The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-02-02
The Bona issue.

The proposed bond issue Is not a
political measure, however much a
few may try to make it appear. The
mayor and the Democratic end OF
the council are Just as enthusiastic
for It as the Republican part of the
council, and the mayor. who is a
Democrat. has been working with
the council and leading citizens In
bringing the Questionto focus, and
now there is to be a purely non-par-
tisan board in charge of the water
works and sewerage system of the
city, not only to have complete
charge Of the proposed improve
ments and the expenditure of the
money but to be in permanent
charge, the board being elective
with one member to be elected every
year after the first year. The sue
cess of the question at the special
election the ninth of this month
means greater things for Clarksburg,
Its defeat may retard the growth
of the city for twenty years.
1t is recalled that after a fearful
drouth many citizens. including the
Board of Trade. began an agitation
for better water supply and serv-
ice, which resulted two years ago
in the passage Of a special act by
the legislature, authorizing an cleo
ton for bond issue OF $3.50, 900,
the same being deemed necessary,
owing to the fact that the revenues
of the city and taxing power were so
limited that an adequate amount
for improved water works could not
be provided by taxation.
After the passage OF the act no
action was taken as there was no
agitation, the water supply having
improved, and. therefore, the ques-
tion of bond issue was not SUBJ
mitted by the council. But, occa.
sion did finally present itself for re.
newed agitation and action.
All citizens who recollect anything
at all about the long drought OF
last summer and fall and the suf-
fering and inconvenience caused In
clarksburg when the water works
went dry, can do little else than
shudder with horror when thinking
of the conditions that prevailed
here then. That one drought alone
cost the individual citizens of
clarksburg and the business and in
dustrial interests many thousands Of
dollars. Had the city now in spe-
cial fund the money that was lost
then. there would be no need of a
bond issue; there would be enough
on hands to improve the water
works.
Besides shutting down factories
and throwing men out Of work de-
creasing the circulation of money
and causing big loss Of business TO
the retail merchants, the lack OF
water and the turbid, contaminated
SHINY foul, offensive quality OF that
which could be obtained resulted in
an unsanitary condition in this com
munity thai was something annall-
ing, Suppose a, that precarious
time an epidemic u typhoid fever
had broken ort in the city? The
dreadful experience Of Butler pa
would have been repeated here. The
fair city would have been overcast
by the black clouds Of disease ana
death and there Is no telling how
many lives would. have De,n Iosr
how many homes made sad how
many fatherless children left to
care for themselves. how much nm.
necessary suffering and distres.
caused. TIL was imminent all dur.
ing that d.laght. Do We want mi.
dangerous condition to Obtain
again? Do We want to place on,
health and the lives of ourselves an,
our families in such jeopardy an,
more? Can any sane person an
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