The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-03-17
ALMOST, BUT LOST.
The Sewerage Proposition Re-
ceiyed a Majority, but
Three -Fifths Of the Total Vote
Was Not Secured and the Bonds will
Not Be Issued-The Majority's WISH
es NAV Be Considered.

es May Be Considered.
The special bond election is over
The prime object for which it was
held will not materialize. The prop
osition was defeated, but by so close
margin that its opposers are at
least surprised.
The election was held last Satur-
day under the Australian ballot sys-
TEN. There we're 226 votes cast, of
which 119 were for issuing the bonds,
LOG opposed it and one ballot was so
badly mutilated and unintelligently
and unintelIigibly marked that the
intention of the voter was not shown
by it, and so it was not counted.
Had it been that plain majority
was all that was necessary for a rat
ification of the proposition there
would be general rejoicing among
those who fondly hoped that the
proposition would carry. AS it is,
according to the state law, a munici
patty can issue bonds only when the
plan to issue shall be ratified by a
three fifths majority of the votes
east at an election to be held to as
certain the sense of the voters on
any such question at issue. This
being true it would have taken 1876
of the total numbe of votes cast
last Saturday to have caused victory
to have perehed on the banners OF
the sewerage enthusiasts. 1t ia
thought that with little more labor
this could have been accomplished
1t is known that a great many peo
pie who favor the proposition did
not vote, as they considered it would
be time wasted to go to the polls
presuming on an overwhelming de
feat. The figures show that the full
vote was not out.
The proposition was to issue
bonds to the amount of $1,000 tC
build a system of sewers through
this town. According to careful esti-
mates this was an ample amount to
do the work. To do complete
piece of work fully that amount
would have done. But since the
proposition failed, since the people
not majority--have by law simply
said that sewers are not necessary
that does not make it so. The san
itary condition of the town must bt
improved. If not by one way, why
then, by some other, for it must be
done, and a majority of the people
hope to see it done and will endorse
any reasonable plan by which it may
be done There are two natura
waterways through Morgantown
that must be improved. That would
improve the sanitary condition. The
front funds now in the hands of The
sergeant which are said to amount
to about $4,000 will in part be USED
for this purpose. The necessity fol
the improvement is urgent and man
ifest. There is not likely to be al
increase in the tax levy, as the pres
ent levy of 70 cents on the 800 val
uation is thought to be sufficient fol
the running expenses, and the i'm
proYement OF these drains and tht
laying of small lateral sewers tt
drain other low, moist places which
are liable to breed disease are includ
ed in these expenses. Then there il
the interest on the present bonded
Indebtedness to be paid, and before
a long time the first of this series o
bonds will be due and have to b'
paid Off These bonds are the ones
issued to build streets leading to the
depot
The present is progressive May
or and council. They were elected
on that issue. 1t is reasonable tt
suppose that they, recognizing sys
TEN of sewers as of great importance
will be encouraged to do something
in the way of meager provision O.
such system by the expression o.
the majority. The council will not
attempt to put in as complete a sys
tenn as was outlined in the recent
proposition, but they will do some
thing in that line, and in doing il
they will be doing right!