The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-04-16
THURSDAY, APRIL Is, 1914
Word About Street Sprink-
ling

In these April days ii seems IKE
borrowing trouble to mention the eVlis
of dusty sueets. Nevertheless, sum
mer is but a few weeks off. and with
il along with some blessings, Will
rome an afiiction or two, not the least
of which will be dust-laden breezes
from the highway Everyone admits
some shrinking ought to be done. Few
understand the full menace whieh
dusty streets are to the public healih.
Dust chokes the nose and throat, IT.
ritates the eyes and disfigures our
houses both inside and out. lhese
disagreeable features are manifest
enough. Also in one breath oil dusty
mir are millions of germs -tuberculo-
sis lock-iaw. typhoid and their orelh-
rem mixed with innumerable matefl-
ais which are less dangerous perhaps
hut more disgusting and repulsive.
Dust in the thickly settled portions Oh
a city or town is very much worse
than in the open country, in It's DIS
ease bearing quality. FROM pusi-
ness street where sprinkling IS not at
tempted or is carelessly done CLOUDS
of dust float into the markets ana
uqht upon the beef steak and mingle
with the groceries. Nature sets up
the best defense she can when she
finds these things in our food, but she
will have enough to do at best and
we simply invite disaster if we make
no effort to control the dust nuisance.
In years gone by, we have had some
of the principal streets sprinkled. Inc
man who did the work collected for IL
as he could from those who lived or
did business near by. Now and then
a man would refuse to pay for sprlnk-
ling the area in front of his house or
store. There was no way to compel
him to, neither was it practical to
skip the street surface he should, but
would not pay for, as the dust from II
would float over to annoy those who
the man who would not share the cost
of sprinkl ling with his neighbors got
his job done for nothing. Instances
have occurred where practically every
one on a street would want the sprink-
ling, but would get along without 1t
rather than allow themselves to be
imposed upon by some one or two who
were willing to dodge their share of
the cost.
Recognizing the imperative need of
sprinkling and the justice of distribut-
ing the cost equally. the last legis-
lature passed a law allowing towns to
attend to the matter and charge such
vote determine, to abutting property
holders. Introduced by a suitable
article, a motion was made under this
statute at the last town meeting. spec
flying that the town should own the
sprinklers, provide the material and
apply it, but that the cost of applying
SuOulu VI dSSeSStu upon dDulllHS plo-
perty. The material would be chiefly.
perhaps wholly water. although some
oil might be used in an experimental
way The cost of the water might
be $500 but this sum would provide
for sprinkling two or three times as
much as in past years. The annual
-
charge might be a hundred dollars |
each on two sprinkler wagons. making
an aggregate of $500 to be assessed |
upon the whole town. This would |
result in tax of very nearly Is cents
on each thousand dollars. The abut- |
ters, on streets where sprinkling was
desired would pay all other expense.
OF course the town could vote to in