The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-16
SEWER BONDS.

The city council has practically decided
70 submit TO the people the question OF
issuing bonds TO the amount of $3.50 600 for
the extension Of the sewerage system. in
sdditioa to the >o5.ooo necessary for the
completion Of the North Seattle sewer tun-
mel Before the people, however. can vote
intellissntly upon this question they must
know in what way it IL intended that the
proceeds Of these bonds will be expended
in case the bonds arc approved.
City Comptroller Carson 70 reported to
have said that he could see no reason why
sewage should not b taken away just as
water 10 supplied. that 10, at the public ex-
pense. There IL, Of course. one obvious
Differences between the water system and
the sewerage system. In the case Of the
former the city can secure an immediate
and certain return on the money invested,
while In the case Of the latter the money
invested yields no direct return. In the
one case. moreover. the property directly
benefited must pay for the service rem
dered. In the other case the entire city
pays the cost, and property which has no
sewerage facilities whatever must share
the burden II the cost Is borne by the city
at large.
Even II it was granted for the sake OF
argument that i: was desirable that all
sewer construction should be paid TO- ont
OF tho general fund. We should still be
forced to abandon the idea for the good
and sufficient reason that It is impracti.
cable. Any person. who will take the
trouble to investigate the matter will find
that to construct complete sewerage sy.-
tenn for the city Of Seattle will require
more money than the city il authorized TO
borrow.
IL IL Just ~ well to accept the situation
a. We End 1t and to adopt the proper
method Of procedure withou. delay. If
the city council thinks that the city Is in a
position NJ the present time to incur an
Indebtedness of 500. coo for the extension
Of the sewerage system, they should decide
how this amount Of money can he ex-
pended to give TO the people of oil parts of
the city the greatest benefit Now that
the city has arranged for the construction
Of the North aud South sewer tunnels, the
question arises as to what other main
sewers are most necessary at this time.
fhe city engineer. with the aid Of the
plans that were prepared by Benexette
Williams. can easily give the council this
lniorma alton. and they can then submit the
question TO the people as 10 whether or not
they. desire to issue bonds for the construc-
ton Of certain designated main sewers.
This would be proposition upon which
the voters and taxpayers Of the city could
vote in,elligensly. Rus to submit, the
question Of bonding the city for $50. 90
without giving the public q chance TO
know how the money 10 TO be spent would
certainly 10 unwise. The people have q
right 20 know definitely before they vote
on the proposition Just how the money is
TO he spent and what particular d ssricts
il is proposed to benefit II ahis informa-
,ion is furnished and the people are salts
fed that the plan proposed Is just 10 all
sections OF the city they viii doubtless sp.
prove IL II, On the other hand. the plan
proposed seemed 90 contemplate the relief
of enc particular district. or if the proceeds
Of the bonds were 30 be placed at the dis
posal OF the council TO be used indiscrimi-
nstely in the construction OF brsuch sew
srs designed 10 benefit individual holders
of property ct the expense of she city at
large. it is exceedingly doubtful If the
necessary majority in favor o! The bonds
could be secured.
The cosneii should, moreover. devise
ssns method BY which sever districts can