San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-20
SEWERS AND SANITATION
CHAPTER no 2.

IT . q
the upper portion of the city could be
cxcavated and filled, by pumping water
into il from the river aud the wafer
could be conveyed by pipes from this
tank into the sewers, rs often rs 1t
might be needed for cleaning them.
This plan would render the city indie
pendent Of the water. works company so
far MS the supply of water IL necessary
for flushing the sewer pipes is concerned,
and thus remove one OF the main OBJ
iections, which many citizens have en-
tertained to the adoption ola system OF
sewerage.
believe that every family that takes
water from the WateTwOrks company Is
entitled to daily consumption OF 60
gallons. and this would furnish an am
pie supply of water for flushing the
pipes leading from water closets to the
sewer pipe nearest TO them, since not
one family out an hundred uses more
than % gallons per day about the house
the year around But In case this estI-
mate should turn out upOn trial. to he
incorrect, the city could bore one or
more artesian wells OF DignOwity or
POwdeT-hOusc hill, and upon Prospect
hill, collect the water from them in
pools, excavated for the purpose, and
then convey the water through mains 10
Tie different streets, charging nominal
price for the Use OF the water. The an
nual rental, which would have to be paid
to the WaterwOrks company, would in
the space OF ten years, amount to more
than the plan herein suggested would
cost the city. Besides. such plan would
render the city Independent OF the
WateTwOTks company, and stop the
mouths of such as are keeping up the
cutlery about the city being in'Ihe power
of a monopoly.
Ny belief is, that the sewer PROPOSE
ton would have been approved by
handsome majority the last time IL was
submitted to avote had 1t not have been
for the apprehension that was felt that
the necessary supply OF water for flush
ing the sewer pipes could not be OBJ
tained at reasonable rates from the
WaterwOrks company. This apprehen-
ZION was, to all intents and purposes,
iirst-Class scare-CrOw, and will continue
to be unless water for flushing the sew
ers can be procured from some other
source than the wsterwOrks company.
No one who is friendly TO the cOnstTuc-
fiOn Of n system of sewerage cares to
have it handicapped by lacking on dead
weight to it. Ii must be fairly present
ed on its own merits. without any COM
plications with the waterwOrks com
pany, IN order for il TO receive the mint
stamp of popular approval. Ii would
not be at all amiss 10 have law enacted
for the appointment of three per-
sons rs commissioners OF sewers, nm
der whose direction the sewers should
be constructed and the money paid out;
and such commissioners should be in
dependent OF the mayor and the cOun-
ell.
If the San Antonio river is to be pre-
served from deiilement and feculenCe. as
il meaRdcrs in its surpentine course
through our city, we must have Il sys-
TEN of sewerage to carry of the gar
bage. God forbid that our beautiful
river shall ever be polluted and deiied
by being converted into a ClOaCa maxi
ma-the receptacle in chief Of all the
filth and garbage in the city.
There seems to me TO be q feasible
plan for raising ample funds for accom-
plishing all needed improvements in our
city, without collecting cent of addi-
tiOnal taxes from citizens. 1t is this-tO
have the city charter so amended rs to
empower the city government TO take
risks from fire, on houses and merChan-
disc, situated within the corporate lin
charged by the insurance companies.
The premiums could be deposited in
bank to make good any losses, that
might be sustained by the insured
until such premiums aggregated the
sum of Sl5O0OO, after which the prem
ums paid by insurers could be used in
the prosecution of municipal improve
ments and in creating sinking fund for
the payment of the outstanding bonds
of the city. The fund deposited in the
bank for the payment OF losses by fire,
should never be allowed to fall below
SlOOOOO at any time.
do not know what is the exact sum
total OF the premiums that Is paid an
nually in San Antonio, for insurance
against fire, but am inclined to believe
it approXimates $25O,OOO. Now, nearly
all of this money is withdrawn from San
Antonio and cent TO the home offices of
the several insurance companies; and it
goes without saying that this yearly
withdrawal of so large sum of money
ia serious injury to the business of our
city. BY the plan suggested by me all
the premiums paid on insurance against
fire would remain In San Antonio.
which would be great bene-
fit to the citizens in business
point Of view, as every man of good
sense must perceive at the first glance
given to the matter under discussion.
There should be commissioner of in
surance, possessing general control and
superintendent over this department,
as well as the right of employing two
sub-agents for the same commissions al
lowed by the isurance companies now
doing business in the city. A prime OBJ
ject should be to dissoCiate this insur-
aDce department from the intrigues and
contentious of ward politicians and mu-
nicipal wranggles and to have 1t con-
Quoted upon strictly business principles
and methods, by men familiar with the
routine and details of business.
OF course, comparatively little bust
mess would be transacted the first year,
in consequence of the fact that persons
would already have policies In some one
OF the various insurance companies do
ing business in San Antonio, and unable,
for that reason, to patrOnize n peculiarly
home institution. After the first
year, they would in obedience to
the dictates Of an enlightened, self-in-
terest, insure In the Municipal company
preferably TO any other company. The
bare fact-when il comes to he under
stood, that the premiums paid to the
CITY on insurance against IRE, diminish
ed pro rata the city taxes, wOnld induce
every level-headed citizen to insure in
the City company, and would pretty
soon give 1t the entire business of in
suTance.
The city would annually realize from
S75 to 100000 from this business, with
out entrenching upon the fund of $50,
600 deposited In bank to meet losses by
fire, and, as the capital In the city in
creased, the profits from insurance
WOnld Ike Wlaa innrenae In a like