Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-03-24
EXPLAINS SEWERAGE PLANS.
Editor Spirit Of jefferson.
Dear Cir.


Dear Sir
It has been reported that some
citizens are not entirely clear on the
provisions of the resolution passed at
the special meeting of the City
Council on Monday night. March
9th, and | ask the use Of your coll
umns in an effort to explain as well
as can Just what the said resolution
provides for.
What the Council plans to do, pro-
vided the bond issue carries success
fully. is to build the foundation of
sanitary sewerage system for
Charles Town. and at the same time
to provide storm drainage for the
section as outlined in the resolution.
it having been found that both sys-
TENS can be installed more econom-
ically if done at the same time. 1t
is plannd to put storm sewer of
sufficient size and capacity to carry
storm water in times of maximum
rainfall down Main Street, beginning
at the Post Office cornr and follow
ing the present line of drainage to a
point on West Street where that por-
ton of the storm sewer that has al
ready been built begins. This will
necessitate trench six feet wide
and from five to seven feet deep in
the Main Street. 1t is also planned
to put sanitary sewer line two to
three feet deeper than the storm
sewer. and deep enough to drain the
cellars of the Main Street properties
by gravity flow. The cost of build
ing the sanitary line as estimated by
the engineer. provided the said line
be placed in the same trench with
the storm sewer, is $500 per lineal
foot. One-third of the cost of which
will be borne by the Town, and two
thirds by the abutting property own
ers. One-half of which applies to
either side of the street. To Illus
trate, property owner having a
front footage of fifty feet on Main
street would be assessed with one
third. amounting to $1,000. which
could be paid into the Town in a
series of installments not to exceed
ten years. or be paid in one sum. at
the option of the property owner.
Upon petition of the majority of
the citizens in any section or ward.
or upon order of the Council under
the provisions of the State law re-
lating thereto. extensions of the
sanitary line may be built. which en-
ables the citizens to have sewerage
facilities when it is found that same
is needed.
1t must be remembered that about
40 per cent. of the construction cost
IN the engineers estimate will be alb
sorbed in the building of the storm
sewer. public and necessary i'm
provement. which is benefit to
everybody alike. and the expense of
| which applies in the same manner as
! though this money would be spent in
the building of bridge in any par
| tieular section of the Town or in the
building of school in the district.
| This leaves balance of approx
mately 100000 to go into the
construction of the sanitary work as
planned. and when it is considered
that the revenues derived from the
! abutting property owners in the
Main Street area are to be applied
to the interest and bond retirement
fund. it will be found that the actual
/ cost covering the sanitary work to
the property owner in general will
be relatively small, not exceeding
one-half of the special levy of IT
cents and once having the founda-
ton of the sanitary sewerage built
makes it possible to have complete
sanitary system when desired.
The two chief reasons for the de-
feat of the bond issue a year ago
were, first. the additional property
tax incurred thereby, and secondly,
the large number of citizens whose
present private sewerage facilities
were satisfactory not desiring the
expense of making any change, and
also the objection On the part of the
property owners who had no bath
facilities and were not prepared to
meet the extra expense of having
the same installed. 1t would there
fore seem unwise to undertake to
build complete system except as
the demand arose therefor. But. as
has been shown. the foundation of
the system must first be had to en-
able any section to have the benefit
of sewerage.
This plan, according to the best
information available. is the one in
most general use throughout the
country, and is generally accepted
as being the most practical one.
The additional taxes required for
the proposed work are negligible.
and will impose no burden on any
individual. whereas the levy reauir-
ed to cover the cost of the complete
system would mean practically one
hundred per cent increase in the
Corporation taxes.
The Town spends annually from
six to sven thousand dollars on street
maintenance. This expense could
be materially reduced if it were pos
sible to do permanent street paving.
which due to the lack of proper
street drainage facilities is impos-
sible.
The storm system as planned takes
care of the drainage through and
over the district that causes the
greatest expense. and this system
once installed would enable the city
government to perfect a complete
storm drainage system that would be
satisfactory. and also keep the Town