The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-22
Q TATE BOARD OF HEALTH IN
~ SISTS UPON REING FUR
NISHED WITH PLANS AND SPECI-
OF a. SEWERAGE
SYSTEM FOR WESTMINSTER,

SYSTEM FOR WESTMINSTER.
On Wednesday. in response to the
resolution adopted by a meeting of
the citizens of Westminster held in
the Firemen's Building July %, 1919, |
in the matter of sewerage system |
for this city, Joseph ID. Brooks,
secretary OF the meeting received the
following letter from the State Board
of Health, in reply to a copy Of the
resolution sent to the board:
''Mr. Joseph D. Brooks,
Secretary to the Town Meeting of
July 20, 1919,
Westminster, Md.
Dear Sir
The State Board of Health at its
meeting on August 18th, gave careful
consideration to the resolution Of
July %, in which the Board of Health
was requested to postpone the con-
struction Of a sewerage system for
Westminster, on the ground that
the financial burden would be we'll
nigh impossible for the citizens to
bear, though expressing the belief
that such an installation would be
desirable, convenient and important
for the safeguarding of health and
happiness.
"The State Board of Health calls
attention to the fact that the cost of
a sewerage system is at this time un-
known to the State Board of Health
and to the citizens of Westminster.
The State Board of Health believes
that the cost could readily be borne
by the citizens 1t believes that
costs now incurred, which would be
hxy thn IF q
sewerage system would go very far
indeed toward compromising the cost
Of sewering the town.
Differences of opinion should dis
appear on careful investigation.
Such an investigation is provided for
in the Boards order requiring the
Mayor and Council to make survey
and prepare plans for sewerage
proximately $4,000; probably less.
"At the Town meeting of July 28th,
the vote was decisively against a
survey. If the Mayor and Council
| act in accordance with that vote, the
people will thereby sacrifice the only
means available to them of substan-
tiating their contention that the
Town cannot afford sewerage
system.
THE construction of a sewerage
system is necessarily subsequent to
1.-The survey and plans required under
the first order of the State Board of
Health, and the Board of Health can
not until the plans of a sewerage
system are before it, give considera-
ton to the request for postponement
, of sewerage construction.
~ rnv1+ I'D nIry
with our order requiring Westmins-
ter to submit plans and specifications
for sewerage.
Responsibility for the future health
of Westminster rests alike on the
citizens and the Mayor and Council
and on the State Board II of Health.
The Board of Health can no longer
carry its responsibility for the an
severed condition of the town, and
! it's orders mean that the responsibility
/ for indefinite delay now rests on the
citizens and on the Town authori-
| ties. They can be relieved only by
the Judicial branch of the State Gov
eminent, and the Courts can relieve
them in one way only, i. e., by finding
! that sewerage system is not neces-
sary for public health and safety
\ W W IllC uctIC VI IOCOlL
| the State Board of Health carried
I, the main burden of responsibility,
and would have borne the main brunt
| of criticism for any loss of health or
life that might have fallen upon the
population of Westminster, in conse-
quence of it's unsewered condition.
1t is hoped that the Citizens of West
minister will reverse their action of
July 28th, and instruct the Mayor and
Council to make the preliminary sur
yey, and plans for a sewerage system.
1T is not possible for the State
Board of Health to recede from it's
notice calling for plans and specifi-
cations.
Very truly yours,
JOHN S. FULTON,
JSF:B Secretary.
Aug 22-1t