The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-01

UnUWUs
To sewer or not to sewer, that is
the question. To ascertain public
sentiment on the subject, the Mayor
and City Council called for meeting
of citizens and tax payers at Fire
mems Hall last Monday evening.
The hall was crowded and great in
terest manifested.
Mayor Koontz called the meeting to
order and read the two demands of
the State Board of Health, of June
9Th, 1919. One order commanded the
Mayor and City Cuoncil to lay before
the Board of Health by November
1st, 1919, complete plans and specif-
cations for a sewerage system for
the city of Westminster. The second
order requires the completion of such
a system by December 1st, 1920.
From the beginning of the meeting
it was apparent that a large majority,
for various reasons, was opposed to
installing the system at the present
time. The present cost of material
and labor and the question of whether
or not Westminster really needs
sewerage system entered vry largely
into the discussion and no definite
conclusion was reached. Mr.. Fl. P.
Gorsuch was elected chairman and
Joseph d. Brooks, secretary
DR.. John S. Fulton, secretary of the
board, was present. He stated that
the board would have promulgated
the order for the sewerage of the
city at least year ago, if it had not
been for the war, and that the con-
tinued good health of the people made
necessary a sewerage system. Mr..
Morse, the engineer of the board gave
it as his opinion that the installation
of such system, including eXcava-
tions, laying of pipes, and fill for
about nine miles of sewer, including
a disposal plant, would cost in the
neighbOrhOod of $2000,000.00. He al
SO gave it as his opinion that the cost
of connecting each residence with the
system would be about $25.O0. DIR.
Stone, of the board, spoke at length
Of the present system of dry wells
and open closets on many lots, and
declared that the present conditions
are menace to the future health of
the community, and that possible
epidemies can only be guarded against
by sewerage.
In the discussion which followed
several facts were. apparent, mat
sewerage is desirable, and that if
conditions were normal there would
be little opposition to the order of
the board; that the general septi-
ment of the citizens is that there are
NO such health conditions as make
imperative the construction of a
sewer in such abnormal times, with
- the cost of labor and material almost
prohibiting such work at this time,
without unduly burdening the tax
payers; that there were many of
opinion that the cost of construction
would be greatly in excess Of the
I figures named by Mr.. Morse.
Mr.. Morse stated that in his opinion
an actual survey could be made,
complete plans and specifications
drawn at a cost of about $2500 A
motion was made that the Mayor and
City Council be requested to have
such a survey made. The motion was
defeated. A resolution was adopted
requesting the State Board of Health
to rescind or suspend it's order until
the country shall have returned to
normal financial conditions.
N Mr. John III. Cunningham offered
the following resolution, which was
adopted by a large majority.
Resolved: That it is the sense of
the citizens and taxpayers of West
minister, in public meeting assembled,
that they realize the Importance of
employing every agency of science
and invention to safeguard the health
and happiness of our citizens, and
that an adequate system of sewerage
and disposal would be desirable and
I,,% ~ fJao
extreme high cost of labor and ma
terial prevailing at this time, they
ask Of the State Board Of Health au-
thorities postponement of action,
appealing to their fair-mindness, and
asking that they do not impose upon
our citizens a financial burden which
would be well nigh impossible for
them to bear.
:> If the cost as estimated by Engineer
Morse OF the State Board of Health
be correct the financial = proposition
facing the citizens of Westminster is
about as follows: Under the law the
Mayor and Common Council may
make a levy Of two per cent on the
taxable property which in our case
which will net $4,000. The balance.
of the money must then be raised by
would be per cent on $3,300;0O0,
a bond issue of $134,0OO, assuming
the total cost to be- 100000. To meet
the interest on the bonds, provide
for a sinking fund to redeem them
when due and to pay the cost Of
maintenance of the system would re-
quire about $4,000 per year, which
will require an increase tax levy of
about 75 cents, which, together with
our present rate will make our levy
$1.25 on every 500 worth Of property.
| In addition to the increase tax
leach residence will be put to the ex-
pense of one dollar per foot for MAX
ing connection with the sewer.
Among other things to be consider
ed in the matter OF the installation
of q sewerage system are our streets
which have been but recently COM
pleted. The mains of the sewers will
be sunk at least feet below the sur
face of the streets and the connec-
tions from houses will cross section
them, thus practically destroying
them. TO replace the streets will
cost at least $50,000-