The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-04
TO OPPOSE THE WARING PLAN.
MIR. sELIG MENDEL is THE COM
MITTEE WHO CALLS A MEETING.

Says the Expense Contemplated Is
Too Great for the City to Bear.
Others, He States, Are Interested
with Him--MayOr MeIdrim Says
the City VIII BE Fully justified in
the Expense-Dr. Owens Does Not
Think the Movement VIII Amount
to Much-An Public Movements
Meet Opposition, He Says.
A great deal of curiosity was excited
among those interested in drainage yester-
day by the publication of notice. which
appeared in the Morning News. calling a
meeting Of "all citizens and property own
ers interested in house drainage as now
proposed by the city council" A full at
tendance was requested in the notice, to
meet at the odd Fellows hall, next
Thursday night at $50 o'clock.
The publication was not signed other
wise than by THE Committee" and this
fact of itself had the effect of throwing
some mystery about the announcement.
No intimation was made in the publication
as TO what steps the meeting would be
called upon to take so that the only fact
known to the public and to the advocates
OF house drainage, was that the com
mittee" had called a meeting.
When it was learned, however that the
publication had been made at the instance
of Mr.. Selig Mendel, real estate broker at
q Bay street, he was called upon by
Morning News reporter and asked for in
formation concerning the MEETING, what
.nIfa
the call. He said, in answer, that he was
willing to assume the complete RESPONSE
bility Of that himself. Mr.. Mendel said
that there were others associated with
him In the movement, but that he did not
have any authority to divulge their names.
However" said Mr.. Mendel, there is
no doubt whatever but that we will have
a large meeting. The people are enthused
over the question of house drainage and 1
feel safe in saying that a large meeting
will be had. Especially will this be so in
the cases of many of the heavier tax pay
ers, who are not in accord with council in
their contemplated movement to saddle an
immense debt upon the city, and one which
it is absolutely unable to bear
When asked specifically as to what had
actuated the call for the meeting, Mr.
Mendel said that it was because the city
was unable to bear the brunt of the ex-
pense, to which it would be put in con-
structing the system of house drainage, as
proposed by Col. Geo. E. Waring Mr.
Mendel said that the meeting would want
to know just where the drainage pipes
were to run, but it was suggested that
the plans would not be finished by Col
Warng until Nov. l, and that this infor-
nation could not therefore be obtained.
A great many instances of how the ex-
- -
would operate upon the poorer. class of
property were given by Mr.. Men
del, but the point to which all his CONVEX
Sation seemed to direct itself, was that
council was entailing too much expense
upon the taxpayers.
In an interview with Mayor Meldrim up
on the question of possible objections
which might arise to the action of council
in adopting the Waring system of drain
age the mayor said that he was perfectly
aware of the fact that the expense of en-
gaging Col. Waring was rather heavy, but
he thought the city was fully compensa-
ted, in the high and efficient class of ser
vice which it would receive. He stated
that the city could employ civil engineers
at much less figure than they
were engaging Col. Warning, but in
sisted that the service would not be as
satisfactory and in that way, the city
would be the loser.
DR.. w. w. Owens, of the drainage COM
mittee stated in regard to any meeting
that might be called to condemn the ac-
ton of council, that it could not amount
to a great deal.
ut is absolutely impossible to institute
any public movement" said DIR. Owens.
which would meet the approval of every
one. l consider that to be an impossible
ity and am not surprised al the call for
a meeting, which l took to be a move in
opposition to the action of council in
adopting the system of drainage for
which plans are now being prepared
IAN erroneous idea prevails about Col
Warning having complete charge of the
construction of the drainage system. Our
city engineer will look after the city's in
terest in the construction, and will have
full authority to call attention to any
thing which is not being done in accord
ance with requirements.