The Tucson citizen., 1902-03-29

but a great deal of that sickness is
caused by bad drainage. With an ade-
quate sewer system Tucson will be the
healthiest city in the country
I'VE will proceed Immediately with
the construction of the sewers on
broadway and Congress streets. When
the money is paid in by the property
holders assessed. we will have funds
to go ahead and extend me sewers.
constructing branches on the side
streets"
Mayor Schumacher was asked about
the charge in the complaint in the
recent suit that the council had not
let the contract for the sewers to Inc
lowest bidder according TO law. In an
swer to this question Mayor Schu-
macher said: We did advertise for
bids for this construction and they
were received and opened Estimates
had been prepared by the city en-
gineer and the lowest bid was great
" in excess of the estimate prepared
by the cI,y engineer For this reason,
We went ahead and constructed tne
sewers ourselves unueT the direction
of the city engineer and we saved ST.
100 on the Main street sewer alone and
in proportion on the other sewers. We
have constructed all OF the sewers In
this way and expect 10 go on doing SO.
| do not think that there was anything
in the other technical points at law al
legged in the complain, and do not think
that any court would declare the as
sessments on these grounds. do not
think at any other suit will be
! brought to recover after the assess
ments are paiu.
The following communication has
been received from Councilman Rus
sell:
To the Editor OF The Citizen:
In response to the request of your
representative for an interview the
following is submitted as the views
and experiences of the undersigned
during his service as city councilman
for the past eight years:
The decision of Judge Davis yester-
day in the various cases brought by S.
F. Hazard. Frank Hereford, Frank
lin Park Association, tucson Natator-
ium. A. Orn1a. NJ. c. Samaneigo Leo.
Goldschmidt. NJ r. Corrillo. aud vari-
Gus citizens of more or less promin-
ence and public spirit. was in my
opinion just victory in the case of
an unfair attack upon the work of the
city government to install a great
public improvement.
The plaintiffs admitted the various
benefits that the sewer lines would
be to their premises; further admllLed
! that no wrong or injustice was done
them; 0ld not charge corruption, col
lusion, fraud or any cuipabiity what
ever. but simply relied on technical
details for their complaint. The num-
Der and prominence of the various
| plaintiffs would seem to indicate that
the suits We're brought with organized
opposition. for the purpose of stopping
further construction of a pubnc sewer
system. Similar attacks, such as these
have been made in the past in various
other public improvements. as in the
case of the water fight the plaza
fight, the wedge fight. and, now the
sewer fight. all of which were simply
as a step on a ladder necessary tC
climb, before Tucson can be trans
! formed from ''the ancient and honor.
able pueblo" into a modern city
and through which storm of legal fire
the courts have stood for the 'olC
pueblo" it's general welfare and inter
est. as against the most brilliant lega
talent arrayed in the opposition, anC
obstructing these various require
ments and improvements for this city
The city authorities have studied theil
position in all the various details ant
stanu ready to trust the above issues
at any time, based on merit and fair
ness, that opposition may be present
ed.
Let the sewer work, our sanitary
conu.uon and general improvement o
OF the city be continued, even If WI
are an "insolyent' city. as stated by
tie plaint.4s in the sewer cases.
The decisions of the courts have
vindicated the city government IL
their various public work and have
in every case, swept away resistenct
to public Improvement, thus making
the ladder of progress for Tucson easy
to climb. A sewer system, such as /!
contemplated and in progress of con
struction. without either a bond issue
or private franchise, maintained b!
the city government without any ad
ditional tax levy upon the property o
the city, Is feature which must ap
peal to every loyal citizen of this com
munity and one that will greatly en-
hance the value of all real estate alont
the sewer lines as constructed.
Resistance to the construction of ou,
puDnc sewer system is a direct OBJ
struction to progress and welfare o