The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-23

Wldt dIC L11C tOto4 cooNeo ~ S~>S
City of Wilmington? When was
Wilmington founded and what was
the city's first name? By how
much were uncollected taxes re-
duced in the last fiscal year? How
many miles of paved and unpaved
streets lie within the city's limits?
How many parks of parks? How
does the city derive its income,
and how is its money spent?
These and hundreds more ques-
lions may be answered from data
packed in the little 38-page dupli-
Gated booklet entitled ''Your Mu-
nicipal Government, report of
operations of the City of Whining
ton for the fiscal year 1942-43, just
released in limited quantity.
This modest compilation, prepar-
ed by the office of City Manager
A. C. Nichols and with the as
sistance of J. Fred Rippy of that
staff, represents the first complete
narrative appraisal of city growth
and development in a given 70
month period ever attempted.
Facts and figures contained in a
study Of accomplishment in the
last fiscal year amount to perhaps
the most significant record on af-
fairs of their municipality Whining
tonians have ever seen. AS Mr..
Nichols wrote in his letter of trans
initial to the Mayor and the City
council: 81 think this report will
show there has been definite prog
ress in city affairs and facilities. 1t
is the result of excellent teamwork
in which all shared and in which
all can take PRIDE
Without saying as much, the
compilation reveals the fact that
city hall has been alert to i'm
provement in functions as we'll as
finances during this extraordinary
period of the city's existence. In
other words, the money that the
City has attracted from the new
millions flowing through the COM
munity as result of the war
stimulus has been well channeled.
There have been, Notwithstanding
war handicaps, improvements in
services, administration, and
equipment.
Under the table of contents in
the compact booklet are these top
les: historical synopsis, official
roster, organization chart, high
lights of 1928, mayor and coun-
Gil, city managers office, city at
torney finance department, sink
ing fund assets. engineering de-
partment and the other six de-
partments discussed separately
public library, health and welfare,
civilian defense, statement of in
come and expenditures for the
year ending June 80, 1943, where
the city's money came from, where
the city's money was spent, Az
boards and commissions. There
are a number of illustrative charts.
Listed as highlights of the fiscal
the end of December) were the
year (there were many more by
completion of new fire station;
construction of the seven-million
gallon filtration plant; laying of
five miles of water mains; trans
ferring of 5000, 900 of surplus funds
to the sinking fund to bring it up
to the highest level in the city's
history; creation of a capital re-
serve fund with an initial appro-
priation of 100000; passage of an
ordinance creating a city Planning
board; reduction of uncollected
taxes from $511,581 to $685., 900;
granting of raises to municipal
employees to bring wages some
what nearer current rates; decline
of fire losses to the lowest level
in three years, despite overcrowd-
ed conditions; reduction of the tax
rate from $3.50 to $1.40 per 500
valuation; beginning of the water
supply pipeline to an intake at
Kings Bluff.
Scanning the work at random,
the reader spots such varied facts
as these: Wilmington is 213 years
old, and was originally called Liv-
erpool; the citv's assets total more
than $9,000,000; 70 ordinances were
drawn by the attorney during the
year; the operating surplus at the
end of the year was $120,943, COM
pared with $87, 555 for the previous
IL months; sinking fund assets
reached $519,817 the city's bonded
debt was reduced from SO, $40, 500
SO, 40, 500; there we're go miles OF
paved streets at the years end
60 miles of storm sewers, 293 acres
of parks, 800 parking meters; the
Engineering department maintain.
ed complete service division,
with carpentry shop, paint shop,
and city garage; the Police depart
ment witnessed among other things
installation of a spot map indicat-
ing the location of all automobile
accidents whiting the limits and
aiding in the elimination of traffic
hazards; the Fire departments mo.
bile equipment was boosted tc
more adequate proportions; daily
water pumpage climbed from a
1884 900, gallons-average in 1910 to
a 4,274,0 1000 gallons-average in 1913;
the greatest need of the sanitation
and waste department was (and
isl an incinerator; over $1,000, 0OC
was spent in the city on construc.