Bisbee daily review., 1905-10-27

Douglas. Ariz.. Oct. Especial l-
 The question of a sewer system for Douglas is provoking much discussion among attorneys and laymen, the pc culiar position in which the city is placed by the federal and territorial laws producing a situation which is interesting to all who are concerned with the future welfare of the city.
 In this mornings issue of the Dis patch c. A. Taylor has a communica- tion which on the face of it solves the problem and leaves the question of sewer system up to the people. This position, however, is held by other lawyers to be untenable. on ac- count of a law regarding the levying of taxes, which is in the territorial statutes.
 MT. Taylor calls attention to the act of congress which supercedes the Harrison act and provides for the is- suance of bonds in any amount by municipalities of over 1000 inhabitants This act places no limit on the amount of bonds which may be issued Tor purposes such as a sewer system. He adds:
 There is, therefore, no question as to the right of the city to vote suffi- cient bonds for sewers, water works, street improvements and other work in the line of sanitation.
 Tt would be infinitely cheaper for the citizens to pay taxes sufficient to pay interest and provide a sinking fund for the redemption of bonds than to pay the regular tariff for the use of a sewer built under a corpora tiOn franchise. By all means let the city build and own a sewer system, sink an artesian well for flushing pur- poses, and congratulate itself ever after for having taken a step in the right direction
 50 far as congress is concerned" !" said City Attorney Lockwood, the city can issue all the bonds it needs or wants, but the payment of the in terest on these bonds and the crea- ton of sinking fund for their re demption is the stumbling block with which we are now having trouble.
 There is territorial law which provides that but four mills can be applied to the payment of interest for any purpose, and the whole question of a sewer depends therefore upon the amount of taxable property in Douglas.
 With a bond issue of s65, 900, which is the least amount to be con sidered. the interest at per cent will be s3250. Of course, the taxable value of the city will naturally in crease from year to year. but this is taken into consideration when the statement is made that these bonds cannot properly be issued until the city shows a taxable value of S1 1.000,- 900. With the four mills allowance for interest purposes, the total rev enue to be devoted to the bonds will be S400O, which will pay the interest and leave surplus of s750 to go into the sinking fund. There are no other bonds against the city, consequently every cent can be devoted to these proposed sewer bonds.
 "The first step to be taken in the matter is for the council to order an assessment of the city's taxable prop erty. When this is done we will know whether the bonds can be paid for. and approximately what length of time will be required before they can be redeemed If the assessment falls materially short of s1 100000 the council can still go ahead and call an election to vote upon the bonds. which may be issued if two-thirds of the qualified voters, who in this case must be the owners of real or per sonal property, vote yes, but the council will also have to provide a means of meeting the interest on these bonds and creating a sinking fund for their redemption. It is a matter which is absolutely up to the council al present"
 w s. Dixon of F. A. Won Arnim & Co. is a firm believer in having a sewer system in Douglas as soon as it can be installed.
 Tt certainly should be owned by the city and put in by the city if this is possible" he said, "but if it is not possible to do this within a reason able time. then I am in favor of grant ing a franchise to some person or persons who will install a perfect system. As for the city ever getting control of the system should it be se- cured in this way, I have serious doubts, but even if it should not, the town will be better of than it is at present.
 These cesspoois are going to cause trouble soon if they are contin- ued in use, and the expense of taking care of them in the future. to say nothing of the sickness which they will undoubtedly cause, will be found to be more expensive in the end than paying for the sewer service by a private company"
 Continued on Page s.