The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-25
TO ENJOIN THE COUNCIL.
ANTI-DRAINAGE COMMITTEE APP
POINTED TO RAISE FUNDS.

Less Than IA Dozen Property Owners
Mt the Odd Fellows Hall Meeting
The Committees Report Discussed
Members of the Council Committee
on Drainage Present and Explain
ed the Drainage Question.
Less than a dozen property owners made
up the anti-house drainage meet
ing at Odd Fellows hall last night. They
were: Messrs Selig Mendel, chairman; A.
NJ. Schroeder, D. ]. Morrison, Charles Keil-
bach, Julius kaufman, R, D. Guerard, w.
E. Guerard, Alex h. Faweett, Percy Sug-
den and John Juchter. Mr. Abram Minis
was present few moments.
The meeting claimed to represent more
than million dollars of property.
In rear of the hall were Aldermen Ow-
ems, Wylly and Davis, members of the
drainage committee of council. They ex-
planned, however. that they were present
as interested" citizens, in re-
Spouse to the published call, and did
not represent council in any way. They
| had the plans, specifications and other in
formation, however, to furnish the meet
/ ms III case tueAG WdSHh request LOT
| Mr.. Mendel called the meeting to or
| der and the committee appointed at a
| previous meeting of the anti-drain-
! age advocates. composed of Messrs
Selig Mendel. Jacob Cohen. Alex
R. Fawcett and John Juchter,
made it's report, which was read by Chair
man MendeI
The renort sets ont tba 'nrnoaadi,,e,e 90
| the previous meeting, and the action taken
with reference to obtaining information as
| to certain details of the house drainage
| system. which was to be. submitted TO
| subsequent meeting. The report also re-
cited a series of questions put to council
and continued as follows: 1T was noticed
from the proceedings of council, published
| in the papers Nov. T. that this matter had
| been referred to the drainage committee,
but up to this time, we have not heard
| from those gentlemen. On the 9Th inst,
we were invited as citizens to meet the
| drainage committee. We responded, but
on arriving at the exchange found the
front door locked and the place in dark
| ness"
Or Owens arrived presently" the re-
port went on to say, as well as Messrs.
| W. w. Chisholm, s. Reynolds and Will
| lam Garrard. DIR. Owens politely rendered
| those present the regrets of Messrs Wyl-
| iy and Davis, who were unavoida bly, alb
| sent, and proceeded to the mayors office
where all possible information was given,
| and all points were fully explained"
1t was claimed the information given by
| DR.. Owens was insufficient, but this was
| explained by the fact that there were no
| plans at that time, and hence no definite
! informa ton could be given. Besides, the
committee wanted to know the cost OF
| the system when there were no
! bids accepted, and 1.-THE cost to each prop
erty-holder," when such information
could not possibly be given. as this de-
! pended entirely upon the amount of pipe
required and all other circumstances in
| connection with the property.
To-day we know what the gentlemen
/ intend to do, said the committee. "They
! propose to enter the whole sewerage of
| Savannah in the rlver-right In front of
4 the city. Gentlemen. do you know this is
| dangerous proceeding? With the tide
| running up five hours out of every twelve,
4 large amount of focal matter will be
/ carried up stream and on the outgoing tide
| will find Judgement in front of our
wharves and pollute the river. They did
! this in the face of the warning given by
the health officer AFTER he had communi-
Gated with the health authorities of
larger cities which were similarly situ-
| ated. If the emptying Of sewerage into
4
| has proven unsa tisfactory, how much
more dangerous will 1t be here, where we
| are ten degrees further south and with
scarcely any frosts to purify the air and
| water? With the stream polluted, what
| would be done if the wells should
| fail Gas by earthquake disturbances, and
| we should have to resort to the river for
| water supply?" The report concluded
with an arraignment of council for alleged
| nonfullfment Of promises of economical
| government
Mr. Fawcett requested the drainage
committee to talk, but Alderman Owens
wanted to ascertain what the meeting
wished to know. Mr.. Juchter made few
passes at council and wanted to know why
the questions previously sent It,, had not
been answered He told about the visit
to the exchange, but said no Information
had been given the committee on the
! points in question.
| Mr.. Guerard made some slight objection
| to the presence of the alderman, conclud-
ing with a motion that the chairman ap-
point committee of three to take steps
and raise the necessary funds to thwart
the house drainage movement.
This motion brought Alderman Owens to
the floor and among other things, he said
There isn't any necessity of raising
funds to stop this house drainage propo-
sition. You can stop it without going to
such trouble. The situation is sim
| ply this: We are to have
this proposed system of drainage and it is
with yourselves whether the city shall be
| burdened with a special tax levy or pay
for the system as we have arranged. II
| funds are raised to enjoin the city on some
technical ground, the special levy will have
to follow.
Technically, the issuance of notes would
be Illegal If in excess of the constitutional
limitations. but there is no reason why
you should object If the contractors are
satisfied. Such a step is not unprecedent-
ed. Notes were issued, amounting to $685.
600, with which to build the water works
plant and they are all re-
| deemed The tax rate will not
be increased by the present arrangement
and l think there should be no objection
in view of the ample precedent"
Mr.. Guerard interrupted Alderman Ow-
ems and said he was not opposing the is
suance of notes particularly but opposed
the whole drainage proposition on
account of the tax burden. He said he
now pays about $4,000 into the city treas
ury annually and he wanted to pay no
more He denounced the extravaganza OF
council
Savannah is the worst place I ever saw
TO go In debt. l wish could sell every