Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-25
FAIRFAX DEBATES
100000 BONDP PLAN
Town, Improvements Dis.
cussed at Mass Meeting.
Engineers Give Talks.
special .pisratch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Va. July 25.-Citizens OF
the town of Fairfax last night in mass
meeting debated the question Of bond
ing the town for water and sewerage at
a cost of 100000.
The meeting opened with prayer for
guidance offered by Rev. l.. B. Atkins.
lasted until midnight, with discussion
at times waxing personal and acrl-
monious as proponents and opponents
battled in debate. Mayor Thomas P.
route of the proposed water mains and
sewer lines, the former to serve the en-
tire corporation limits, the latter to
cover only such portions OF the town as
can be handled on a gravity system.
1t was pointed out that while the plan
for the sewer system covered only APP
proXimately SO per cent Of the area OF
the town, it served So per cent Of the
population and provided an opportunity
for later extension as the population in
creased in the sparsely settled portions
of the town. The maximum tax neces-
sary to pay for interest and sinking
fund on this bond issue would be $1.75,
with assured reduction as building In
creaseS.
Other Systems Discussed.
Mr.. Snyder Of the engineer division OF
the State Board of Health outlined the
status of public water systems in Vlr-
ginia, pointing out that in 1910 only 10
per cent of the people of the State were
so served, whereas now more tnan oO
per cent. including all cities and prac-
tically every town the size of Fairfax.
is served from public system: He
stressed the soil on which Fairfax is
situated and the problem presented by
the local courthouse and jail disposal
plant where the supervisors nave on
several occasions called on the State
Board OF Health for assistance.
Shallow wells are not dependable
source of water supply. The SOIL Is
bound to be polluted In popuious com,
munities," he declared. He also stated
that the curtailment of the plan for
sewer system for Fairfax has been at
the advice of the State Department;
that the town had the largest area in:
side its corporation limits as compared
with it's population of any town IN
Virginia. The plans submitted to the
town for approval by the McCrary En-
gineering Co. have been approved ny
the State Board of Health, and work
will be inspected by State engineers
when completed.
Sewerage to cover the entire town
would cost an additional $4,000. In
response to an inquiry as to the feasl.
bility of installing water alone. he stated
that all towns which have done so nave
regretted 1t, and the practice is uneco-
nomical. He cited instances OF other
Virginia towns of comparable size and
valuation which have bonded themselves
for similar amounts. ~
Installation Cost Cited.
In response to a statement from Lewis
Oliver Of Fairfax, one of the leaders
opposing the bond issue, that the aver
age cost of installation IL Arlington
County amounted to $467. Mr.. Loving,
an engineer from the McCrary Engineer
survey. stated that the average cost IN
Fairfax of tapping the water main
would be $40 to $25 on 20 feet with adj
ditional pipe at not more than Is cents
per foot The average town makes no
charge for connection with the sewer
system. Replying to objections that
there was no assurance that the work
could be completed within the 500, 600
estimate, Mr.. Loving stated he had no
hesitancy in saying that the job could
be completed within that sum.
F. S. McCandish pointed out that
even If the bond issue carries and the
town is assessed with total county
and town tax of $500, the citizens will
still pay q smaller tax than Is paid in
the town OF Falls Church, which pays
$415 in the Fairfax County section and
$425 in the Arlington County portion,
or in Herndon, with $4.38. Owing to
the geographical location Of the town.
the main roads have been built at State
expense without necessity of bond
issue and the residents of the county
seat have paid very low taxes. He
urged, as did County Treasurer F. w.
Huddleson, that Fairfax place itself on
WITT Nf
State. John w. Rust, councilman, point
ed out that between 100000 and $780,
900 worth of new construction was
practically assured the town in new
hotel, bank and residences, as soon as
public water supply Is assured. Both
Mr.. Huddleson and Mr.. Rust empha-
sized the danger to which residents were
subject as the central part of the town
is becoming polluted and well after well
condemned. Councilman John Whalen
pointed out that two-thirds Of the town
is at present totally unprotected from
fire except by the use of chemicals, IN
spite of the $1,000 recently invested by
the community in modern new pump
ing engine. The reduction in insurance
rates available to town taxpayers after
installation of water ranges from 10 per
cent for private dwellings to 40 per
cent for commercial holdings. Mr..
Loving stated further that the opera
ton OF the proposed plant was so simple
that it could be cared for by the town
sergeant as part of his routine daily
duties, that revenue Of So per month
from each water customer would more
than pay the cost of maintenance, re-
pairs and power charges.
Representative Moore Talks.
Representative r. Walton Moore
briefly outlined the history of every
forward-looking movement in the town
in the past, for roads, electricity school,
house bond issue and fire-fighting
equipment, stating that all were carried
through by the efforts of few public
spirited citizens against opposition; that