Bisbee daily review., 1905-10-26
DOUGLAS SEWER
 SYSTEM PROBLEM
DOUGLAS TO RAISE THE MONEY FOR TIT
Municipal Ownership Is Generally Fa- Vored, but This Will Require Four

Douglas, Ariz., Oct. 25.-(S Special. .)-l
 The question of having a sewer ! system for Douglas and the method i of obtaining the same are agitating i the minds of the aldermen and not l few citizens, and no one seems to be able to offer a solution of the prob lem. There is apparently no divided sentiment on the matter whatever; l every one questioned seemed to real ize the absolute and positive necessity of immediately settling the matter once and for all by a modern system which will remove the great danger which is constantly threatening Douglas from the numerous cesspools which are now necessities. Again, municipal ownership of the plant is generally favored, but how to get that is the problem.
 Alderman Dunlap, who, in the ab- sence of Alderman Adamson, has been acting as chairman of the street and alley committee of the council, which committee has been in charge of the sewer proposition, and which caused the plans now in possession
 of the city to be drawn, is probably | the man most qualified to speak. He | has gone into the matter further than
 any other person, owing to the duties
 of his position, and is firm for munic- ipal ownership, if the plant can be l obtained in that manner.
 | There is no doubt of course of the
 need of a sewer system in Douglas" 1"
 he said yesterday, 'and this system
 should be owned by the city if there 1 is any possible way of getting it. If the city cannot provide a means for | this. then we should have the plant l by granting a franchise, but this | must not be done until every effort to create plant owned by the city
 has failed.
 AS the plans are now drawn s65,' 900 is the estimated cost of construc tion, though this is by no means guar anteed Now it is estimated that from 20,O00 to $, 1000 gallons of water every twenty-four hours will be re quired to keep the pipes flashed. Al |. the last meeting of the council some one suggested that the city might dc well to add s45,0e0 to the 6..o00 and irill a well and instill a water plant sufficient for this purpose. This ques , ton. as well as the more important on'
 was left open for further discussion Suppose for the sake of argument that the people of Douglas would - vote a bond issue of $100000 for thi: 2 purpose. The territorial law prohib i, its the levying of a greater tax thai four mills for interest purposes, ant to pay the interest on these bonds a s 5 per cent would require an assesse' l. valuation of about S1 ,250 900 on Doug
 T,1 r1rncfinn fG raj
 this valuation be placed on the city "We have absolutely nothing ol
 which to base an estimate. as ther S has thus far been no assessment O !. the city, and the county assessmen
 does not separate the city. It woul certainly be placing heavy valua D tion, I should say al first blush Bul V with that valuation we have but tn f interest, and we have got to ge
 money from some source to creat j. sinking fund for the redemption 0 d those bonds.
 e 'Tt certainly appears improbable
 but it is not impossible, and am or timistic enough to believe that wa out of this difficulty can be found" D Judge Mcdonald expressed himsel s as of the opinion that the city car !. without further delay, make arrange
 ments to install the plant.
 'T believe that the statute limitin f a tax collection of four mills for 1T D terest purposes will not apply to sue .. an improvement as is contemplate
 in this question and that the assess , ment can be materially increased
 Besides. the assessments have bee Q greatly reduced and can be Increase
 again without injury to any lnteres
 "One thing is certain-Dougia ,- needs a sewer system and the quicke it is put in the better t Viii be 10 . the city and the people. If 1t is foun a (Continued on Page Five)