The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-18
THE HOUSE DRAINAGE QUESTION
Some Common Sense Remarks In Re-
gard to 1t.


Editor of the Morning News: Referring
10 the house drainage matter which is just
now occupying a large part of the atten-
ton of the public, notice property own
er is quoted in your local columns this
morning as opposing very strongly the
plan of paying for the proposed system by
means of deferred payments, or mayors
notes. His remarks SAVIOR somewhat of
politics when he charges that the present
administration has ALREADY given about
100000 worth of notes" In this state
ment there is evident intention to fasten
upon the present council a charge of eX-
trlVagance absolutely at variance with
the facts. In refutation Of the charge
beg to give the following statement (Which
is ofiiciaD of every note at present out
standing, by whom issued and for what
purpose Thrty-two notes issues by Her
man Myers; twenty-four amounting to S28-
9l0.06 for opening streets; eight amount
ing to 81. $50 for purchase of public prop
ertyS i. e., the present Colonial park and
the fire department headquarters.
Six notes issued by p. w Meldrim,
amounting to $l4, 363.02 for opening streets,
and one note issued by him for the pur-
chase of the water mains in Collinsville
for 2,000.
1t will be seen by this statement that
the present council has issued fewer notes
than its predecessor. 1t is also a fact
in connection with this note question that
each administration from SchWarz to Mel
drim has carefully confined their issue to
the purchase of permanent improvements
and have in no instance used them to
cover what are properly the running eX-
penses of the city. It is an established
fact in all cities that improvements, such
as water works. opening streets ana
house drainage are provided for by bond
issues and very properly so, as such i'm
provements are for the benefit of the resi-
dent ana property owner of the future.
as well as of the present. Unfortunately,
our city, owing to a state constitutional
restriction, is inhibited from increasing
its existing bonded debt for any purpose,
we are therefore, forced to either make
the tax burden of the present property
owners morebhan they can bear, go with
out necessary Improvements or extend the
payment for them over a number of years
by means of deferred payments or may
Or's notes, either of which all well know
is technically illegal. PROFESSIONALLY.
this latter is preferable to either of the
other options. Our former mayor, Mr.,
Myers in his report for 1895, recommended
the adoption of a thorough system Of
street paving to be provided for by means
of the same deferred payments. While I
do not agree with him to the extent that
street paving is such a necessity as to
warrant the use of notes, yet I quote him
to show that every administration for the
past ten years has realized that if Sa~
Vannah is to be kept abreast of the times,
we must in some way for necessary i'm.
provements, evade the restrictions as
TO increase of debt. Now, in this house
drainage work it is proposed to pay for
it in five years or at the rate of $4,000
per year. This is perfectly feasible with
out stopping any other necessary improve
ment or curtailing the expenses of any
department. 1t can be done without Tais-
ing the tax rate, and l may almost say
without the taxpayers feeling the burden
at all. On the other hand, while Mr. Men
del may be perfectly willing and able to
have his taxes raised to the extent neces-
sary 10 pay cash, there are many other
property owners (both large and smalD
who cannot afford any increase at all. 1t
is conceded by all our sanitarians that a
good and proper system Of house drainag e
is a necessity. We have been told so for
ten years at least and each succeeding
council has been berated by the press and
the people for neglecting the work. The
present board of aldermen has shown COM
mendable promptness in taking up the
question and really endeavoring to start
the work In my humble judgment it be-
comes the duty of every good citizen to
help rather than hinder them in their
good work. Citizen.