The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-29

Persons owning property in the sub
urbs, within the city limits, and sub
ject to the payment of tax for the
improvement of central city pro erty,
releasing the owners of this central
property from "a considerable annual
expense, which they would otherwise
have to incur in keeping their prem
ises in decent and habitahle condi-
tion, may very well and reasonably
object to tax laid upon their prop
erty. Property holders in any local
ity, securing directly the benefit of
any expenditure by the city, should
pay for it, and not call upon others to
assist them. Unless there should be a
general system of sewage extending
to all parts of the city, general tax
would be unjust. A gentleman well
informed tells us that in the inaugu-
ration of a sewerage system in ST.
Louis this idea of taxing the whole
city for the benefit of any special 10
cality was recognized as not being
equitable or just, and after mature
consideration an act of the legislature
of the state of Missouri was passed in
1849. fixing IA method by which sewage
might be accomplished. Upon it the
whole system of sewage in st. Louis
was based, and ordinances were passed
establishing seven districts, in which
from time to time, as required, sewers
were constructed. The Missouri law
may be guide. 1t is as follows:
An act to provide a general system
of sewerage in the city of st. Louis.
BE it enacted by the general asSem-
bly, of the state of Missouri as fol-
lows:
l. The mayor and city council of
st. Louis shall cause. by ordinance,
the city to be laid off into districts to
be drained by principal and lateral or
tributary sewers, having reference to
a general plan of drainage by sewers
for the whole city, and number and
record the same.
2. Whenever majority of the
owners of real estate within any dis
tJ77IcC SnaIr 9Stitiop, for the con
structiOn of the sewers in
said district, the city council
shall have power by ordinance to levy
and collect Il special tax on the real
estate within said district so drained,
not to exceed One-half of one per CEN
tum per annum on the assessed value
NJ af "a fn hn Nf
constructing said sewer, which tax
shall be annually levied and collected
as other city taxes. and shall consti-
tute Il lien on the real estate on
which it is assessed, and shall not be
repealed or altered until the debt
thereby created shall have been fully
paid.
3. Whenever a petition signed as
aforesaid is presented to the city coun-
Gil. they shall provide by ordinance
for the letting and construction of the
sewers, or such parts thereof as shall
be necessary, and may from time to
time extend, enlarge or alter the same
under such terms and on such con-
dltionS as they may deem necessary.
4. The mayor and city council, up
on a petition as aforesaid, may borrow
any sum of money necessary for the
construction of the sewers in any
district, and issue the bonds of the
city for the same, payable and predi-
Gated in interest and principal upon
the tax in the second section of this
act mentioned.
5. All moneys collected under and
by virtue of this act shall be applied
to the district from which it is so
collected, and to no other purpose or
use.
Approved March IL. 1S49.
Under this act, so simple and yet so
comprehensive. the sewage system
of st. Louis was based, and from time
to time the districts laid out were i'm
proved by sewers. at the expense of
the property holders in the several
districts, and in a short time all the
thickly settled portions of the city,
where sewers were specially required,
were thoroughly drained, thereby con-
tributing to the general health of the
city. and saving property holders, an
nually, heavy expense, which, with
out sewers, would necessarily have to
be incurred.