The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-02-01
WEST SIDE TAXPAYERS
ATTENDED MASS MEETING
Held Last Night to Discuss and Get In
formation Regarding the Proposed
Sewer and Drainage System.

About fifty taxpayers, mainly from
the west side, attended the meeting in
the city hall last night which was called
to consider the sewer proposition. 1t is
no secret that the west side contained
many who have expressed opposition to
the bond issue, some for one reason and
some for another. These, or some of
them at least, have been very active dur
ing the past week in creating senti-
ment against the sewer and drainage
system which will be built if the bond
issue to be voted on next Monday car
ries by the necessary three -fifths ma
jority of the votes cast. 1t was ap.
parent at last nights meeting that the
west side people who were present were
not opposed to a sewer being built;
they wanted further information in re.
gard to the drainage system in connec-
ton with the sewer, and they desired
to be assured that the drainage afforded
by it would be adequate to the needs
of the district covered for some time
to come. Several of the speakers de-
clared that majority of the west side
property owners were heartily in favor
of sewer, and if all can be reached
with the assurances that were given
those present, it is eblieved that they
will vote for the bond issue and endorse
the building Of the proposed system.
Mayor Fechter presided over the meet.
ing, and after stating the purpose for
which it had been called went into de-
tails regarding the plans that the coun-
Gil had approved for the betterment of
conditions in the city embodied in the
trunk line sewer system and accom-
panying system of drainage. He stat
ed that there were some people interest
ed in the matter and who wanted the
sewer built VINO expressed themselves as
opposed to the bond issue for no other
reason than that they did not like the
city engineer. Mr.. Fechter said that the
city was in no way bound to have the
sewer built under the direction of the
present engineer, or any other partic.
ular person. He believed that the man
the city was hiring as its engineer was
in every way competent to fill the po-
sition, for the reason that he came high
ly recommended by undisputed authori
ties on civil engineering, and so far as
he could learn he was in every way
to do the work in connection
with the sewer or any other that might
be required of him. But, he stated, so
long as he was mayor of the city his
policy would be to secure the best tai
ent that money would enable the city
to procure in its engineering depart
ment. The matter of salary of $3.50
a month was not to be considered as the
point at issue in so important mat
ter as the building of a trunk system
of sewer. If the city paid man $500,
and he could demonstrate that he was
worth that sum for the reason that ne
was the best man to be found for the
position, the salary would not, in his
estimation, be too much. So far as the
present city engineer was concerned, he
was in favor of putting him in charge Of
the work only wnen it could be proven
to the satisfaction of all concerned that
his ability was equal to the demands.
Mr.. Fechter then went into the ques.
ton of drainage of the city at great
length, reviewing the opinions of vari-
Gus experts from the interior depart
ment of the government, the agricul-
tural college in Pullman and others who
had thoroughly investigated conditions
here, and all of whom had agreed that
health conditions never would be ideal
in North Yakima until better drainage
Of the entire city was obtained. Letters
were read from the engineers of Ogden,
Utah, Walla Walla and other cities in
irrigation districts situated similarly to
this city showing how drainage had
the different localities, and
how, in each, the death rate had de.
creased from Is to 40 per cent after a
system had been installed.
Since the main cost Of building the sew
r. was in the digging Of the trenches,
Ind the agricultural tile used in build.
ing the drains was 30 cheap, he be-
ieved It would be little short Of an act.
nal crime for the city to build the sewer
It this time and not include the drain.
lge system. He then called for an ex-
preston Of the views Of all who were
present, whether for or against the
lewer.
J. P. McCafferty gave the history of
me old sewer and pointed out the mis-
axes the city had made in its con-
'truction. The city paid . man named