The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-02-25
AGAIN |!
The Expositor Is In Receipt OF Another
Letter Regarding the Waterworks
Question.

Letter Regarding tne WatSrWoiNS
Question.
To The Yale Exposition
AS this is a very important question,
and one in which every taxpayer in
the village is interested, whether they
realize it or not, it becomes us as citi-
zens having the welfare of the village
at heart, to weigh well every argument,
pro and con, and give both sides care
full and intelligent consideration, and
so be governed in action relative there
to. 1t is said in its favor, and perhaps
with some degree of force, that the
village is "old fogy" and behind the
times, not having these modern up-to-
date improvements; also that 1T is a
very nice thing to have waterworks for
the conveniences we could haye in our
houses-bath tubs, water closets, sew
erage, etc; also that. with good sys-
tenn of waterworks the insurance on
our property would be reduced at
least 20 TO 30 per cent, an amount that
would Offset the tax required, even if
we were taxed, which is claimed we
would NOT be, as the works would be
self-sustaining from the start, enough
subscribers taking hold of its use to
pay the interest on the bonds, and from
sinking fund to eventually pay the
principal. Again it is said that it
would be a good thing from sanitary
standpoint in getting rid of the sewer
age and waste of the village These
are about the size of the arguments
urged by those who favor the works.
On the other side it is argued that if
we had the waterworks it would be
necessary to have a sewerage attach
ment, which instead of proving an
abatement of nuisance it would
create far greater one, as the main
sewer would have to empty into Mill
Creek at some point, which it is admit
ted would be all right provided enough
water came down Mill Creek to carry
off what the sewer deposited in 1t.
But it is claimed that the creek be-
comes a stagnant pool during the sum-
mer months, and especially in dry sea-
sons is nearly empty, and is getting
more SO year by year as the upper
swamps west of us are being cleared
up. That beng the case it is asked
what kind of sanitary condition
would the village be in, if, as would
naturally be expected, all the cess pools
of the village were deposited in the
basin below the Rapley House aud
without any means to move it, while
the hot summer sun, days in success
sion, pours down its rays? Surely, it
is said, we would have n pestilence.
Again, the objection is brought up,
doubts are raised and the question
asked what insurance company will
step to the front and guarantee 80, 20,
or even 10 per cent cut in their rates
Again, in reference to the statement
that enough voluntary subscribers for
the use of the water would take hold
of the scheme to make it paying con-
Germ. Directors say: Who is going TO
stand sponsor for this promise and put
their names in black and white TO that
effect? 1t is also urged in reference to
this statement, that it is not enough to
say, other villages the size of Yale
have succeeded i'll this plan, as they
can furnish evidence that other towns
with far more pretentions, and with
more favorable conditions, were Gland
ed in the soup as a consequence OF
giving too much credence TO the gilt
tering promises of interested parties.
And it is also asked in this connection
that if this scheme was a dead sure"
thing and could be made to pay itself,
its running expenses and lay by enough
each year TO get back the principal in
few years. why don't those who are.
so anxious for the scheme to go
through, put up their own cash when
such good thing is in sight? This is
looked upon as suspicious and as show
ing lack Of confidence in their own
statements.
1t is also claimed by those opposed
to the scheme that although from
$4,000 TO $4,000 is given as an esti-
mate of the probable cost, these figures
are given by Mae Walker, an interested
party, and no guarantee offered that it
wont take $4,000 or even more, as
such things are of frequent occurrence
and village corporations have found
out when too late that they allowed
themselves to be hoodwinked by
smooth tongued agents who have
lightning rods to sell. 1t is also object
ed to by many, that in voting to bond
the village it just simply means, we
are putting a mortgage on our homes
that will have to be redeemed sooner
or later. Another argument being
used against the scheme is that it will
prevent the growth of the village, mas
much as excessive taxation is a sure
way, not only of keeping out prospec-
tive industries, but also have a tenden-
cy to drive out those already here.
Let the subject be ventilated all
around and let us hear your arguments
Il. Il