The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-03-24
DISCUSSED PRO
AND CON AT MASS MEETING

The mass meeting at the court
house last Tuesday night to consider
the water-works question went off
very smoothly and at it's conclusion
metamorphosed into a fish banquet
when fried shad, corn bread and cof-
fee were served by Mr.. p. z. Zounis.
Mayor Trotti presided and one of
the visiting engineers explained the
contemplated system of water-works.
Two deep wells, he thought, would
furnish the town with an ample supply
of pure water. The plans, it was
brought out, cover the entire town.
He estimated that the water rentals
would about meet the expense of m
keep. PROBABLE reduction in Insurance
rates were placed at about Is per
cent.
The first speaker following tho en-
gineer was Mr.. w. p. Odom. Mr..
talk and he was interesting on this oc-
casion in spite of his pessimistc views.
He figured the tax assessment to mcot
the demands of the contaminated ven
ture at 20 to 27 mills and thought we
are too poor to pay it. Water-works
for Chesterfield, he described as Ute
plan, something to be desired. but ,,
impossible. The town is too small. |
he said, and times too hard, etc.
Mr. Odom was followed on the plat
form by the Rev. T. B. Owen. He was
also opposed to water-works and sew
erage on the same grounds as the
former speaker. He was in favor of
these things in general but not for
Chesterfield. He was very doubtful
about the success Of the deep wells. !
He didn't think much of water as a
hre-fighter and quoted Mr.. Hardison,
chemical engine agent of Wadesboro |
to the effect that most of the fires in
that town were eXtinguished with |
chemicals. The audience was led to |
believe that Mr. Hardsor did rot
think water-works was the thing for
Chesterfield any how.
Both speakers made good use of |
the argument in all its phases, "we
can't afford it."
Mr.. j. Arthur Knight replied to this
argument by saying task yourselves
also can we afford to be without it,"
lie referred to six fires since he had |
come to Chesterfield that averaged n |
loss of about $75, 100000 The town is
now smaller on account of these fires. |
and he said he understood some of |
he interested parties would not re-
build unless assured of protection in
ihe future. The town must either 90 |
forward or backward, he said. There
are about S65 inhabitants in the town
now, and all the estimates on taxa
ton were based on no increase in the
toWr. If we do nothing to build up the
town We can not hope for more resi-
dents, hut if we go forward, new resi-
dents will come and taxable property
viii increase. Mr.. Knight was consid-
cred by many to have made the most |
telling point of the evening when he
aid that if the proper authorities |
you'd a"s"S, tn. vacant lotc = Ches- |
terhcl6 IN the same proportion as inn
proved property, the whole tax levy |
on water works and sewerage would |
not exceed 10 mills. AS the taxes are
now assessed, he said, people are fin
ed for making improvements in town,
because Of having to pay taxes out of |
proportion to that levied on vacant
lots He further stated that one insur-
ance company had already withdrawn |
its policies from Chesterfield and |
there was some danger of all insu-
rance here being cancelled unless we
secured some protection. Ne agreed |
with DE-. Trotti in the belief thai in
surancc could be reduced in amount |
because Of greater safety. and a |
smaller risk.
Following Mr. Knight Mr.. p. ]. |
Zounis took that platform accom-
panied by the aforementioned shad, |
corn bread and coffee. |