Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-28
VOTED AGAINST
ANNEXATION AS
TOO EXPENSIVE
In Explanation Lynch Says
He Believed Riverside Prof.
ect Is Too. Costly

City Commissioner william H.
Lynch voted against the annexation
of Riverside to Harrisburg at the
meeting of City Council yesterday,
explaining his opposition on the score
OF cost involved at the present time.
In an interview with a representative
or the Telegraph to-day he said:
There are many reasons that may
be given why the ordinance annexing
part of Susquehanna township to
the city OF Harrisburg should not
now become law. Inevitably
sooner or later, Riverside and it's
surrounding territory will be a part
or Harrisburg. At the proper time
and under favorable circumstances I
Will be an ardent supporter. u
Prices Away Up
These are abnormal times. the de-
mand for money to be used in good
and noble purposes is something un-
heard of before in this country.
People are willingly and cheerfully
subscribing money for all sorts of
purposes. The prices of materials
used in city work has gone up, in
many cases 100 per cent, mechan-
les wages have been greatly in
creased, and labor is getting a very
deserved raise. Under these circum-
stances 1t would seem Sthat the City
Council should take great care not to
unnecessarily burden the taxpayer
at this time with additional taxes.
The millage of this city should not
be raised, and yet this is unavoid-
able If additional territory is added
at this time
Word it as you please, a demand
of from $4,000 to $1,000 for sew
ers already constructed, which can
be nothing but expense to the city of
Harrisburg, because it is rumored
that these sewers are not in good
condition.
Will Expect Compensation
Further, you will have to deal
with the Deuphin Consolidated Water
Company, which supplies Riverside
with water. have already been
notified by an official of this COM
pany that compensation will be eX-
pected by them. How much or how
little this will be l do not know, but
past experience teaches me that it
will be enough.
Increased pumping power and ad-
ditional reservoirs will have to be
provided at great expense if this city
is to provide further service, for we
are very close to the limit.
The town of Riverside does not
have one paved street; If 1t becomes
part of the city, it will deserve and
surely get them. Some streets in it
should be opened at once from Sec
ond street through to Sixth street,
and there is land and possibly some
buildings which will have to be paid
giving better supply and fire pro-
lection must be installed. 1t is COM
mon knowledge that the Suburban
Drainage Company, with empties its
sewage into the river at its shore
line, has been notified to remedy the
nuisance created, but so far they
have failed to do anything.
Will Have to Sewer 1t
IF this town becomes part of Har-
risburg, see how soon it will have to
expend at least $25, 900 in extending
the intercepting sewer and other
work in connection with it. OF
course, you fully understand that the
expense of maintaining this village
would greatly exceed the taxes that
could be derived from it. The fire
district must certainly be extended
to include this section at once and
possibly additional apparatus pro-
vided.
The School Board must supply
schools and admit high school schol-
ars to an already overcrowded high
school. Streets must be lighted by
the city of Harrisburg; and a great
deal of this land is swamp land.
winch, II IN Ine city limits, Will not
| be permitted, entailing a great ex-
pense in draining it.
II think that / have given ample
reasons showing that Harrisburg will
! be compelled to eXpend many thou
sands of dollars in the near future if
this part of Susquehanna township
becomes a part of Harrisburg. and
this will certainly cause a raise in
the tax rate. Against this l am
| firmly committed.
THE very narrow paved roadway
along Front street will not do, if it
! is in Harrisburg. and it will certainly
have to be widened to a 30-foot road
way, the samo as below This will
| cost considerable money.
This matter of annexation could
easily have rested until these bur-
densome times are over, which we all
hope and pray may be very soon.
Most of the cost of the above
mentioned improvements will have
| to be provided within a year"
Commissioner Lynch said further
that the city is committed to the
elimination of Hardscrabble and that
an increase of the pumping and
reservoir facilities of the Water De-