The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-25
CLIFTON WATER WORKS.


Changes De Made In inc Town
Charter.
~, The adjourned meetin" of citizens WAS
, led on W ednesday evening in the office OF
e ;he Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Cecil
btCounty To hear the report of the com
nittee of seven. This committee was
e composed of William J. Jones, chairman,
DR.. Chas. NJ. Ellis, Johl S Writ, Frank
IrR. Scott, George McQuilkin, Clinton Me-
.Cullough and William J. Smith George
n A. Blake, Esq was president and John
XPartridge secretary of the meeting
Al John ). Writ read tho report, which IS
sas follows
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
The committee 10 whom was referred
the matter of investigating the best plan
of providing adequate means for the pro-
lection of the town against fire, and also
TO consider what improvements are
Il leave to report:
{ That they have carefully considered
' all the suggestions made at the mentlug
| which appointed the COMMITTEES. and nave
informed themselves as to the plans
i adopted by various towns in our neigh
borhood. That the committee appreciate
\ the fact that the means the town now
has for the protection of property against
fire are entirely inadequate, and that
there is urgent necessity for prompt &C
ton in the premises.
That, in view OF the present rate OF
state aud county taxation, and OF other
considerations, the committee deem it
unwise for the town to create a bonded
debt-especialiy as it is entirely practi-
cable to secure the best system oi pro-
lection against fire without creating such
a debt.
That it is impossible to purchase sui
table steam fire engine and provide the
crudest means of supplying water for its
uso without large and expensive outlay
which would necT ssirate the erection of
bonded debt. In addition to this 1t is
an almost universal experience, that such
means do not afford proper protection
against fire in towns, except where proper
buildings and appliances are provided,
and skilled men are constantly employed
in the care and operation Of the appar-
atus. To more limited extent the same
may be said of chemical engines.
That upon mature consideration the
| committee recommend the adoption of a
system of water works which will afford
an adequate supply of water for domestic
as well as fire purposes. The works
should be constructed by Il private com
pauy. aud the town enter into a contract
to pay i fixed sum annually on the guar
autee of supply of water for fire and
domestic purposes, under such regula-
tions as the town may impose with refer
euce to quantity aud purity. The inves-
LEGATIONS of the committee have thor
oughly convinced them, that this is
not only the best plan to protect the
town against fire, but that it is the most
practicable and economical. Besides this,
such system vii! give supply of pure
water for all domestic purposes, thereby
promoting to great extent the health
and cleanliness of the town. The con-
venience OF an ample supply of pure
water is often an important factor in
determining ne location of manuiac-
turies which we all desire to attract to
our town.
| of f.th np tny st
the conclusions of the committee III this
respect. Chestertown has a complete
! system of water works which supplies
the town with all abundance of pure
water for all purposes. There are fire
plugs i'll all portions of the town, and
the pressure Is sufficient 20 throw water
through hose attached to the fire plugs,
without an engine, over the tallest build
ing ID the highest part Of the town. The
works there we're constructed by a water
company which receives $500 annually
for supplying the town with water for
fire purposes; of this $500 the local insur-
ance company pays $500 IN consideration
of the diminution of its risks in the town
which are heavy. The rest of the income
of the company is derived from the water
rates paid by the individual citizens who
use the water. The total sum raised in
Chestertown by taxation for water supply
is $500 or about 4 cents on the one hun
bred dollars on the assessable property
of the town. We are informed that the
city of Havre de Grace pays $500 an.
nually Tor water supply, aud the esti
mated cost to the town of Smyrna is
about 500 per annum.
The case of ChesCertowu is mentioned
as beisg a town of about the size of Elk
ton, the total amount of its assessment
being some what less tnaG our own. Re
ports have been received in writing from
well Informed aud Respectable citizens Of
Havre de Grace, Dover, Middietown anG
SO rna, and they all CONCUR in stating
, that the systems of water supply III force
there afford ample protection against fire
and all In every respect satisfactory anc
economical. l. is considered practic Lblt
TO establish satisfactory system o
water works for the town at an annua
cost OF $500. which can be paid by ta>
of ) cents on the one huadred dollars o
the assessahle property, upon basis Of
one million dollars The success of the
j works would depend largely upor
whether property owners would take tht
water IT reasonable rates The committed
also believes that a thorough reorganiza
, ton OF town affairs icy the adoption o
, the Amendments to the town charte
5 suggested in this rep IT will result in thu
saving from the presrn; current expendi
lures sufficient t. pay the annual charge
: for water works, especially if our hom'
t insurance company will bear portion o
4 that expense.
8 The special mode &c supplying thu
town with water i a matter for futur
| determination after a thorough investi
Q CATION of tne surrounding conditions, b!
' a company organized tn build tie works
. and is not I. matter for corporate actor
o by the town at this time, except, perhaps
n to provide for y preliminary survey, tn
A cost OF which will not exceed $50.
n For the information OF those who ma.
o think that the town should uniertak
v che erection of the works we would stat
d chat the cost would net be in any even
: less than SIS, 900 or $4,000 There VII
}. be no serious difficulty in a0y compan
securinU the necessary caDital, if in add