The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-09-12
WILL NOT BE A BURDEN.

I
No Increase of Taxation to Follow the In
PRODUCTION of Waterworks.
The more the waterwOrks question Is
discussed and investigated, the stronger
becomes the sentiment in favor OF the
town putting in system. There is no
other public improvement equal in I'M
portance to that of waterworks and none
that will bring such advantages as an
abundant supply Of good water.
There never was more favorable time
than the present for the building OF wat
erworks. The town is, practically, free
from debt-Our school houses, churches,
opera house, and other public buildings
are paid for-and the cost Of waterwOrks,
when compared with all the improve
ments made and paid for in the last
twenty years, would be so slight as to be
scarcely felt by the taxpayers. There
can be but slight increase in the rate
rate Of taxation, as the amounts limited
by law.
The revenues from the waterworks
will, in few years, not only pay the
running expenses, but, also, the bonds
issued for their construction, 80 that, in
stead Of being a burden, they become, in
few years, a source of revenue. This is
verified by the experience OF neerly every
town where waterwOrks have been put in
by the village.
have obtained much information, by
correspondence and otherwise, with re-
gard to the experience of towns which
: have waterworks in operation. The in
formation thus gained demonstrates the
: necessity of the proposed system as a pro-
lection against fire and as a sanitary
, measure. From all such sources comes
l the most assuring evidence that the town
t should put in and own waterworks. This
evidence comes from all classes Of citi-
4 zens in towns which have a waterwOrk5
: system.
As to some of the objections advanced
y by those who are opposed to the improve
g ment, viz: You can't get the water
= $50, ,0o0 means $4,000 or $4,000; taxes
: will be such a burden, etc., ETC., all Of
6 which statements they make without any
/ attempt to investigate and find out the
e truth. Experience in building water
n works at places less fayorably situatet
Il than we are as regards getting asuffici
IS ent amount of water, has proven, beyon'
3 the shadow of a doubt, that by the stor
T. age system we can get good water an
l, enough Of it to supply the town. As
4 cost: In every instance where waterwork
Of have been put in of late, ,,the.contract pric
he has been below the engineers estimate
ID instead Of above. As far as | have bee
xt able to learn, this has been the case witt
re out exception, As regards taxation: thi
OF would come under the head Of municip'
ne taxation, which is restricted to ten mill
IT. The'present levy is nine mills and ne1
year it will be nine and One-half mill
ng All the addition possible within the la
by is one-half Of one mill on every doll
by listed for taxation. The levy was maj
lc- for other purposes, some of which will
res no longer needed and for others the le
Of can be suspended for the present or uni
lse the waterworks shall become source
the income. Thus, it will be seen that t
ent burden of increased taxes fades away a
will scarcely be felt.
rec The question is often asked, where W
on the water pipes be laid? The law pl
eir yides for the election Of three waterwOr
nal trustees, who will determine where t
em pipes shall be laid and superintend t
'le, construction of the entire plant. Th'
's "a trustees are of the peoples own select
the and will, no nOubt, be governed by Il
an which will result in the greatest good
Ing the greatest number. But it is safe
, Vi say that the pipes will be so laid as
eht furnish five hydrants where, with suffl
lor ent hose, every part Of our village can
the reached in case of fire, and no citizen {
MS afford to be so selfish as to ask guar
aier tee that his special locality will be lOol
EN- after in preference to another. E
,eeu year the pipes can be extended as the
i'S mand presents itself, until water pi
.n+ with hydrants are on every street
mn town.
Doiv % Justice, good Judgment, sound busiI
p, nm sense are all on the side Of waterwO
oaad m and every citizen not influenced by s
1Lo ish motives should, and believe "
vote that way. GEO. l.. CoUcI