South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-13
PROPOSED SEWER
ON MICHIGAN ST.
MEETS OBJECTION
Some Property Owners Think
Plan is III-Timed and Others
Believe Assessments Are Not
EquitabIy Planned.

Proposed construction OF the Mich
igan st. sewer and repaving OF the
tnoroughfare met with much opposi-
ton from the majority OF those pres
ent at the mass meeting held in the
city council chamber last. called for
the purpose of learning the senti-
ment OF those affected. according TO
l.. NJ. Norris. president Of the board.
That under the existing business
conditions the improvements are not
feasible az this time. seemed 20 be
the predominant spirit of the property
owners present. Others objected upon
the theory that the proposed system
Of assessments was not equitable,
while others stated that they believed
the Michigan sewer capable Of doing
all the work required. thus eliminat-
ing any necessity for the improve
ment.
ON but one thing did practically
p the chtire body agree and that was
that Michigan ST., particularly in the
business district. should be repaired
IT was suggested that il be resurfaced
with asphalt but the board of works
stated thar this would not be prac-
teal in view of the fact that a new
sewer must be placed on Michigan
St within the next few years and
that the expenditure for TesuTfacing
would be wasted.
Explains Proposition.
Pres't Morris opened the meeting,
which was attended by about Z prop
erty owners and others. by explain
ing the reason for the session He
stated that the board of works wished
10 find out the sentiment of the tax
payers regarding the proposed sewer.
He also explained that there would
be direct and indirect assessment,
the first being three cents on a
square foot for each adjoining piece
OF property and the second three mills
on tributary or indirectly benefited
property.
city Engineer William Moore eX-
planned the proposed sewer. preced-
ing the explanation with short his
tory Of sewers in the city from be-
fore the time South Bend was in
corpOrated. He also stated that the
sewer would cost approximately $46,-
coo. OF this amount $4,000 would
come under direct assessments and
the remainder Of indirect assessments.
There were many lively discussions
during the debate over the questions.
one man. an indirect tax payer, said:
You want us to pay $4,000 so that
three or four cellars downtown Will
not be flooded 1t had been eX-
pIained by Engineer Moore that the
present sewer is too high for many
of the Easements in the business dis
tricts and there is often an overflow
and consequent destruction OF prop
orty.
Want Others Opinions.
Some of the property owners, Who
objected 10 the proposed improve
ments UpOn the grounds that II viii
affect business on Michigan st. al
this time. urged that the tenants give
an opinion on the subject, Others
objected to this, stating that the ten
ants were not paying for the i'm
provemCnts and therefore were not
justified i'm joining in the discussion.
This is an inoppOrtune time TO
start operations on this sewer, de-
clared Dudley NJ. Shively in comment
ing on the subject Business con-
ditions are just picking up from the
depression of the last few months
aud there is a possibility that with
Michigan st. torn up from Lasalle TO
Monroe merchants would be injured.
Not more than 80 or 50 men could
be employed on the work at one time,
AZ cording TO Pres't MOcris and Mr..
ShiyeIy asserted that If labor condi-
items were not 10 he benefited more
materially than 10 this extent the inn
prov ements were not necessary nj TINS
time. He urged that the board OF
works wait until late i'm the year as
and business would not be disturbed
i'm the late summer and fall by the
operations.
Arthur r. Rice, member Of the
board of works. speaking from the
standpoint OF a taxpayer who viii be
indirectly assessed if the proposed i'm
provements go through, said that the
people Of the south side owe II to
themselves TO assist in paying for the
sewer. He declared that they had
secured their sewerage free of charge
and that they had never had TO pay
for an outlet He believed that those
persons indirectly taxed were getting
off cheap.
DR.. : l.. Kilmer said that there was
no necessity for the improvement at
this time. although the street should
be repaved or resurfaced. He spoke
for some length upon the proposition
from the negative standpoint. }. l..
Nem favored the sewer. y petition
containing 81 names of property own
ers was presented at the meeting ask
ing that the proposed improvements
be withheld
l. : Romig. representing taxpayers
on Michigan St. between ColfaN and
Iasalle avs. proposed that the sew er
turn down ColfaX 20 the river instead
down I.asalle. This would eliminate
the cost 20 the property holders be-
tween the two avenues. who. he said,
were satisfied with the present paving
and sewer facilities
F'avDrS TmprOV ement
Aaron Jones favored the proposed
Improvement stating that IL was
needed and that if the board of works
waited until all were ready for the
sewer Il would never be constructed.
Fx-MeyOr Charles L. Goetz also
favored the construction OF the sewer
later on in the summer.
III was explained 10y the city engin-
eer and Agr Morris that the paving
would not be possible. until the sewer
has been constructed, They stated
that the plan is 10 tear up hut one
block OF paving on the east side of
the street at a time during the plac-
ing Of the sewer and that traftice
would not be interfered with on the
west side They stated that n the
street were resurfared with asphalt il
would mean the raising OF the street
car tracks.
Following the meeting Mr. Morris