt streets and S4.94 per squa
n yard for vitrined paving brick.
in Why we can do better work til
rv the contractors: All the employees
~ charge of the work. with few exec
jty tons. have been in the employ OF
Ird department for years. Their ol
re- purpose is to get good results. tn
4. are all citizens Of Wilmington a
he most of them are tax payers the
nat selves and have the city's interest
wv heart They have no desire, nor
led there any influence brought to bs
mis- upon them, TO do other than &c
,at work. and there is no incentive, fr
lat point of increased profit, TO cut do
ich in either amount or quality OF n
as terials used. We want the best resi-
he and we use the best methods and
III best materials.
ent Why we can do cheaper work II
g. the contractors: The cost of the w
TO the city and the tax payer is
as actual cost of labor and materi
lily only. with no added charge for of
put rent, extra clerk hire. cost of boz
Der for guaranty, engineering fees Z
Do usual percentage for profit.
els item of expense for guaranty bt