The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-06-17
CONVINCING FACTS IN
FAVOR OF SEWERAGE
Mr. e. II. Jones, Chairman of Waterworks Commission
Answers in Detail Certain Criticisms Touching
the Integrity of Board of Public Works.

heepe sellllnS DaSln and storage
well clean, and other duties.
venture to say that no commu-
nifty anywhere has more compe-
tent and faithful superintendent
thin is Mr.. Harper, and it is doubt
full if there is anywhere a citizen
VINO is so patriotic as to render such
valuable services for such meager
compensation.
The members of the board have
received no compensation whatever,
not even free water. Services have
been rendered for years without
thought or wish of compensation
but solely for the public good. 1t
does not even worry us that our
task has been a thankless one, for
we take our reward in the knowl-
edge that Lancaster has as fine
waterworks system as any town in
the state, at minimum cost, with
out the least extravaganza, and ad-
ministered with the strictest econ
omy and general efficiency.
Fourth. 1t is reported that the
board paid the clerk, Mr.. Crawford,
a commission of $1,50O.OO for dis
bursing the proceeds of the water
works bonds. This is absolutely
raise. He received no commissions
whatever from this fund.
Fifth. 1t is also charged that I
grated for the benefit of the Heath
Elliott Mule Company by paying 1t
unreasonable sums for hauling the
O,OOO-gallon water tank and tow
er from the depot to court house
square, and for delivering the two
boilers at the pumping station
This charge is foully false and no
gentleman would make 1t.
The tank was bought from the
lowest bidder, F. o. B., Lancaster
and erected The Chicago Bridge
d Iron Works being the lowest bid
der, got the job for $4,14O.00 and
It's manager employed the Heath
Elliott Mule Company to haul the
tank and other material for the sum
of $4,000, which was paid by the
board and deducted from the pur-
chase price of the tank.
The board employed the Heath
Elliott Mule Company to deliver the
two large boilers and stack at the
pumping station, for the sum of
$500, no one else being willing to
bid on the job. The work was done
for that sum and at a loss to the
company. Mr.. Elliott could fine but
one available wagon in the county
which was thought to be stout
enough to hold the boilers. This
wagon was hired from Mr.. Gooch
and was broken down under the
heavy load. 1t, of course, had to be
rebuilt at the expense of the CON
tractor
The general hauling of pipe, etc.
was open to the world at the rate Of
$500 per day for a double team
without driver and $3.50 per day
with a driver. Several citizens in
addition to Heath-Elliott Mule Com
pany, furnished teams at this price
and no reasonable man can say that
II was excessive. 1t was in fact diff
cult at times to secure enough
teams at that price to keep the work
progressing without interruption.
These rumors have been put i'm
circulation doubtless for the purpose
of weakening me because / have un-
dertaken to lead the fight for sew
erage and other improvements. But
the fight Is on in earnest, and we are
no gutter.
In former publication I made n
statement showing that Lancaster
was able to sustain bond issue of
$7O.OOO.OO for sewerage and othep
improvements, in addition to ia
100000 waterworks bonds al
ready issued. / stand by the correct.
ness Of the figures there given and
challenge contradiction in any ma
terial particular.
Some argue persistently that
100000 will not put in sewerage
what they base that argument on l
do not know, but / do know from in
formation received from town Off
cials that the Jaudon Engineering
Company, OF Savannah, Ga. says it
can be done for less than $4,000. 90
VINO is more able TO estimate the
cost, competent and thoroughly
reliable hydraulic engineer who has
made complete survey of the
town, studied the rock foundations
and exhibited a map and drawings
showing his work, or the average
man who knows nothing about en-
glneering? Under the law the sew
erage commission must advertise
for bids for at least thirty days. and
should they receive no bid within
the amount voted, certainly the
Town CC.ncil will not be foolish
enough to sell the bonds, so there
the whole matter would drop until
another election could be ordered
providing for sufficient sum
Some say also that we favor sew
erage but will vote against it if II
is TO be made compulsory. Even If
this could now be legally done il
would be a matter of administration
Wlthih absolute control of the citi-
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