The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-05
THE SEWERAGE QUESTION
Here May be the Proper Solution of
the Hroblem-Columbfa Has Adopted
a Plan by Which the Issue of Bonds
Is Avoided


The Importance and necessity of a
thorough and complete system of SAN
itary sewerage in Wilmington has been
fully realized long ago, and certainly
recent events have brought h ques-
ton to a practical point. This ques-
ton, therefore. is now one Of the prob
lens that has to be met. and our people
NAV as well settle il and be done with
it. To settle it in the best way for the
city n the taxpayers Is the main
point at issue now. and this being so,
il should DE impressed upon our people
that the board OF aldermen alone should
not be left to wrestle with the problem,
but the best minds OF our city and the
citizens most interested should consid-
er the matter and let their influence be
felt and their opinions be known. 1t
is one fault Of the leading people of
Wilmington that they take little inter-
est in public affairs, and seemingly to
let things take care of themselves.
The fact that ore corporation is al
ready in the field to put in a sewerage
system. and that another is anxious for
a.. franchise ard offers the city slo,Voo
for the privilege, has brought the ques-
ton forward in a pronounced way, so
that our people are now looking the
matter SQUARE in the face.
If the city is not going to put in a
system of sewerage itself. it is agreed
that some corporation should be per-
mitted to do so under prope safe
guards, but as far as we are concern
ed, it has been our opinion all along
that the putting in of al sewerage sys-
tenn by any corporation ought to be a
last resort.
After approving the plans of the VIII
mington Sewerage Company for a sys-
tenn of sewers. the board of aldermen
at it's meeting last Monday seemed to
reverse itself. by adopting an ordinance
that aims at the city's undertaking the
project. The ordinance calls an cleo
ton to vote or. the question of ssuing
500, 900 in bonds for the purpose OF con-
structing a sewerage system, and that
brings up the question whether the
taxpayers want the bonded indebted
ness of the city increased or not. That
is a matter for the taxpayers to settle.
and we doubt whether they would be
able to settle it right in the short space
of time that the ordinance gives them
to vote upon the question.
There is a very natural dread of issu-
ing bonds, and while the issue of bonds
running thirty years would shift some
of the burden to future generations, we
doubt whether a bond issue would meet
with public favor.
If we are not to nave a bond issue,
we might find a solution of the sewer
age question in the plan which has been
adopted by the board OF aldermen of
Columbia, S. c. That city has also
been wrestling with the sewerage prob
lem sometime. and it seems that the
pond question was not looked upon
very ~favorably there. At any rate, the
board Of aldermen of that city, at a
meeting June 18th, circumvented a
bond issue in a way that may prove a
practical hint to Wilmington. Upon
recommendation of the sewerage COM
mittee. the board decided, instead of
issuing bonds. to appropriate $25, 600 a
year for five years., to construct a
sewerage system. In order to meet the
appropriation the tax levy was increas-
ed two mills.
In explanation of this plan, it is stat
ed that had it been necessary to issue
bonds, the work of constructing a sew
erage system would have required tTo
to three years for the accomplishment
of the work anyway, whereas with an
appropriation of S25, 900 a year five
miles of sewerage can be laid every
year. The estimate is based on the use
of II inch pipe.
If a bond issue does not meet with
favor in Wilmington, what is the mat
ter with the Columbia plan?