The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-27
PAYING FOR SEWERS.
AL Work Hereafter to Be Done
by Owners.
THE c,TY's LIMIT IS REACHED.
Discussisn BY the Board Of Public Works
Upsn Reduction Of Kxpsnses-
BiAs Accepted.

The usual routine business Of the board
Of y,ublic works was diversified yesterday
by discussion which is likely TO extend
beyond the limits Of tho council. So many
applications have recently been made for
sewers that the board directed Major
Rinehart TO make report upon the sub
ject, together with suggestions as to the
best course to pursue. Major Rinehart re-
ported in favor Of creating assessment dis
tricts for sewers - for street improve
ments, and placing the cost directly upon
the property benefited. That view was
adopted by the house Of delegates at its
meeting on Wednesday night.
Yesterday il was referred to incidentally,
Commissioner Cochrsne asking the board
if the property-owners would have to pay
all at once or would be allowed time as
with street improvements by bond.
Mr.. Hebron said in the absence of any
specific provisions in the charter the pol
icy Of the city must be determined by the
council. He said the city was just in the
position that It must stop work on the sew
ers because it had no money. The board
had no other alternative than TO refuse.
any application or permit the owners TO
do it at their own expense IL they were
very anxious to have It done.
Mr.. Compton said it was very unjust to
those people who, like himself, had paid
taxes for fifteen years, to provide sewers
for the lower part of town and now be
compelled to put sewers in his own neigh
borhood at his own expense. He thought
the city ought to continue now as it had
begun. If only diligence were used in col
lecting grade taxes on property in the
lower part of town the city would have
enough money to build sewers in the
northern mart.
Major Rinehart did not doubt the power
of the council to make assessment districts
for sewer building, but he did not think it
equitable. The practice had been to build
sewers at the general expense, and it did
city to pay directly. Still, that was the
city's condition, and there was the adj
vantage that the value of property 80 inn
proved was SO much more valuable.
Mr.. Cochrane believed the city was in
just as good shape as it had been any time
for the two years during which SO much
$2OO,sD0 delinquent taxes which ought to
be collected. He asked why some of the
money from the bonds could not be used.
Mr.. Hebron explained that the money
would not be available for some time, and
even when it arrived it would cut no figure
600 the city could do no more than lay
down mains with which to connect local
branches. There were very few cities in
which, 80 far as he knew, the sewerage was
not done by assessment districts. He
thought the city was now entering upon
the right course. II there was any inequity
it was because the city had done wrong
before in not adopting that system.
Mr.. Compton contended that as the city
had bonded the debt incurred by Pioneer
place, the Rinehart corner, widening Sec
ond street and SO on, it could raise money
in the same way to improve other parts Of
the city.
Mr.. Hebron replied that the city had
already got very near the constitutional
limit Of 10 per cent. and if it went beyond
that the city's credit would be gone entire
Y. The city had got to the point where
by the fire must Be reduced to the limits Of
its income. He proposed that the board