Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-08-23
tossed PRO AND CON
bier Question Taken Up by
Business Men.
AN INTERESTING MEETING
Senator Faulkner and Mr.. Parks Lead Fight
Against PhiIadelphans Proposition
The Fish Commissioner and Post
master Opposed Them.

master Opposed Them
For nearly three hours Friday night
majority of the eighteen business men
who were sent notices by the water
Board discussed before that body u
the Firemen's Hall the momentous
question of selling the Water Works
and sewerage franchise to private
interests.
The leaders in the discussion at last
nights meeting might be lined VI
thus: Ex-senator G. j. Fauknre ana
Hon. Alex. Parks against the sale ana
United States Fish Commissioners Geo
M. Bowers and Postmaster Alex. Clo-
han in favor of it.
After Chairman Kline explained the
proposition Of the Philadelphia men to
those present, ex-senator Faulkner led
off in an argument against accepting
such proposition. A few OF his re-
9rks We're: "A peculiar coincidence
il i that when the p esent water sys-
tenn was installed it fell to my lot AS a
member of a committee of citizens to
measure every inch of pine that was
put down and now again | am here
with another committee of citizens to
discuss this important question. l am
frank to saw that don't believe mu-
nicipal corporation should ever part
with public utility if it is able to at
tend to it. The sale of the Water
Works and a sewer franchise means
an increase of taxes in the way of pay
ing rates to the private owners. Mu-
nicipal ownership is the only safeguard
against high rates. By the laws of the
corporation every household could be
required to be connected with this
sewer at rate. l understand OF from
$40 to 800 per year each which will
furnish one of the sources of profit to
these men if they succeed i'll getting
the franchise and the Water Works.
Now put requirement of this kind
on the people and | don't believe they
will stand it. Two thousand houses
connected by compulsi OH with their
sewerage system at. saw $40 per year.
would bring an annual gross sum of
$500. 90 10 their pockets, together with
the income they would get from dou-
bled water rates nice compensation
for the expense to which they would
go.
"Now if they can do it why not we
and let the city have all this profit. i
the water rates are TO be increased why
not increase them now and let the pro
fits from the system 90 into the cit,
treasury? Go ahead with the i'm
provements. From the reports OF th'
engineers / Judge that the water from
the Kilmer spring could be purchased
brought TO town ard used with the
S33 600 that can be realized from the
sale Of the new bonds. Double youl
water rates, make them what they are
in other towns. and in twoyears you
will realize from six to eight thous'
and dollars additional from that source
to go toward the improvements. Set
this additional sum asi lie every yeal
forpaying for the improvements and il
short time YOU will have your own
Water Works and Vet not be burdenet
with @ great debt
1T is pretty bad principle TO start
to give ud the only public utility that
the corduraiton owns. You could. they
say, bay il back after ten years, but
at what price, They would capitalize
their company at an enormous figure
somewhere about $500 600, for they
would 20 10 great expense, and
when could the corporation buy in tn,
Water Work, and sewerage system a
figures like that. They could be TAX
en- by condemnation proceedings. 1t j
true, bat Il. condemnation proceeding
the partie, whose property Is condemn
ed must bc fully compensated for thei
property and the casL has to be Pal,
right down. Release municipal gras
on your Water Works, ! say, nd yo
release it forever. You Will ham
down to your children aud your chill
dren's children 81 u-e. They vii
he compelled for an time to come Il
pay into the cone of capitalist
profit. for their drinking water am
for having their houses connecte
with sewerage system. DO it an
3osteritv viii foreyer-wel I NIGH
SAY curse YOU.
Mr.. James b. Fisher said ne heart
" endorsed the stand taken by Sena
flr Faulkner.