Bureau of Gas.

An examination of the report of the Chief of this Bureau shows that the receipts for the year 1896 were $162,188.61 more than during the previous year, or, in other words, they were $3,318,145.08 for 1896 as against $3,155,956.47 for 1895.

The total output of gas was 501,489,580 cubic feet in 1896 more than during the year 1895. The largest amount of gas made in any twenty-four hours was 19,128,000 cubic feet, and the greatest consumption of gas in any one day was 20,010,000 cubic feet, on December 24th.

A number of improvements have been made, including a pumping station at the Twenty-fifth Ward Works, five charging machines at the Point Breeze Works, together with all the necessary apparatus for breaking and conveying the coal to the machines, the erection of a new holder of 3,000,000 cubic feet capacity, the placing of a third lift on the holder at the Germantown Station, and the construction of a Wilbraham 15-horse power vertical exhaust engine at the Manayunk Station, together with the laying of 42.44 miles of mains and distributing pipes.

In order, however, to bring the City's plant to a proper standard, it will be necessary that large sums of money be expended not only in the introduction of additional improved and modern machinery for the manufacture of gas but in the laying of new and larger mains for its proper distribution and the further increase of the holder capacity.

The gas manufactured by the Philadelphia Gas Works is equal in quality with that made in any City of the Union. In other words, the gas in the holder before distribution is a good illuminant of the necessary candle power, but unfortunately, by reason of our method of distribution, when it reaches the consumer it has lost much of its illuminating quality. This is not due to any fault of the

gas itself but to the inefficient and insufficient methods: of distribution. The gas has to be forced by great pressure through many miles of small sized or inadequate mains, and by reason of this great pressure the candle power is necessarily reduced because of the excessive friction to which the gas is subjected; it is thereby robbed of its hydro-carbon, which is its light giving quality. This matter of distribution should be taken up and considered with the greatest care, and perhaps it would be advisable under all the circumstances to have an estimate made of the cost that would be involved in effecting the desired changes. Plans should be drawn showing the location, the capacity and the life of the mains, in order that this work may be done systematically and economically. For instance, in one section of the City leading from the Gas Works to supply a certain locality, years ago, a three inches main was laid, which was in that day considered of sufficient size and capacity, but as population increased and passed beyond the limit of the original calculation it was necessary to further extend the main and a six inches main was added, and subsequently, to supply the still growing demand, an eight inches main was laid; thus we have three different sized mains joining each other and used for the purpose of distributing the gas, when in truth and in fact a 20 inches main for the proper distribution of gas in that locality is absolutely required. The fault does not lie in the manufacture of our gas, which is produced from the best coal that can be purchased for the purpose and with the application of scientific methods but in the inadequate and insufficient means of distribution, and until better methods be adopted there can be but little if any improvement.

The Gas Works are a most valuable asset and should never pass from the absolute control of the City. The plant is valued at about $30,000,000, close to the actual

debt of the City at this time, and money will be well expended if the changes suggested are carried out.

Bureau of Highways.

The highways of the City of Philadelphia are not surpassed by those of any City on this Continent, but work in this direction cannot be continued to any great extent until the City is able to negotiate the loans provided for by ordinance of Councils approved July 16, 1896.

There is nothing that so characterizes a City and gives it a reputation as clean, well paved and well lighted streets. They make travel easy and safe and comparatively noiseless, thus adding to the comfort, convenience and the health of all the citizens.

Under the head of the Bureau of Health I have already referred to the paving of the small streets, but in this connection I desire to say that nothing so induces to cleanliness and comfort in a large City as the paving with asphalt of all the narrow thoroughfares, and this work should go on without interruption until every court and alley is in that condition which will prevent the accumulation of filth, or at least make its removal comparatively an easy task.

Bureau of Street Cleaning.

The work of this Bureau is being carefully supervised, and it is a matter of gratification to know that the complaints of all kinds were 1,815 less than during the year 1895; or, in other words, they fell off about one-half from the number made the previous year. It is the purpose of the authorities to insist upon a strict compliance with the specifications, and to enforce a rigid obedience to the terms of all contracts.

The authorities cannot act alone in this matter of street cleaning and much depends upon the intelligent co-operation of the citizens. The sweeping of refuse into the streets

is a clear violation of law, and when receptacles for ashes are placed upon the sidewalks the contents should be at least three or four inches below the top of the barrel. The observance of a few rules in these particulars will do much towards assisting the authorities in the keeping of the streets in a cleanly condition.

There should be an ordinance passed providing an appropriation for the removal of snow from the principal business streets in the centre of the City. The suggestions made by both the Director of the Department of Public Safety and the Director of the Department of Public Works in this regard are worthy of careful consideration. As it stands to-day there is no ordinance providing for such removal.

Bureau of Surveys.

One of the most important pieces of work in hand at this time is the construction of the Pennsylvania Avenue Subway and Tunnel. The preparatory work incident to this improvement required the preparation of elaborate plans at the hands of this Bureau. The questions involved were intricate and called for careful and scientific study. $4,500,000 of the loan authorized for this purpose has been utilized up to this time. Proposals for the greater part of the work were received after public advertisement on May 12, 1895, the contracts were awarded, and have been most actively pushed forward.

The winter weather unfortunately has in a measure interfered with the progress of the work, but so soon as the weather permits the work will be most vigorously pushed to completion. It is one of the greatest improvements that the City has ever undertaken. It will not only result in great convenience to the public, but will materially enhance the value of property in the immediate neighborhood of the improvement; at the same time it will provide a safe and beautiful access to Fairmount Park and abolish many dangerous grade crossings.

The work of deepening the channels of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers has been industriously carried on whenever the weather would permit. From Schooner Ledge, in the Delaware river, there have been removed 95,000 cubic yards of overlying material and 3,455 cubic yards of rock. The excavations have been made so as to give 26 feet clear water depth for the full width of the channel. Under the appropriation of $500,000 made by Ordinance. of Councils, approved April 13, 1896, from the loan authorized January 13, 1896, surveys have been made and plans prepared for dredging at Greenwich Point, Mifflin Bar, and Schooner Ledge, and every arrangement has been made to begin the work as soon as possible.

The work of widening Delaware avenue and the extension of the City piers is well under way. Plans and specifications have been drawn and the work will be pushed to completion.

This improvement will be of incalculable benefit to the Commerce of the City, and in thus giving facilities for navigation it is to be hoped that much of the trade that has left Philadelphia will again return. Many of the owners of the property on the Delaware river front have shown a most commendable spirit in uniting with the authorities in helping forward this great project.

These matters to which I have referred under the head of the Bureau of Surveys are given in detail in the report of that Bureau, and are worthy of careful consideration.

Let me urge upon your Honorable Bodies the necessity of providing sufficient appropriations for the further construction of main and intercepting sewers. Much of the work of this Bureau in the construction of sewers is hidden from view, and improvements not seen are not sufficiently appreciated; but nothing so conduces to the health of a community as an extensive and scientific system of main and intercepting sewers. To make the system complete