Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-04-03
our CORRESPONDENCE
Water Works for irUst,.;r%.

Mis- EDITuE-W hat shall here say up
ON this question, propose to say briefly
and pointcdIy. Not 50 briefly, however,
hope, rs to fail of making a proper effort 10
CviuCc the fact, that the tar p"y6rS n tic
turn, as well as those who may hc @HJi
dyi"h,rs n bcr ,r4tD~, have an interest, in.
decd Il deep interest, i'll providing such Wa
! ter Works as may meet rs well their every
day wants as the cXigcmcics Of such Con!la-
grltions as swept away their property but
Il short time ago, and from whose greater
dcvastations, they were saved only by the
help Of a ncighhoring City. II requires but
little stretch OF memory to call to mind the
pallid check and cry of distress of those to-
wards whose property the flames made way
on those dreadful occasions. paralyzcd
by fear, the safety of their homes and flrni-
turc depended upon the string arms of those
who had nothing at stake. In view of
these scenes so lately passed, one would
think that the objection urged ly some, as
to the propriety of the non-tax payer having
Il vote upon the question comes with
rather a bad grace. Besides, the man of
wealth, to-day, may be the paupcr Of to-mor-
row, and rice rC1sn. And, as thirty years
arc allowed within which to pay the cost
of constructing these works, who can be
said to have no interest in this question
amongst those who inhabit the town: On
the contrary is there not Il community of
interest as regards the matter existing be-
tween all classes of our people?
But to come directly to the subject, the
enactment providing for these works which
we are asked to ratify or reject, requires
that it shall be done at This coming clcctiaa,
and the provisions oi tic same are as fol
lows:
The Mayor and Council, together with
five frc c2nt,aisM0acjs are authorized to is
sue Corporation Bonds to the amount Of
S1000OGO, which are to he sold at not less
than htDetc Hths of their value, rc,lccmablc
within NtIy years, the coupons of the same
to be received for taxes, and the people not
to he taxed for such purpose mere than
NUfy cents on the one hundred dollars
for their redemption; that the revenues OF
the works shall be applied to pay Of the
bonds and afterwards paid in to the trcasll-
ry for corporate uses.
In a word the Corporation is to own them
for the use Of the people and the payment
of its corporate expenses once the bonds are
discharged
As to Tie burden then That the construc-
ton of these works will impose upon the
tax payers
1hHtY cents on the hundred dollars in
one year is Il limit that cannot be exceeded.
Twenty cents, and possibly ten, after few
years may suffice And may not the de
creased rates of insurance enable the payer
OF taxes tomcct thym without any increased
outlay? Whilst, on the Other hand, should
unf&yorablc action Je taken on this Qucs-
ton, there is reason to believe that the
rates of insurance will he put still higher,
if risks be taken at all For as is well
known they were continued after the late
fires because of the interest cvinccd by the
people in favor of providing adequate
means for protection i'll the future
Besides, will not the convenience Of WA
ter TO properties, improved or unimprovcd,
enhance the value thereof to at least Tie
cost to the owner of securing the same:
We think 50.
For these benefits to be secured, who,
thon, would say that 4 debt of Fifty Thou-
sand dollars, TO be paid in TAirW laT&, is
too great price for them, or that the pco-
pie cant stand the burden?
Lastly, it may be said that a becoming
pride Of independence apart from other con
sidcrationS should prompt every vote in IA
vor of the measure. Our town twice saved
by the fire appnl"h and the men Of Cumbcr-
land, are yet unwilling to take the proper
steps to protect ourselves in the future, be
cause it involves something of expense to as
Are we to be for all time to come her pro-
tege? May the Independent spirit and just
pride Of our people forbid it
A CITIZEN.
Frostburg, March 3lst, 1873.