Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-21
CITY COUNCIL I
DISCUSSES THE.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM
Definite Action lis Taken To.
ward Building System.
EXTRA LEGISLATION
WILL BE ASKED FOR

pie VIII be 5eneftted--Bm viii be
presented TO the Legislature at
Coming Session.
a special session of The City Coun.
Gil was held last night, with Mayor
Harrison, Councilmen Zill, Heiston
kearfoot and Shoafstal, Recorder
Letter aud City Attorney Seibert pres.
ent.
The object of the meeting was to
G a a report of the committee APP
pointed to investigate The matter of
having. the city install an u~p-to.date
sewerage system. and Mr.. A. C. Mad
enbousch. a member OF the committee
presented the matter.
The agitation for a sewerage sys.
ten was iuaugurated by the Board of
trade, and a committee of FIVE was
appointed 10 investigate the matter
ana prepare a statement and present
IL before the council. This was done.
and the council named three mem
~ WIN tht coIliiE1lee aS a
sewerage commission and gave in
structions for them to proceed with
the formulation of plans for the in
stallation OF the system.
At that time no funds were avail,
able to meet EXPENSES, and what was
accomplished was done at the OK.
pense OF the committee. Later the
council appropriated $500, and then
the work was prosecuted with great.
er vigoy.
Visits were paid to Winchester,
Chambersburg and Baltimore and the
SYSTEMS investigated and information
gathered as to the costs and mainten.
apce OF the plants. At Baltimore the
committee met Mr.. Calvin w. Hend-
rick, who is the chief engineer on
the system now being installed there
at a cost of some $4,000, 900, and
much information was gotten from
him. Mr.. Hendrick agreed to visit
this city, and make a careful survey
of the situation and give an estimate
on the cost and the kind of system
that would be best.
At first he sent his assistant. who
spent some time here gathering data,
and later Mr.. Hendrick appeared in
person. He was taken over the city
by the officials aud looked over the
different streets, the kinds of soil and
limestone, and then he consulted a
number of business mel as to what
their opinions were on the question.
Upon his return home he gave the
matter careful thought. and then pre-
pared a report which he submitted to
the committee, and which was read
by Mr.. Nadenbousch to the council.
MI. Hendrtck Is of the opinion that
the system best suited for the city
is one that will cover it entirely;
that its cost will reach almost s215,
600, and that the most suitable place
for the disposal plant would be on
the T%uscararo creek.
The second system he recommends
would only cover the major portion of
the city. but he strongly advised
against the building of such, because
all of the people would not enjoy the
benefits.
Mr.. Hendrick In his report states
that the kind of rock found south of
the city was the best suited for the
sewage beds of any in this section.
He examined everal kinds of stone
but found non equal to the one he
selected. This. he says, will aid ma
terially in reducing the cost of the
system.
1t appears that when the report
was submitted TO the Board OF Trade
the second system was unanimously
agreed upon. But then the question
Of financing the undertaking was the
obstacle which confronted them.
According to the last assessment
the property within the city limits is
valued practically at SITES, 900. The
law provides that municipalities can
not lay a levy for a bonded indebted
ness greater than 21k per centum.
The city is now bonded almost &c its
limit, and has an Indebtedness of
more than $4,000 which leaves but
a little over $4,000 with which to be
gin The work.
This being so small. Mr.. MAIDEN
bouseh said that it would be wrong
TO make a start with such an insignifi-
cant sum on hand, With the city Civ
en- the authority TO increase its tax
rate to 5 per centum. the highest il
could be for such improvements, a
revenue Of s24S4l7 could be had.
This amount would be sufficient to
guarantee the construction if the sys-
tenn and leave a little in the treasury.
Further il should be understood
that the property owners will pay so
per cent. OF the cost, and to aid them
they viii be given ten years in which
TO do 50.
As 70 raising the funds necessary
the committee has been assured by
the president of the Clearing House