Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-03

street
In some of the cities and boroughs of the
state, with the sanction of councils, moder. |
,te tax has been laid upon the telegraph and |
telephone poles which occupy the streets and |
claim the protection oithe police powerthere ~ |
noreason why the corporations using them and |
enjoying these privileges should not con-
tribute their share to the expense of the mu. |
uicipal government
The passenger railways occupying our |
streets should be held to strict accountability |
for the condition ot that part of the thorough
fare which they are bound to keep in order,
and thus prevent accidents from occurring
from their rcmissness
WATER.
This question has been so often and 50 in. |
telligently discussed in the last half dozen
years that approach it with some dildeuce
Its paramount Importance, however. em-
boldens me To the repetition of that which
has 50 frequently been said before 10y my
predecessors aud by the superintendents of
the water works. The condition precedent
the drainage of the north and northeastern
sections of the city-should perhaps claim at
tenuun first
All will admit that without the proper dis
position of the sewage in this section that our
drinking water must become less and loss
pure as the city continues to grow north
ward The superintendent in his last an
uusl report has discussed this matter, and
points out three ways Ia overcome tho dill
culty-by an intercepting sewer, conduit 10
point above where the city sewage enters
the Cnnestoga, and the removal the works.
| believe the first of these plans Is the most
easily accomplished and the least costly.
Nothing can be gained by the latter mode II
the sewage can he got rid ot by the former
and there are grave objections to the conduit
over that of the intercepting sewer, some OF
which are loss OF water from springs, large
damages and greater cost II the proper-si2ed
conduit bo laid. The preparations are now
in hand Tor making the proper preliminary
surveys, aud we shall he enabled thereby
to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion in re-
gard to this very important step in our water
supply and i'll the maintenance OF its purity.
\ very necessary work il now progressing
in extending tho twenty-lnch main along
Orange street: | thought the work would
| have been better done 10y laying the pipe
| along one of the streets north of Orange, on
| the higher ground, but a. it is, it will be OF
| vast benefit tn the occupants OF houses in the
| western part of the city
| The one other very important and neces
| sary Improvement i'll our water supply is
| more ample storage capacity. This will
probably lie "A costly undertak ing the super
Intendent says we are daily consuming about
| four million gallons, and the storage capacity
should therefore be ten DAYS supply or about
| forty million gallons the elevation should
| also be increased from twenty to twenty. Ii We
| feet The superintendent makes some time
~ suggestions III regard To waste.
| That a generous outlay for water works
Improvement Is good municipal investment
| may easily be shown 10y comparison OF the
increase III expenses with the Increased reve-
nues from water rents. While the increase
| Of water supply aud consumption from lSS0
| to lSS6 has Increased nearly two-tOld, and the
| receipts about IS per cent the expenses Of
| operation show no such relative increase. |
believe that all well. considered and eConomi.
cally made water improvements needed viii
more than pay the interest on their cost
| THE PURLIC HEALTH.
| There is now organized by appointment o
| the court board OF health with authority tc
enforce the ordinances of the city in this i'm
portaut regard. 1t has already done goot
work and should have liberal support from
| councils in the further prosecution OF it
Prompt action i'll this department is Otter
necessary and the means TO sustain II mus
not be lack ing. Complaint is made that Ger
tain slaughter houses without sewers do no
promptly clean up and dispose OF their re
fuse. For such violation OF the ordinances
remedy il provided, and until that has beer
tested and found inefficient | must withhold
the recommendation pressed upon me OF al
ordinance To remove all butchering opera
tions to an abattOir beyond the city limits.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
With a single exception for which the exc
} cutive is not responsible, the police force i,
: well organized and efficient Its dlsciplin,
8 will be maintained. l will make no depart
: ure from the rules laid down at the outset o
my term for its government. The recon-
mendation OF the chief transmitted herewith
for an additional member of the force to aC
as house sergeant is supported by couclusiy,
reasons and has my hearty approval.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the chief engineer and thu
common experience OF our citizens and tax
payers confirm the wisdom of the adoption
of the present system of ire department or
| gaDiZatiOn. There can be no doubt of 1t
economy i'll the long run and far greater pro
lection and security To property than the vol
unteer department | renew the suggestion
! made upon taking office that councils Civ,
closer attention to the more nearly cOmplet
equipment of the department. Inefiectiv,
machinery, insufficient working force or is
abled horses involve the city in too great risl
to be neglected. Four effective engine
should at all times be in service, and coun
. ellis should bring to prompt conclusion tn
negotiations with the Clapp a Jones com
pany over the new machine recently fur
nished II 1t is not to be accepted AMI paiC
| for speedy arrangement should be made L
procure another The property and lives Z
! the taxpayers ought not TO be subjected +
the peril ensuing from "A dispute as +
| whether the necessary fire apparatus is or i
not the property of the city.
CITY PROPERTY.
The city property is now in good condition
| The station house has recently undergone re
a | par. Sbillt years ago u csDIutlOn wa
. | passed by councils authorizing the propert
committee to sell the l." Old Factory" on tn
! | Conestoga, aud tho seven acres of ground cor
= nected with il, "A property that yields no in
come and is of no prospective al vantage to tn
r | city. 1t was offered, and an insuflcien
4 | sum being bid, it was Withdrawn. At tn
D | May meeting of councils this resolution wa
5 renewed, and it will be promptly carrie
n | into effect. ! am of the opinion that th
J. rents derived from the city property let
@ | private tenants might be Increased som,
what without becoming burdensome or G,
; | tOrtiOnale.
LIGHTING THE CITY.
u The present system of lighting the city
!, in the main satisfactory in the quantity of
v Elimination furnished; the cost is heavy.
!, is to be hoped that with increasing cheapne
l in the manufacture OF gas and the erection
o "A local plant for electric light, the compel
d tioI-oi the different systems will enable Il
u | city to procure a sufficient and ell-distrib
ted light at less than the present cost
my judgment adequate street light is goo
, | police protection, and the outer wards an
less travelled thorough fares ought all to ha
, fair benefits OF the public lighting.
THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
- The report of the last city solicitor
:, March g. lS6G-he having been shortly aft
~ succeeded by the present incumbent-sho,
one hundred and twenty-four suits broug
"a by the city during the year ended Februa
a 2s, lsS6, sea. tds on municipal liens or To
nf yive expiring judgments seyenty-si1 mul
Cipal liens eutarel. auurppatinp 81 6b3 py [