The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-06
fast as the money comes in. and NO
FASTER.

EXTRAORDINARY anu unforeseen SITUATION
by reason of the flood which washed
out number of bridges along Gordon
bridges were built at Broad, Mcleod,
Unetta, College and Court street cross
ings, at cost of $780, In addition
the commissioners erected iron foot
bridges at Main and Pine street cross
ings at a cost of $500. THESE EX-
PENSES, EXTRAORDINARY EX-
PENSES THOUGH THEY WERE)
WERE PAID OUT OF CURRENT RE-
CEIPTS.
Streets.
At the beginning of the term of office
of the commissioners it was found
that the city had practically no street.
working tools and equipment, and to
do work economically and of a perma-
nent nature, it was necessary to make
the following purchases for this de-
partment; One pair of horses, $3.50;
one pair of mules, $275; one roller,
SIS; one grader, $40; two wagons and
harness, $125, and shovels, scrapers,
etc, to the amount of more than 800.
The city built and surfaced with
pyrites two and one-half blocks on
Main street to connect the street with
the Model road being built under Gov
eminent supervision, at a cost of
100000; assisted in work and with
teams to the extent of $500 in the
construction of that splendid road.
River avenue, one of the most i'm
portant thoroughfares leading into the
business section of the city, has been
graded practically its entire length
and surfaced with pyrites, at a cost of
$500, and forms a splendid piece of
street work. The uptown alleys have
been surfaced with pyrites, much to
the convenience of the business inter.
ests, at a cost of 5000, and every
small bridge and culvert in the city
has been rebuilt at a cost of 5000.
ALL THESE EXPENDITURES WERE
PAID OUT OF THE CURRENT RE
CEIPTS.
Water Department.
Two days after entering office the
Commissioners found that the City's
big well had gone dry, or nearly so.
and that the water situation was seri
GUS. Believing in permanency. rather
than in haste and make-shift, the COM
missioners considered the situation
carefully and finally concluded, after
seeking advice, that the we'll could be
brought back in. They spent 500 in
the effort, but secured only about a
third of the former flow, and then had
the chief of the water department of
Memphis come here and advise them.
He showed them that the water was
costing the city about three times
what it should and advised the digging
of one large well. A contract was let
for this we'll, and it is now giving a
daily flow of one and one-half million
gallons, while the SAVING in pump.
ing, 1t is estimated, will pay for the
well by the end of this year. If the
commissioners had accomplished moth
ing else of permanent nature during
their term of office than to secure this
well and make the big
economy in the water service. they
would have earned their salaries. The
city has ample water from this we'll
alone for city twice the size of Hat
desburg, and the water question has
been settled for years to come. Here
-ofore the various industries of the
own have had to dig their own wells.
as the city did not have water in
large quantities for sale. This situa.
Ion has been changed, and the city
has already made contract with one
II the larger industries to furnish
hem water and has applications from
wo others. This will result in a large |
Increase in the water revenues. The
'epalrs on the old we'll were paid out
II the current receipts, and the city |
will be able to meet the cost of the
lew well from the same source.
These are FACTS, bearing directly |
lpon the question at issue, We chal-
enge opponents of Commission Form
If Government, to answer them if |
hey can.
The News, as they can be obtained. |
will nrnaant f,,ctI,a- INA C1,e