Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-07

may be expected TO equal and with
| possible damages may exceed many
times the cost of principal and in
tereSt for bonds issued to con-
Struct a new sewer, and
Whereas, the moneys spent on
! such repairs and damages for the
existing sewer has no permanent
value, and further that such re-
pairs are accomplished only at con-
siderable risk to the lives Of
workman.
Now therefore, be it resolved
that it is the opinion of this city
council that the best interests of
the city will be served by voting
for the proposed bond issue for the
construction of the new outfall
sewer and that the city engineer
be directed TO present to the vot-
erS of the city all facts ana infor-
nation possible as to the condition
of the existing outfall sewer. and
Resolved further that copy Of
this resolution be furnished the
press of this city.
Ayes - Couch, Rice, CementS,
Gianola, FaWcett
! NoeS-None.
AbSent-None.
Charles Rosenquest, fingerprint
expert for the police department.
was reinstated last night by a un-
animous vote of the councilmen, all
of whom were present. No discus
sion preceded the motion and vote.
w. W. McEuen and Joe King
asked that the city reimburse vari-
Gus charitable organizations for
money spent in relief of FL Centre
families, estimating the sum at be-
tween $700 and $500. An appropri-
alton of $400 was voted, to be
turned over to the Central Relief
committee for distribution to the
charitable organizations. 1t is prob
able the rest of the estimated
amount will be appropriated later.
An old ordinance was amended
to restrict the number of pool halls
in one block to two, except on
Broadway between Fourth and
L lllll SLIGCJo. lit
passed first reading.
An ordinance fixing Sis a quar-
CT as the tax on mechanical amuse-
ment machines was passed and
adopted.
Monthly demands were approved,
and the council adjourned, not to
meet again until after the city elec-
ton.
There are few facts the voters
should consider concerning their
proposed sewer bonds which will be
presented for their vote next
Monday.
The first is that the city council
would not have submitted the prop
oSition at this time except as a
last resort. The hazards and eX-
penSe of continuing the use of the
present sewer does not permit any
other alternative.
1t has cost the city $4,000 in
special equipment, repairs and
damages since the first break in
November, 1880, in order to main
tain the operation of the sewer. In
addition it has cost one life and
$4,000 in compensation.
In the meantime the condition
of the sewer grows continually
worse. No one can forsee accu-
rately what the cast for the next
year will be. A severe earthquake
may practically destroy the sewer
and result in an expense many
times greater than the amount al
ready spent.
If the bonds are not voted the
council will necessarily be required
to levy tax in anticipation of the
probable costs of another year Of
repairs and damages and that
amount cannot reasonably be less
than costs for the past year. The
amount will equal, approximately,
the annual cost of principal ana
interest upon bonds.
Therefore the cost to the taXpay-
erS will of necessity be practically
the same whether the bonds are
voted or not and may be a great
deal more. There is this differ
ence, however; the money spent
upon the new improvement will
give value for a long time; the
money spent in repairs on the old
sewer is virtually thrown down
the sewer.
The council felt, therefore, they
could do naught else but submit
the proposition to the voters. They
did not feel they could longer place
mems lives in jeopardy nor con-
tinue for the city the risk of
major catastrophe which might re-
suit in damages and other expense
in excess of the entire cost of
new sewer. And in addition leave
The city entirely without sewage
facilities.
The responsibility is now up to
the voters. Whatever they decide
the council will naturally be gov
crned by. There is no question but