Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-23
COLD WATER DRIPPISGs.
PUBLIC MATTERS.

| Questions of General Interest Disc used
Some Suggestions and Why the Hospital
| Matter was Defeated.
1t is well known fact that the city OF
! Springfield has sugered severe damage by
washOuts, etc, caused by the recent heavy
rains and there are none but who will admit
that il WAS unforeseen and unlocked foI
damages should be repaired, and that righ,
soon, and recurrence should be guarded
against and proper steps should be taken 81
n 10 insure the city against another such
disaster. Such rains are not frequent, bul
are liable to occur at any time. The rail
road officials with one accord say adopt
measures As in your judgement will be best
adapted to carry off your surface water. bu,
prevent by all means the recurrence of such
waShOuts in the future. Leading citizens.
and some OF whom prOhrbly pay taxes
largely in excess of the kickers who are
bowling debt. debt. say enlarge Mill
| Run sewer to its fullest capacity.
Others say make large sewer
from the basin in the neighbOrhOOd of the
shops, run it north under the bridge to
Buck creek, and others adopt whatever
| plan in the opinion of the most practical
engineers is the best; but in all events pre-
vent the recurrence of a similar washOut
Now, how is this TO be done, and at what
expense? The repairs OF the damage will
cost about as follows About 20 culyerts
washed out, $1,000; bridge at Lagonda,
$500; High street bridge. So, 200 (Of which
| the city has One-thiTd to pay; repairing
streets and crossings damaged by the wash
| out. about $40, 900; and the prevention of a
recurrence, 5000 to S65. 900, according
to estimates. Now, then, these damages
must be repaired, and the citizens OF Spring
field must pay for them, either directly in
their taxes next year or by the issuing of
bonds, for which the city must pay in the
way of taxes, bnt the burden will be so
lightened that il will be almost impercepti-
Bile, as they will have fifteen years to pay it
in this way, whereas, without the selling of
the bonds, 1t will have TO be paid in one
year. Did not the council do wise thing?
Now, then, how is this to be done? Simply
by the city council instructing the solicitor
to draw up bill, not TO build sewers, but
10 repair damages caused by the flood. to
be presented to the legislature, for an ap-
preparation of Sl50,OO0. Not that the city
wished to use the full amount, but Just such
sum as needed 10 make said repairs But
the solicitor said: Unconstitutional; a
special act: it can't be done. You will be
enjOined," etc, etc. But the Hon. George
{. RawlnS, in about ten minutes time,
drew up bill which not only he but Hon
Thomas Pringle and other lawyers of abil-
ity in the legislature said would be cOnsti-
tutiOnal and would be a general act OF the
legislature, and not special act. And |
must say that the honorable and distin-
guished gentlemen deserve praise and
credit for the enthusiasm they mani
tested in pushing the bill, as it was but
few hours until adjournment But
when the bill came to the senate for
the lack of tee twO-thirds vote 10 suspend
the rules rs many had already taken ad-
vantage of the nearneSs of the adjourn
ment and had taken leave. So the bill
could only be placed on its first reading in
the senate. Now, then, these are facts in
the case and the squealing and kicking of
the Champion interests is altogether un-
called for, as the appropriation was sought