The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1909-01-28
STREET SPRINKLING

4
The following is the special mes
sage CT Mayor Donnell TO the city
| council. suggesting a plan for the
city to do the work OF sDrinkling the
streets. Sentiment in favor Of pub
lie sprinkiing is growing, and the
council. it is expected, will soon carry
the plan into operation:
Columbus, Miss, Jan. 20, 1909.
To the City Council:
| Gentlemen:-M plans may be pre-
mature and my suggestions not meet
with your approval; nevertheless,
wish to call your attention to what
seems to me a very important mat
| ter and ask that you take some action
looking to a more thorough and bet
ter system of street sprinkling.
This evil, think, and past expe-
be remedied by adopting some other
plan, and l believe the most feasible
to be by taxation and under munic-
ipal control
Briefly stated, my plans and sug-
gestions are as follows, though / will
gladly accept any other or better plan
that may be offered as it is results
wanted and not the pet hobby of any
individuals:
That our present mode of sprink-
ling is very unsatis1 actory all must
admit, and | dare say the present
contractor as well. You have ample
authority under the law, and ] would
recommend that the entire business
portion of town and so much of the
resident portion as you may elect be
placed in a taxing district and tax
or fee of, say, fifty cents, based on
frontage of eighty feet or less, be
monthly charge against the abut-
ting property, and all over eighty feet
front proportionate amount, except
business houses.
As stores reap a more direct ben
eft from sprinkling, | would suggest
a monthly fiat rate of one dollar for
each store; the same to be taxed
against the property and collected
quarterly in advance, and used only
for street sprinkling purposes.
Taken as a whole, I am quite sure
from Investigations I have made the
cost would fall lighter on all and
greater satisfaction guaranteed.
To this or any other plan you Of
course may expect objections. The
property holder might say that he
would reap no benefit from sprink-
ling for his tenant. This 1 admit to
some extent, but if unable TO arrange
with the occupant of his store or res
idence to pay this amount, has he not
his recourse by adding to his monthly
rentals this small amount? I think
so, and feel that large majority
would be glad of the opportunity.
Those residing beyond the limits
of the taxing district could have no
cause of complaint, because no ex-
pense would attach to them. From
time to time the sprinkling district
could be extended as the demand
may require.
l have given considerable thought
to this matter and feel that some |
thing should be done to relieve the
and no other or more feas-
ible solution of the dust problem pre-
sents itself 10 me as 14tisfactory. To
rid our streets of the sitting dust
during the hot summer months |
strikes me should appeal to the good |
sense of all citizens at most any cost. |
If the diagnosis of the medical pro-
fession is to be relief upon, that dust /
is menace to health and the princi-
pal cause of some of our most dread |
ed and deadly diseases, then let US
suppress it at all hazards, and I be- |
lieve the people will sustain you.
Let US take the matter in hand, enact |
the necessary laws, and see to its en-
forcement Let the burden, il such |
it may be termed. rest equally upon
ALL If nothing more is accomplished, |
certain it is we will all be more com
Portable. 1t has been fully demon |
to my mind that nothing can /
or ever will be accomplished in the t
old way; some will pay and some will |
not, thereby of necessity insuring |
very unsatisfactory service.
Now, as to the cost of installing I
the necessary outfit and expense of |
operating the same, | sumbit below |
the following figures:
Three sprinkling wagons. 81 100000 |
Six horses or mules /, 100000 |