The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-12
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Will the City Council Order the Ar
rest Of Numerous Large Taxpay-
ers and influential Citizens for Ig-
nOrlng the Law?

1teni, tneTe IL trOuDie aneau 1Or all
property owners, who,. owning resi-
, dences and places Of business with
In the area bounded by Bartlett and
Canal, and Sumter and Harvin
Streets. failed to connect such estab-
lishments with the sewerage system
by January 1st. 1910. This includes
property facing on both sides of the
four boundary streets above men
toned.
At meeting OF the city board of
health held last night the health Of
ficer was called upon for informa-
tion as to the number Of places un-
connected. and city Engineer w.
Loring Lee, supplying information
as to the actual number Of places
connected, 1t developed that fully
two-thirds were not connected as
provided for by the sewerage and
plumbing ordinances by actual count
Of the residences. stores. offices. and
other buildings within that district.
1t war the unanimous opinion Of
the board Of health, DR.. E. s. Booth.
DR.. f. r. Wilson. Mr.. r. X. Wilder.
and Mr. Isaac Schwartz being pres
ent. and DR.. Holman, absent, that
ample time had been allowed by the
two extensions of time granted by
city council for every place within
the prescribed area to be connected
by January 1st. 1910.
Furthermore 1t was contended
that 1t was not fair to discriminate.
as number Of citizens have COM
Piled with the law. whereas many
others. 'two-thirds, have neglected to
connect, and the board of health
thinks 1t 10 now time to begin a rigid
enforcement Of the law.
Therefore. sweeping resolution
was adopted instructing the secre-
tary and Health Ofiicer to call to
the attention Of the mayor and city
council the fact that the time limit,
January 1st. 1910. for the connection
Of all places Of business and resi-
dences within the above mentioned
limits has expired. And that fully
two-thirds Of the property owners
therein have failed to comply with
the provisions Of the ordinance, and
the resolutions Of city council ex-,
tending said time to January 1st,
1910. And It Ia further recommend
ed that the mayor and aldermen i'm
mediately enforce the provisions of
the ordinance. and that the health
officer furnish 70 the city council
the names Of all property owners
who have violated the ordinance by
failure to connect their buildings
with the sewerage system, If such
information y desired by city coun-
ell.
II city council adopts the resolu-.
tions of the board Of health It is the
duty Of the health oficer to immedi-
ately make afiidavits against all who
have failed to comply with the ordi-
nance. and to request Recorder
Hurst to Issue warrants for their
arrest and trial. II city council does
not otherwise order.
The board OF health contends that
unless the law 10 enforced 1t is use
less to have any such law or q sew
erage system The enforcement of
the law will work no hardship on
the big majority of the property
owners. many Of whom are financial
ly able to have connected their
buildings long ago. but who will
never connect just as long as there
is any extension Of time.
In order to be absolutely just the
board feels that the enforcement of
the law, which should have gone in
to effect last May. Is the only way
to have the thickly settled portions
of the business and residential Sec
tions connected.
Every one has had ample notice
and ample time. Some of the prop
erty owners have actually given out
contracts long ago and then counter
manded them when the extension of
times was granted. Many property
owners who actually were compelled
to make sacrifices in order to con-
meet nave done so many months
ago. There are some conditions, de-
trimental to the public, forcing the
connections with the sewerage sys-
tenn of such places. and the owners
OF these places are financially able
to connect without any Inconvenience
to or hardships upon themselves