The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-15
TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING.
Drainage Opponents Not Satisfied
with the Way Things Are Going.

Drainage Opponents Not Satisfied
with the Way Things Are Going.
The status of matters among those dis
satisfied with the proposed house drainage
system indicates that another citizens
meeting will be held within short time
unless the committee appoint
ed by the meeting at odd Fellows hall is
convinced that councils proposed course
in house drainage is the best and cheapest
for Taxpayers.
A meeting Of the drainage committee
was to have been held at the mayors Of
fee last week for the purpose of
hearing a deputation Of citizens who
wanted to know more of the details Of
what Is to be done. Col VIM. Garrard,
Mr.. Sellg Mendel, Mr. w. w. Chisholm.
and Mr.. Sam Reynolds and others were
present. The only member of the drainage
committee present, 1t was stated, was AL
derman Owens. Alderman Wylly was alb
sent from the city and Alderman Davis
was indlsposed, making It impossible for
either to attend the conference.
Mr. Mendel who has taken leading
hand in the opposition, stated to a Morn
ing News reporter that the conference was
without result.
A letter has just been sent to Mayor Mel
drim by Mr.. Mendel in which Mr.. MendeI
says: after being invited to meet a CON-
mittee Of council, Mr.. Fawcett, Mr.. Juch-
ter, Mr.. Cohen and myself, waited for two
hours In the exchange long room to get a
hearing before the committee. But coun-
ell was probably too busy in caucus trad
ing away the streets of the city to a syn
dictate and could not therefore give us a
hearing. therefore. at the suggestion of
the committee, heretofore addressed coun-
Gil and requested Il to inform us upon the
following matters:
First, give us a copy Of the proposed
plans Of the system of house drainage ac-
cording to the Warning system.
Second, give us information as to the
cost and how 1t Is to be paid.
Third, the cost to house owners who
already have sewer connections. Also the
cost to those property owners who have
not the connections.
Fourth, is 1t proposed that each and
every house shall connect separately, ir-
respective of size?"
Mr.. Mendel said his letter further states:
II see that our request for Information
was referred to the drainage committee,
and we expect to hear from them by JAN
J. 1898. But you state in your letter to
me, dated Oct Is, that the city appropri-
ates $4,000 yearly for house drainage mat
ters and $500 for the sink depart ment
These two items. aggregating $lS,500 per
annum, will be the annual installment,
you say, Tor the COST or mouse drainage.
Now, your honor knows that the $4,000
appropriated for house drainage is NOT
used, but has been turned back into the
city treasury and used for general pur-
poses. AS for the sink department.
doubt whether it costs the city more than
81 900 as the city only pays the contrac-
tors $3.50 per vault, while the house own
ers pay the city $3.50 per vault
II was Informed yesterday Mr.. Mendel
says in his letter, that the contract for
the construction of the system of house
drainage calls for cash. That does away
with the interest account, which would
not otherwise be less than $4,000 per an
mum. From this, take it, the tax payers
may expect tax levy of about per cent.
for the year 1898. STILL if your adminis-
tration can afford to levy such a tax, we
can afford to pay it. / consider 1t far
preferable to issue mayors notes ad libi-
tum, and while live in Savannah, in
tend to oppose their issuance after our city
debt has reached its constitutional limit.
l. e., z per cent. of the assessed valuation
of real and personal property"
Mr. Mendel said that those who are with
him will enjoin the city before the river
within the city limits is made the outlet
of the sewers.
Another meeting, it is stated, win be
held in Odd Fellows hall next Friday
night.