The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-05-18
More Arguments for
Sewerage and Drainage


as they come to greater realization of
their sanitary need. Much, very much
will have been accomplished when
system of drainage has been completed.
The digging of the trenches alone will
do much toward relieving the soil of its
surplus water and we shall feel the
effects of this before the summer is
over.
While the bonded Indebtedness of the
city will be greatly increased, the rate
of taxation will by no means increase
in the same proportion. The ordinance
provides that the bonds shall bear in
terest at the rate of four per cent per
annum, and it is proposed to sell the
bonds to the state, to be purchased with
school funds. The interest will therefore
not exceed twenty-four hundred dollars;
probably it will not be so much, as no
more bonds will be sold than the cost
of the system and it is quite likely that
the estimate is high. The assessed val
uation of the city, according to the
assessment which has just been made,
is on doubt fully two million dollars,
or three thousand dollars greater than
tine assessed valuation on which the
bonds are issued. The additional tax
levy to pay theinterest charges will
therefore be slightly in excess of one
mill. This charge is insignificant as
compared with the inestimable benefits
to be derived by the city through build
ing this system. 1t should not be for
gotten for moment that it is the
public health that is at stake; that
many lives may pay the forfeit of our
Indifference or our parsimony. To take
a sordid view of the matter, the contin-
ued prosperity of our city is at stake.
If the condition that has existed here
for the past few years is permitted to
continue, we shall cease to grow, our
population will lessen instead of in
crease, business will fall off and prop
erty values will decline.
Twelve years ago, when this city had
a population not to exceed fifteen hun
dred, it was bonded for sixty thousand
dollars for the purpose of providing a
system of sewerage. This system, built
at large cost, was so laid that it is
impossible to extend it in any direc-
ton. 1t is now used to its full capac-
ity. 1t is utterly unavailable for the
districts, comprising by far the larger
area of the city, which are not now
served by it. Had this system been
put in of a proper size and at suffic-
ent depth, extensions only would now be
required, and these could be put in
without the necessity of mourning any
bonded Indebtedness whatever. But
such is not the case and we must meet
the conditions as we find them.
At that time, the assessed valuation
of the city as made by the county and
state was five hundred thousand dol
lars. As made by the city assessor (the
state and county and city assessments
were separately made at hat time) was
one million dollars, or twice as much
as the other and twice as much as it
ought to have been. 1t was largely
based upon fictitious valuations. At
that time further Indebtedness of
thirty thousand dollars to cover out
standing warrants was created. Today
our population is at least four times as
great and our assessed valuation is four
times as great as it was then, and we
propose to increase this indebtedness
by only two-tnirds as much. The early
issues bore interest at the rate of six
per cent; the proposed issue will bear
interest at the rate of four per cent
in other words, the interest on the new
issue will be twenty-four hundred dol
lars per year, while on the old issues
it is fifty-four hundred dollars per year.
There was no such urgent need for the
old system as there is for the new, nor
did the old contemplate drainage as
does the new. At that time the soil
underlying the town was not filled with
stagnant water as now, because irriga-
ton of the higher levels was carried
on only to a very small extent. Now
crying need exists, one that cannot,
that must not, be ignored Shall we
show less enterprise, less public spirit,
greater false economy, now that the
village of twelve years ago has devel-
oped into a city that ranks seventh
in this great state, and That if we do not
fail in our duty to it, is destined to
grow to the limit of all conservative
predictions that are made for It, and
to become one of the best residence
places in the entire northwest?
o. A. FECHTER.
There is only one thing to do about
these sewerage and drainage bonds"
said B. F. Barge to The Herald the other