Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-05
WANTED: SEWERAGE.
What Some of Our COuncilmen
Think of IL.

In his peregrinations about the vii
iage, yesterday, a REGISTER pair OF
ears" met a number OF Councilman and
asked their opinion concerning the pres
ent lack of city sewerage and the best
means OF remedying the evil. Without
exception they expressed themselves as
prepared to adopt energetic means OF re-
deeming the present state OF affairs by
a generous ontlay of money, the only
difference of opinion being upon the
manner OF obtaining the neediul.
There are two methods Of doing
this, viz: By levying specific tax or by
negotiating a loan and issuing bonds.
Both of these plans have friends, though
the latter seems rather the favOrite. y
special levy can be made for specific
purpose, beyond the limit of 30 cents on
the 500 valuation, as imposed in the
| city's charter And some $4,000 OF
| bonds can be issued without exceeding
the 500, 900 to which the corporation is
limited The latter plan is favored by
| a prominent member tor these reasons:
Al would prefer taxation directly, but
! for one reason, that is, it falls with UNI
due weight upon the poor man. The
last Legislature took the tax for one
wear from manufactured articles, so that
the burden of taxation falls upon the
poor man. We could issue bonds
and have them mature at some
very distant time, so that their
weight would fall upon the
generation that would enjoy the bcne-
| fits. 1t is great mistake to hurriedly
redeem bonds. Let us 60 quietly on
paving the interest and leave the bonds
to our children. We ali recognize the
| importance OF sewerage, and in the
present state of things must not weigh a
slight expense against the public health.
| am satisfied some money will have 10
be borrowed anyhow, for the street eX-
penses will certainly exceed the amount
| appropriated, and while we are at II, |
| am in favor OF borrowing enough to sink
some sewers.
Another Councilman objected to a
! bonded debt because OF the way the
| banks snap up these bonds at dis
count, and he didn't believe III the
CITY PLAYING so directly into the hands
of the banks" He wanted Il special
levy made, and didn't believe any man
| WOuIu SruuRe - Hole III tIlo pun
pose, especially if his child was threat
ened with sickness on account OF the
want of drainage"
Whatever may he the sentiments OF
| Councilmen or action of the Council,
much time must elapse before anything
can be done in the way OF sewerage.
The season is now well advanced and
immediate steps would be useless.
Should it be necessary to await the col
lection of levy, it will be two years be-
fore the work can be done. But
in the meantime there is much
that might be done in the
way of opening cutters and I'm
proving the sanitary condition OF vari-
Gus portions OF the city. Physicians
speak of the filthy state OF affairs back
OF the Female College. This is elevated
ground and might he easily drained off.
And it is the same in other sections.
| The Twelfth street sewer seems to be
now an established fact, is a move in
the right direction and will fill long
needed want. But in any move, money
is the necessary lever and will be the
prime obstacle in making the city drain
age even respectable.