The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-04-04
HAVE MADE THEIR REPORT
INVESTIGATED SEWERAGE IN
ANIERICUS AND ALBANY.
Committee Appointed by the Mayor
Tell the Council, at Special Meet
ing, the Result of Their Trip


ing, the Result of Their Trip.
At special meeting of the city
council Friday night the committee APP
pointed by the mayor to investigate
the sewerage system of other towns
made the following report:
DAWSON, GA, March %, 1906
To the Mayor and City Council. Cen
tlemen: The undersigned committee,
appointed by you at your meeting on
Tuesday of the present week to visit
other cities and investigate sewerage
conditions, beg leave to make the fol-
lowing report:
We went to Americas on Tuesday
night, and during Wednesday morn
ing we saw and talked with both pri-
vate citizens and officials of that town,
asking all about the following ques-
tiOns: When was your system of sew
erage established ? What amount of
bonds did you issue for its construc-
ton? What is the number of miles in
your city of sewerage mains? What
has been the effect on health Has
sewerage operated to materially in
crease rents? How are all classes
pleased with it? What is the popula-
ton of your city? What has been
the effect on population since the eS
adjustment of sewerage? What is
the amount of your taxable property =?
What is your tax rate? Have you
other sources Of revenue than direct
taxation? has sewerage operated TO
materially increase your taxes
We were told that their system was
established about Ii years ago, their
bonds having been voted in 1899, and
the amount voted was S35, 600, though
they said they could not tell how much
of this issue was required in the con-
structiOn of the system. Americas
has seven miles of sewer mains. and
the altitude and general topography
of the town is such that made the con-
structiOn of their system rather eX
pensive, some of the mains being as
much as twenty feet below the surface.
AS to health, we were assured that it
has BEEN greatly improved and the
mortality rate materially reduced.
We were especially careful to ask
every one what has been the effect on
residence rents, and some said that
there had been no increase: others
! that there had been no material in
| crease, and still others that renters
would frequently refuse to rent a resi-
| dence unless there is sewerage cOnnec-
| ton, or the owner would agree to put
/ in such, and the universal assurance
was that when the convenience of
! sewerage was once enjoyed no one
would surrender it. All classes are
simply delighted, and were quick to
assert that they would not for any
consideration have a return to the
time before the days CT sewerage.
! We were told that the population of
/ the town was at the time of the putting
! in of the system from 5000 to 1000,
| but that now, 10 years later, it is from
! 900 to p 600. The bonded indebted
ness of the city we could not learn eX-
| actly. but it was said to be 500, 900,
and the tax rate at this time is Sl.3O,
/ and the town has as yet no other
source of revenue than direct taxa
! ton, fines and special licenses.
/ We left that city in the afternoon
} and went direct to Albany, where we
put the same questions and met the
same assurances, except that possibly
| greater surprise was expressed by
several that we are having any OppOsi-
ton whatever to the csta bliohment of
a system OF sewerage in Dawson. We
were told that their bonded indebted
mes is 1929, 800, and that their tax rate
is this year is of 10, less than be-
fore the establishment of sewerage.
AT the time of the establishment of
their system they voted an issue of
bonds amounting to 800, 600 for water
works and sewerage, and about $780,
600 of this amount was expended on
sewerage, and the town has eleven
miles of sewers. 1t was also stated
that some of their mains are 10 to Is
feet below the surface, thus having
required much excavation.
They boosted especially OF the bene-
| fit which has come to the town in it's