Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-29

thinks sit Is safe to say that three .fiflhs of
the abandoned wells In Lancaster are now
used in place OF sewers to receive the ofIal
of tho houses with which they are con-
nected. Into them" he says, "directly
empty the downspouts the contents of the
kitchen and water closets, and they are
relied upon to carry Off by the natural
subterranean courses and assures the
accumulation of this filth. And they do
it." And he calls u pon the board of health
TO abolish them. II II be indeed true that
these wells are 40 many chimneys from
the neither world vomiting day and night
their malaria and poison into our homes,
into our bed rooms and into our crowded
factories,' this subject should certainly re-
ceivo, and ut once, the boards serious con-
sderation. But is tho statement true7
The editor says that these wells arc relied
upon to carry Off the accumulated filth
which is deposited In them and that they
do it, IL 80, how is IL possible that they
can at the same time vomit forth day and
night poison aud malaria7 This would of
course he the case II they did not carry of
their deposits by natural subLerranean
courses and assures" But as they do
carry them OIL, they seem TO be dangerous
only to the wells which are still used for
drinking water and with some OF which
they doubtless have subterranean connec-
tion. But so also do many closets and out
houses Would II not therefore be wiser
TO provide that all these old wells should
be tightly covered Mt the surface, and that
the use ofwel water for drinking and cook
ing be prohibited within the city limits?
For none of our city wells are safe. We
know of one which is situated upon high
ground, which had been in constant use
for many years, and the water of which
was AZ clear rs crystal and to eye and
palate seemed as pure as that of n noun
tain spring, but which under analysis was
found to be the very essence of pollution.
Doubtless there are other wells in the city
in daily use, the water of which liz equally
impure. Yet these wells, if closely sealed
at the surface could be utilized instead of
sewers without damage 10 the health of the
community, and at the same time save
their owners much trouble and expense
IL isa question well worthy the most
careful consideration of the board of health,
but recent sad events should not frighten
the board into rash measures of doubtful
benefit. Nevertheless the public health Is
of the first importance, no matter what the
cost may be 10 individuals.
SENATOR QUAY is reported to have said
"A few days ago that the farmers of this
state had no reason to complain of heavy
or unjust taxation, because they were not
as badly oil in this respect as their brethren
in some other states. We feel very sure
that II the senator had studied this ques
ton as thoroughly as he has the art of
"practical politics." he would not have
been guilty of any such utterance.
Nor would he had been guilty, were
he compelled to earn his living
by hard work upon farm in
stead of gaining 1t by taxing his inge-
nuity In political intrigue. The farmers OF
Lancaster county, who ought to he the
most prosperous II the land, will be much
more likely TO agree with w. +. Boyer,
esq, of the Lancaster bar, than with their
junior senator. Mr.. Boyer, who is a Re-
publican who thinks for himself points
out at least one most unfair tax discrimina-
ton against the farmer. The assessed valu-
alton of the horses and cattle of Lancaster
county reaches nearly two and a half mil
lions of dollars, aud these are the only
items OF personal property that pay
county tax. They amount, too, to about
three-fourths of the value OF the entire per-
sonal property ON our farms. After point
ing out the fact that the farmers income is
now very meager and that the census re-
turns show decrease in the population of
the country districts, which tells its own
tale, Mr.. Reyer pertinently asks: "Is 1t
fair that they should be thus subjected to
taxation and other items of personally be
exemptodH The manufacturer" he adds,
"may have thousands of dollars in stock
and machinery and wholly escape the tax
collector, who is nevertheless instructed to
seek out the poor mans only cow" This
is good illustration of the injustice of this
tax, for the horses and cattle of a farm are
IN one sense its machinery, and no sane
statesman, or political economist, would
ever think for moment of placing tax
upon machinery. But how few statesmen
and economists we have IN public life, and
how many Quays!