Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-03-11
LIE SEWERAGE QUESTION.

Mr.. Editor:
The sewerage question seems to be
the chief subject now being discussed
by the citizens of the town.
A great many people are opposed
TO it and a great many seem to favor
it. Some have started the report
that Washington street and one or
two other streets Of the town are to
be severed and the balance not to be
touced. Report of the plan has been
published fully in last weeks edition
of the Spirit of Jefferson, and those
interested can get considerable in
formation on the subject.
In my experience in the past TWEEN
ty-flye years or more, in the real
estate business, the question has been
asked me by non-residents and also
residents of the State who have come
into our town in search Of homes
Have you a sewerage SYSTEM"
When the fact has become known
that we have none. / have been told
repeatedly that our town will never
grow and that very few would ever
settle here if sewerage was not put
in.
At the present time there are, so
have been informed, seven hundred
and fifty cess pools and probably as
many as fifty in various parts of the
town Overlooking by reason of the
fact there seems to be no remedy or
outlet for them.
The Mayor has stated that during
the summer months and warm
weather in the past, he has complaints
every day from more than one source
To improve any town and keep up
with the times, no town will grow or
can grow unless they have proper
sewerage.
The State Board of Health's repre-
sentative has given out the statement
that it is only question of time
when there will be serious epidemic
in the town unless something is done.
The facts as ! have stated them
cannot be disputed, and they are
staring all of us in the face.
Strasburg. Va, Romney, w. Va,
Front Royal, Va, and other smaller
towns have sewerage. Winchester,
Va. Martinsburg, and nearby towns
larger than Charles Town have sew
erage and they have grown wonder
fully since their plants were put in
and will continue to grow.
Mr. Lyman Linson, prominent
resident of our town, who came here
from New York State. states that his
former home put in sewerage and the
town practically doubled in a few
years after the Improvement was
j made.
Many people say it will cost too
much and the taxes are too high. The
cost of the present plan, 1t is said
will run not over 100000 and as
much as 500 900 of this will be spent
in labor right here at home
In 1891, the Board of Education Of
and purchased fro mtheC. NJ NJ e
Imp Co., the Office building in Ran
i son, and were severely criticized for
doing so.
Today Charles Town has one of
the best equipped high and public
schools in the State of West Virginia
Does anyone ever regret that such a
movement was started about thirty
four years ago? Would some of our
citizens like to see their children go
back to the old school rooms where
they used to attend school?
! venture to shay, should Charles
Town put in sewerage as proposed by
the Engineering Department Of the
State Board of Health, and the pro-
posed road to Virginia and on to
Washington is built through our
town. and the midland trail from the
West to Staunton. Va, is completed
shortly, and with the prospects of the
National Park and many other things
in view, our town will be double in
population inside of five years.
The sewerage will not be put in the
section where I live, and may not be
for five years. but ] want to see it
notwithstanding this fact.
THOS. r. MOORE.