Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-08-23

Hon. Alex Parks said he was in ac-
cord with the views Of Senator Faux
ner. .sIt would be horrible calam-
ity, if you will pardon me for express
ing my views SO strongly, " he SAID,
ITO dispose of the only public utility
that Won now possess. These people
don't propose to run the Water Works
and sewerage sytsem for their own
amusement. They propose to make
ont of them profit and q large profit.
1.-THE present water system was IN
stalled at cost Of over 800, 600. At
that time the springs from which the
city got its water were pure, but since
1t is said they have become contami-
mated by the sewerage from the CITY
III so. would not sewrage system 40
away with this evil? Before going in
to municipal Improvement you
sbould consider what TO do with what
Won already have and not pitch in and
throw away what YOU now possess and
spend 800, 900 more. II you change
your source Of supply TO the kilmer
springs you take away the chief feed
ers Of the Tuscarora and then with
what are YOU going to flush that creek
SO AS to carry away the drainage from
the town.
Continuing, Mr.. Parks argued in
favor of keeping the Water Works at
the present location, build walls around
the springs at the Water Works so that
fine water from the Tucsarora could
not get into them, use the water from
the abandoned auarries and, II neces-
sary, pipe the water from the Big
Springs to town. He argued that II
part of the 1873, 600 is expended ON the
present system the remainder would
be left for the beginning of sewerage
system.
Mr.. Kilmer said the Big Spring
and the spring at the Water Works are
not sufficient to supply the town,
while the Kilmer springs would fur
nish an ample supply and there would
be great saving in coal if the water
from those springs would be used.
Mr.. Parks said that everyone SEEM
ed to be of the opinion that the water
rate is to low and that all councils for
political reasons were too timid to in
crease them. The way to do 1T, he
said, is to call public meeting and
let the citizens pass resolution ask
ing for an increase in the rates.
eff were member OF the Coun-
Gil" said Senator Faulkner. "andEn
told me that the interests
of the city required an Increase in the
water rates l would go ahead and
not for petty political reasons refrain
from attending to public duty. The
council is vested with the power OF IN
cteasing the water rates and increase
them they should if all agree, as they
say. that the best interests of the city
demand it. Drop petty politics from
matters of this kind Why there
would be no better way of getting the
ReDublicans out of control of the city
government than byletting the present
council sell the Water Works and this
sewerage franchise, but we are not
now considering politics; we want TO
follow course that will not place
burden on the people of Martinsburg
for all time to come,
Postmaster Clohan in n lengthy talk
said he though that the proposition of
the Philadelphia gentlemen should not
he turned down. He said he was OPP
posed to selling a public utility II the
people would go ahead, provide sui
ficient water system to supply the city
AID q sewerage system; but they Will
never do il. at will take nearly a
hat million dollars to install good
sewerage system and it will take a
large sum to change the source OF the
water supply from the lowest section
of the town. We should remember
that this is the goth century and not
look back a hundred years ago, II
these gentlemen want to go to all TINS
expense. with restrictions TO protect
the people placed upon them, say let
them 90 ahead and do it. y
senator Faulkner made another APP
peal to the water board not to take
up the proposition. He said the profits
of the Philadelphia men, with largely
increased water rates and com pulsory
use Of the sewerage system, would be
about SO, 600 year. " Don't mort
gage the town for so, 900 annually
for all time to come They say you
Guild buy it back, but the youngest
,hild living today would never see the
end Of that mortgage upon the peo-
Pile.
Mr.. Bowers took issue with Mr.,
Faulkner and said that the best thing
to do is to take up the proposition.
"Iet them install "a sewerage system
q. ,tttr,y -