The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-09
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE SEWEK QUESTION.

NOT interfering Win contractors IN the
construction of sewers according to con-
tract, needs but few words to demon
strate. A year ago last April, commit
tee of five was appointed to investigate
the subject of sewerage, and report to
the village. f
This committee was supposed to be a
committee of business men, and if not
all of its members were actually en-
gagged in business, the exception proved
equal to the best, in bringing to its coun-
ellis practical knowledge, and sound COM
mon sense.
The committee spent much time dur
ing the year of its existence in the in
vestlgation, and some of its members
visited other towns at their own expense
trying to learn what there was to be
learned about sewers.
The committee consulted the best of
engineers, and finally employed an en-
cheering firm, whose specially is the
construction of sewers, to look over the
ground and give advice. The parties
employed stand at the head of their pro-
fession, and their judgment and advice
was in entire accord with what the COM
mittee had learned in consulting with
others, and seen in towns with the most
successful sewerage system.
Now, it would seem with the knowl-
edge acquired by investigation, backed
by the experience of the best engineers,
that the committees conclusions ought.
to be worth something, and especially
against the statements of those who
have never lived where there was sew
er, whose travels are not extensive, and
who have never given days time in ac-
quiring information on the subject.
The committee reported from time to
time, and among other efforts to place
all the facts before the people, issued a
pamphlet giving the facts, descriptions,
and estimates. This pamphlet was dis
tributed among our citizens, months be-
fore the report was acted upon at the
Village meeting.
Thus whole year was spent in seek
ing and distributing information, and
the claim of haste is absolutely without
foundation.
This work resulted in a meeting of the
Village, called for that purpose, instruc-
ing the trustees to close contract for
pipe, and for the laying of the same.
The contracts are very advantageous for
the village; the price of the pipe very
low, much lower than it could be bought
for now, and the contract for laying of
the pipe must be pronounced low, by
any one having the least knowledge of
such matters.
The engineers are here, the pipe is
here or on the way, and the contractors
are proceeding with the work. Can it be
that the village will arrest progress. and
make itself liable for damages, and have
nothing to show for it but increased tax
alton, with no sewers?
Who can make money by such a
course? Possibly it might bring some
money to the pockets of few lawyers,
who else?
Our village has reached point where
| it must have sewers, and what earthly
benefit can it be, to be obliged to pay
large percentage of their cost, and have
no sewers, with a certainty that the
same ground must be gone over again,
with pipe higher, and no possibility of a
lower contract for laying it, but with
certainty of a payment of thousands of
dollars, for the luxury of repudiating an
honest obligation?
Supposing that the contract is not per-
| feet and that men whose Judgment is
respected, are right, which is quite prob
| able, In their statement that some streets
should be left out that are now in
cluded in the proposed system, and other
streets that are not included should be
so? Is that reason for undoing, at a.
fearful cost, all that has been done,
when the contracts are elastic, and the
trustees can at their, option change,
leave off, or add thereto?
Mr.. Editor, this is matter of bust
ness and business methods, and you and
l do not wish to pay for disregarding
them. Let us come together at the next
village meeting as men of sound common
| on
as such men would decide were it their
own business.
Let us not descend to efforts to dis
parge individuals, or to arouse passion.
or prejudice to accomplish an end.
How the appeal to those with blood of
Revolutionary sires cOursing in their
veins, to arise in their might and resist
the threatened subversion of their liber-
ties" comes in, I am at a loss to know;
common sense is worth more than the
bluest of blue blood.
Reflections have been made on promi-
nent business men of the village to the
effect that in some way, they were acting
| from pure selfshness, in their efforts to
secure sewerage for the village; details
are not given, as to how they are to be
especially benefited The fact is that
many of our largest taxpayers who are
advocates to the scheme, are to be the
least benefited by it. Take for instance
Messrs. Holden & Leonard, less than one
fourth of the money in the form of taxes
that they would be called on to pay.
would thoroughly sewer every part of
their premises. The same is true of
Messrs. II. Z. Bradford & Company.
Mr.. Abbotts premises on Pleasant street
are already provided with at least as
good sewerage as would be provided by
the village, and the same is true of many
others who might be mentioned. Those
who know the most about sewerage, even
when needing it the least, are its strong
est advocates, knowing that the advan-
tages accrueing to the village as whole,
would be worth ten times their cost.
The manner provided for paying the.
sewer, is to my mind justly open to criti-
cism. am among those who believe
that the whole expense should be as
sessed ON the Grand List. Even if we
apportion two-thir1s of the cost to-
abutting property owners, exclusive of
street crossings, still with the street.
crossings and the third between cross
ings, with what the village will have to
pay by reason of abatement of taxes, the
take on the Grand List would be three
fourths of the whole cost of the same;
the same general laws that relate to the
abatement of taxes apply to this tax.
Under these circumstances, why not the
village assume the other fourth, and
save trouble, to say nothing of its being,
| an tho tubo1a N fairact xuavO