The Cordova daily times., 1916-10-30
(From Fairbanks News-Miner.)

That the tax levy of the town of Fairbanks for the year 1916 may be two per cent was sad news for the property owners of Fairbanks that was revealed at the meeting of the city council last evening. The council held special meeting for the purpose of discussing the approach to the new bridge across the Cinema river and during the discussion of the matter and the talk as to ways and means, it came out that the council may have to tax the people of the town all that the law will permit, and that is 2 per cent In other words, the indications are that the council will not be able to pay the bills already incurred and keep the municipality a going corpor- ation without the big license moneys and at the same tax rate as last year That the mayor and the council are wondering where the revenues will come from fer the schools and fire department should the territory vote dry was evident from the statement made by Mayor R. R. Myers at the meeting, and after the meeting and by statements made by other council men.
 CITY WOULD BE AFFECTED lM-
 MEDlATELY.
 In his statement to the council, Mayor R. E. Myers said that the city fathers should begin to figure where the revenues would come from if the territory went dry, and warned them the town would be affected this year, even if the dry law would not go into effect for more than a year.
 Asked what he meant, or how he figured that the town would be af- fected this year. the mayor said that he understood, and it is a matter of common knowledge. that many of the men in the liquor bushes sat the pre- sent time would not renew their Ii censes if the drys carry the territory. They will start to "get from under" and find new fields.
 MATTER BROUGHT UP.
 After the council had disposed of the bridge question last night. the mayor said that there was a matter that he had been thinking of for two years. and thought something ought to be done about it; and that was the sewer system Of the town
 "There are more cesspools and wells being dug every year." the mayor said. and I believe it is the duty of the council to start preparing plans and specifications for a sewage sys- tenn, if we do nothing else. Of course we will not he able to do anything this year toward starting the actual in stallation of the sewers, but we can make the start
 Last spring, as we went around the town to investigate conditions. we found it most filthy and it certainly must be a healthy climate or disease Would have haan nreya1nnt
 If we are going to have a perma- nent town, we have got to have a sys- tenn of sewers to guard the public health"
 At this point Councilman Henry interrupted by saying that while he agreed with the mayor, he believed it would be found a serious proposition, the installation of sewers, and he be- iieved that the town would need the services of very expert engineer to solve the natural difficulties to be overcome, to say nothing of the fin aneial question.
 Mir. Ray thought, however that the property owners should be warned now against throwing rubbish in the streets during the winter, so that fl would be necessary in the spring to have the same cleaned up
 The mayor then went on to saw that everything that Mfr. Ray said was true.
 "Yes," he went on ,'I believe 1t is the duty of this council to take the matter up. Of course. the first thing to be considered is the expense.
 Another serious thing. "If Alaska goes dry where are we going to get the money to run the affairs of the city? The council must look to the future If this territory goes dry our