The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-04-30
CITIZENS MEETING.
IcoNrINunp rRoM F1Rsr PAGE. ]


cause Of cost, it being figured that
they would cost less than the long
lines over private right of way re.
quired for collection at one point.
The next speaker was John I'll. Cap.
stick, member of the State Sewerage
Commission. He reviewed the action
of the commission in noticing the lack
Of provision of sewerage facilities in
Morris county and particularly in
Morristown. since the creation of
that body in 1899. The growth of
population in the State has been large
Fly due to the immigration of people
from New York or Philadelphia and
these new residents demand the facil-
[ titles they have been used to and settle
only in places having good water sup
ply,, sewerage and good roads. The
condemnation of the municipalities
does not apply to all individuals for
many have advocated these necessary
Improvements. He said the commits
| sion did not criticise Morristown
Through prejudice, but because it de-
sired to aid the town and to assist the
progressive citizens. No subject is Of
more interest than this with the pos
sible exception of a good water supply
Both are expensive.
The plans adopted by the sewerage
commission of Morristown have been
approved unanimously by the State
board and are in line with the recon-
mendations of the board and he hoped
that the project would be carried to
consumation.
John M. Forbes presented the finan-
cial end as follows:
The cost of the entire installation
including real estate, plants and sewer
pipes is estimated to be $3.50, 900.
About One-half of this will be needed
at once, the balance being called up as
required for the extension Of the sys-
tenn. For the purposes of my state
ment [ shall consider the entire
amount called up at once.
| 1t is expected that a loan can be
placed by the city at 4 per cent. and
we have then to provide the following
annually by taxation: Interest on
sewer bonds, $4,000: Sinking fund,
say $1,000; Engineers estimate of cost
of running disposal plant, $1,000; To
which l add for incidentalS, 81 800;
Making a total of 1874 900.
The sinking fund OF $4,000 annually
| have fixed for the sake of making
some estimate of annual expense. The
board may of course fix such sum as it
deems best and may also redeem the
sewer bonds in series covering such
periods of time as seem best in the in
tereSt of the loan. Into these "details
it is not my purpose to enter.
The total assessed valuation for 1906
for the City was in round figures 3d.
$4,000 which included personal as
well as realty assessments. l shall
not attempt to separate them.
We have then to provide 1874 200 per
annum based upon the $9,640,000 of
last years valuation.
From glance of the assessed values
| make rough estimate that large
percentage OF the holdings of real eS-
| cate in the city are such as will not
exceed in taxable value $500 each,
and it is with these values that l pro-
| pose to deal.
We have then total assessed val
uation of $9,640,000 and an annual
charge of S24 900, which is little less
than $3.50 per thousand dollars of as
SeSSed values. We see then that the
annual sewer assessment will amount
to less than 1925 upon large section
OF the taxpayers of the city, because
many of the assessments are below
900 in value. This sum is about
the average cost of emptying the cess
pools at present. In many cases the
charge is far greater.
| may mention incidentally that
there is some chance of the State
School Tax heretofore levied on Nor
riStown and amounting to 1924 an
nually, being lifted. The case is be-
fore the court of errors and appeals
and if the decision is favorable to the
city this amount would reduce the
Sewer Tax to about one dollar per
thousand dollars of assessed V ..ueS, If
the money were applied to that pur-
pose.
1t is the opinion of well informed
persons that the installation of the
sewer system would benefit the city
more than almost anything else now
could, in the improvement in value of
real estate and in the encouragement
of new construction. Hence the an
nual Sewer Tax would be constantly
diminishing sum applied to individual
holdings. My statement being the
maximum.
Total assessed values have increased
in MorriStown in seven years only
about 100000. 1t is fair to esti-
mate much more rapid increase
under the influence of an as
sured sanitary system of drainage in
place of the present Anticipated and
dangerous conditions.
The charge for connecting with the
sewer will of course vary with the dis
tance of the house from the curb.
Estimates OF the cost of this connec-
tion vary from thirty-fiye to fifty
cents per lineal foot, including exca-
waiting and cost of pipe.
1t is manifest that the conditions OF
interior plumbing will vary so much
as to make any estimate of general ex-
pense useless. 1t may be said that
the expense will be heaviest, where
for the sake of the health of the com.
munity, the connection with the
sewer is most necessary and one re.
deeming feature of the sewer IS that
every member of the community must
do his duty to his neighbor in a SAM
tary sense, for after the installation 81
the sewer we shall all have the same
| RI too i