Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-01-16
SEWERAGE.

AtNLhAUE.
 Themost important question with which we have to contend. is the question Of sewerage. What was sufficient for a village is no longer adequate to the requirements of a large aud growing city. But the solution of the difficulty which coafnonts us aud all future councils is dependent on our
 WATER SUPPLY.
 Our present system of @water works" is decided failure. It was a folly or a fraud. to begin with; it has been a failure and expense since its inception; to-day, after 8 eost of over one hundred thousand dollars, it gives no water ft for a human being tO drink; 1t Is insufficient for garden irrigation, or sprinklirg pur. poses; and necessity only. c0mpels it's use for bathing. At the time water k most needed, we have it not. If We are to grow in popula- ton, to increase in size and remain a city in fact, as we'll as in name. some radical change must he made. At present we arc depending upon q much worn pump and an old boiler. Should any accident happen to either. or any part of these, we would be without water, even for fire purposes. until we could send away to replace the needed parts.
 I do not presume to say that I know of any way to remedy the existing evil. The follies or mis- takes of our predecessors may keep us from like foIlies and mistakes, but they are no guarantee to the taxpayer that we, h tara. nay not also commit costly errors. Consid- ering this fact, knowing, as do, the difficulty of corporate management Vf . business, where no one is responsible for mismanagement; where each employee, is presumed by every one, to b,, employed for any reason except merit; and taking into consideration the monthly loss to the city, 1 am of the opinion, and recommend that the entire system be leased for term of years and for a nominal sum to some responsible company which will enter into good and sufficient bonds to supply the city with water for fire and sewerage purposes.
 CITY RECORDS.
 For the last two years or over, the city records prior to October 6, 1890, have been reported strayed or stolen. DiIligent search and inquiry failed to discover any trace of them until yesterday I was informed that they are buried in the rubbish of the old vault in J. NJ. W. Mooreis office ! have not had time to verify this report. l know that the vault has been carefully searched several times without success. Of what use the records may be we know not. Ddrinn my term as Council 1 man I have seen a great many ques- lions come before the common ,ooneil, which necessitate q refer ,nce to these old records. They 1 nay contain much which in the l future would prove of value to the i ,ity. At present we are continually l lsked to determine the boundaries ,f city los, to adjust surveys; to establish grades; to give quit claim leeds; and to do other things of the merits of which we arc as ignorant IS men can well be. Arrangements should be made to have these papers properly assorted and those that gre of any value carefully preserved. 1
 CITY SURVEYOR.
 The charter of he city gives to l he Mayor and common council the power by or,lina.ce to create the l office of city surveyor and I deem it advisable and recommend that We l appoint such office and define his ! luties, powers, salary and term Of ,ffce.
 STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND CROSSINGS.
 Perhaps the least said of these be better. They are not oreditable o any community, In approaching his subject I do so with hesitation, IS it is one affecting the pocket of he tax payeri and an7 attempt to | emedy existing evils, is sure to ,ring down upon our heads, the of those who may be ialled upon to pay for the improve nents we may deem necessary for he eitv's welfare, The presen if enforced, would give IS reasonably good sidewalks, but hey have not been enforced. I re- ommend that the ordinances be mended so as to require all side Galks hereafter laid Co be of either tone or cement, The width of the ide walk to he the same as now 'rovided for, would suggest to he incoming street committee that Il streets and alley crossings be lsde of stone, instead of wood. While this will cause an increased expenditure during the present year will tighten the burden and de- rease the expenses of those who F lill epocaa1 ne I cfrO plyly' ad dvooato |