The Harrison times., 1914-07-11
The Water and Sewerage Bond
Issue.

Concerning the water and sewer
age proposition, will say that |
think Fred Greene in his recent arti-
Gle in the Herald, has made a pretty
good argument against a large
bond issue for that purpose, and has
made very conservative estimate
of costs and amount of additional
taxes the property owner viii have
TO pay.
| will not 60 over the ground cov-
cred by Mr.. Greene, but will say
that | endorse his sentiments. be-
lieve that if this waterworks and
sewer proposition is carried out to
the extent advocated by some, that
it will stop building operations in
our town and will paralyze business
generally,
Owing to the high rate of taxation
every property owner will want to
sell out and there will be no one to
sell to because no one will want to
invest where the tax rate is so high.
Just now there are a good many
borrowing money to invest in a
home, and then to have a double
rate OF taxation put upon them by
an excessive bond issue will be ruin.
Gus, 1t is all the same if a man is
just beginning to pay out on his
home, or whether he has it half paid
out, he has to pay taxes on the full
assessed valuation Of the property,
and pay interest on his borrowed
money besides.
In a case like this, if there is a
| $4,000 bond issue made one had
better move out and let the mort.
cages foreclose and lose what he has
already paid,
am opposed to sewerage at this
time other than what may be made
by the property owner in the form
Of cess polls which can be built at
small cost aud afford good individ-
ual sewerage if properly constructed
Speaking for myself, ! will say
that have five good residence
sites on which ! contemplate build
ing as many modern cottages, the
probable cost Of which will range
along from $1,000 20 S25OO each
Now if there is $4,000 or any
thing like that amount in bonds
sold for sewerage and waterworks,
| | will not build one cottage, 90 say
nothing about building FIVE cot
tages. This is only one instance
and in itself does not cut much fig
ure. 1t is only a straw that points
in the direction the wind blows, but
| l think there are others in the same
attitude,
am strongly in favor Of an i'm.
proved water system ! believe
$4,000 spent in improving our
water system and fire equipment
would be all we coulastand az this
time, and would fill all requirements
for the present,
If we can make arrangements
with the railroad company to do
our pumping, put reservoir on the
Mitchell hill, get water from the
Mitchell spring the best water in
this section and quit using the con-
taminated water that comes out
from under our town, we would
have water proposition that
would be hard 20 beat,
! would suggest that the city
council authorize the purchase of
two or three extension ladders of
sufficient length to reach the roof of
our two story business houses, and
that these ladders be kept at some
convenient place near the square,
and that they shall not be allowed
60 be removed at any time, nor for
any purpose except in case of fire,
At our late fire Nn extension lad.
der was the means Of saving the
Boone County Hardware building
One other ladder Just like it would
have saved the Green Il knight
building and the Mnicus & lnman
building These two buildings could
very easily have been saved had
there been any way for the hremen
to get on the roof All they needed
was ladder but there was none at
hand, consequently both buildings
were total loss
Another suggestion, that the city
council pass an ordinance requiring
every residence owner TO keep at all
times on his premises a good ladder
of sufficient capacity TO reach the
roof Of his house, In q number of
eases residences outside Of the fire
limits have burned 90 the ground,
which could have been saved had
there been u ladder near at hand 90
enable 6remen % reach the locality
Of the Gre IN iIs early stage,