The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-07-27
DO the People Want Sewerage?

We understand that some people are
signing the petition TO call an election
for the putting in of Il sewerage system
| and avowing their purpose, ut the same
time, of working for the defeat of the
| measure. This appears to us to be
wholly inconsistent, if you are not i'll
favor of the sewerage system at present,
don't sign the petition for the election.
Where is the sense lin assisting the town
to 80 to the expense of calling IN election
wien you believe that the election will
not casry, and propose to do all i'll your
power to defeat the election?
We do not believe that an election for
a sewerage system can be carried at this
time, and we believe it iS-uscleSS to call
the election for the purpose. We do
not believe the system would accomplish
the end aimed at, unless vertually every
property holder in the town should be
forced to connect with the sewerage,
and when we begin counting the costs
of pipes, closets and the necessary APP
parattus, the changing of and remodel
ing of residences, to arrange for these
closets, and the cost of the connecting
pipes, and the cost Of tapping. we find
an enormous bill running up anywhere
can very readily see that very few out
side of those il ailiuent circumstances
are going to, or can aifort! to 90 to this
extra expense to connect with the sew
erage, to say nothing of the cost of put
ting water into the houses. Water OF
necessity goes with the sewerage whether
you need the water for other purposes
or not.
What will be the result? The wealthy
element will connect with the sewerage,
thus giving them every modern convcn-
fence to be found in the cities, and the
small fry pay their pro-rata share of the
expense OF these Convenicnces of which
they derive not the slightest benefit.
But does it accomplish the end aimed
at, viz. The removal of the stenchcS
that nightly aSsail the pedestrian upon
some of the streets of the town? These
unsavory smells alc not usually met
with around the premises of the wealthy
element, those who would DC likely TO
immediately begin the use of the sewer
age, then would the use of the sewerage
10y these people who always keep their
premises clean tend to remove the cause
Of complaint. No, bat il would b.
great convenience to them, that is all
Then how can the sewerage be eifcctual
as a sanitary measure? simply by putting
| connecting pipes i'll all the houses We
| have shown that, on account OF the cost
| of doing so, the masses OF tht small
property OwEelS are not going to do it,
What next, then force il upon them,
and If they cannot or will not pay for 1t
what will you do, there is nothing lett
but to conliScatc the property. We
| think this would likely raise howl the
| like of which has never been heard in
Union We do not think the time is
| ripe, or the town sufficiently crowded yet
to force sewerage system. In fact We
| we cannOtSee that it is at all necessary for
the town TO put one in for Il number Of
years yet, We are alIeady pretty heavily
| taxed and the sewerage can wait aW hiie
We believe that there ought to bc Il
! sewerage system for the factory and
knitting mill hills, but we see nothing
wrong III thoSt companies going ahead
and putting III a system at their own
expense, and derive the benefit from il
| themselves, as they, and not the town,
| need it. Again, il our wealthy citizens
| think it 50 absolutely necessary to have
Il sewerage system, So as to be strictly
up.to-date and quite city like, let them
form stock company apd put in the
system, allowing everyone 50 inclined to
take stock in the enterprise. This would
test the depth and strength OF the Senti-
timent in favor of the immediate need
of sewerage system for the city of
| Union.
We believe the evils complained of
are to be overcome and removed ut far
| les SeXpenSc than Il sewerage and this i;
| the remedy: Let the board Of health
carefully inspect all premises at least
| twice month and see that they are
| kept clean and no filth allowed to ac-
cumulate see that lime for diSintect-
| ing purposes is kept at every residence.
We would also suggest that during an
epidemic each family be required to burn
| sulphur occasionally in their residences,
| as germ eXterminator.
We are Conscientious in these express
siOns of opinion, and We think that our
past record us an advocate of the up
| building of and pushing to the front our
| little city, is sufficient To relieve Us OF
aHy charge of wishing to hold the town
| back in any legitimate or neCCs Sary
measure looking to its onward march OF
prosperity.
Our town is blessed with the best nat
ural drainage, possibly, of any town III
the up-country and with the necessary
precautionary measures, that should b.
observed III every town, whether it hlS
sewerage OF not, we think the Obi 4ctio Is
can be removed and that there is 10 ap-
parent need for sewerage system at
present.
As tile above is an expression Of my
individual sentiments il is published not
as an editorial, but Il c)mmuniclt on
from one of the small fry tax payers
JNO. II. NJ.