Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-23

Nh. EDiroR I'm a few days our citizens will
bo permitted to decide by their votes the question
Of obtaining supply Of pure and wholesome
water. The Act Of Assembly framed left the cree
tion Of wstor works entirely under the control Of
the council, TO erect them at any time II deemed
them essential to the interests Of the community
but upon petition Of citizens q supplement was
passed, allowing the citizens to decide for them
selves, at election held for the purpose, and in
accordance Herewith they will have the opportu-
nifty Of expressing their sentiments on the 9TH Of
August,
II is to be hoped each voter will consider the
question fairly and from higher stand point than
self interest," and because bis own well of watcr
may be good enough for him, that he viii inter
pose no obstacle to prevent his neighbor, whose
water is unfit to use, from obtaining pure and
wholesome water.
1t is well known that in the most populous por-
tions Of our borough the water once good is now
impure, and many are now using water drawn
from wells reeking with Impurities, which must
in time Affect the system and produce disease
and when we remember that but few years
back the water that is now impure and unfit for
use was good the best now 10 town, we have
the best evidence that 1t is enly question of time
when all will be impure And is II fair propo-
| sitiOn that because some Of the wells In town are
still good that all those using impure water shufd
be compelled to wait and continue It's use until
all the wells in like condition. 1t isauswcrcd
on tho other hand that there is no objection to
private enterprise bringing in water from the
springs on the adjoining hills for private use by
those whose water is impure. But will the eiti-
zens Of the borough agree that after these men
have invested their money in laying pipe, etc.
that II at any future time water was brought n
as all admit il must be at some time, they shall
be exempted from taxation for the erection oi
public water works
From a sanitary point Of view, at least on D. hall
| Of our town are nov in actual need Of water from
some other source than from wells reokng with
disease and filth, and as certain as that some WE'LL
are now impure, just 50 certain will time rendei
| the purcs, and best in town impure.
! Next to health comes the question Of sccurity OIL
property, and | stated above that one.half th,
| people Of this town are to-day taking into theii
systems diseases by drinking impure aud un.
wholesome water, but in regard to security from
the scourge of fire, every property holder is il
constant danger from the devouring element
Thus far Clearfeld has escaped FROM fire in th,
most remarkable manner, but because wo hay,
mover yet been burned up Is no evidence that W,
never will be, and sometime VIC win bo subjected
to an extensive Gre, and after portion Of oui
| beautiful town is laid in ashes and much valua
| bio property destroyed, and when disaster hal
rendered less able TO make the outlay, theI
will the people demand that water works shall bi
erected az any cost-thus locking tho door aftci
the horse is stolen.
The question Of cost Is one 10 be considered
carefully, and in which all are interested debt
whether Of a nation, State or municipality, is
public burden, and is to be DEPRECATED aud as fai
as possible avoided, but when security to publii
health and valuable property is plnced In tn,
scale, the burden should be oheerfully taken III
and rendered as light as possible. l believe tina
building water works now viii be matter 0
economy, and can be done cheaper than at tim,
when our necessities compel Us to push the worl
forward at any cost to attain an carly completion
because now We can start out with deliberation
taking our time to make proper calculations an,
/ 10 look about TO devise the most economical mod
to accomplish the end. The men named in thu
law to act with the council is sufficient guarantc,
that there will be no rings formed to make
profitable Job for contractors, but would managi
tho work in safe, practical, business manner, a
they would private enterprise, and the borough
would thus secure first class water works at actua
cost Of material and labor.
Some of our citizens have been making calcula
tions as to cost and give the figures as given 4
me, which have been made after corresponding
with pipe founders u different parts Of the State
/ Two miles Of six inch iron main will reach Moos
creek ut point high enough to give as one hun
drcd and thirty feet head, II is csirated tina
two miles Of four inch main laid in town will dis
tribute the water on all the streets. Tho main
can be brought here for 10000. The digging an,
covering for 81 so a rod, or 1000, q small dan
on the creek 81 900 lead for joints s70Oi layinl
and iointing Sl,80O--in all $4,000. 1000 fec
supply pipe, two inch, will cost 81 900, withou
having. There will be some other items Of oxpen
diiurc, such as "Ts," "Ls" and fire plugs, tha
will cost pehaps 1000 more, making in al
s225 800, bat add for incidonlals $4,000, woul'
place the ontire expense at $4,000, and certainly
not more than $4,000. Taking the outside fg
uro as basis, We can calulato the interest at sew
on per cent, making s2,l0O year. The prcsen
assessment Of the borough will reach over 5000,
900, and 10 pay the interest on the bonds it will
require four mills tax, that property assessc.
., 81 900 will have to pay 81 year, aud for oacl
81 900 assessment 81. But the water is taxed b,
spigot in proportion TO the amount used, 20 tha
those not using the voter will be relieved Of q
norton Of the tax. II Is contemplated that Tho
Increase of property on each assessment after five
years will commence rcdccming the bonds aud re-
ducng the debt and interest, without any incrcas'
of taxation. -r..r .I...
Let tho owners Of property take the question
and decide for themselves. You who cwn prop
poriies valued at 81 900 TO $1,000, Is four to eight
dollars year too great an outlay for the benefits
you derive from tho use Of pure mountain waiei
and yoar additional .ccuriiy from hre'
wafrR wokKs.