WAKE UP!

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 890, 9 August 1910, Page 9

WAKE UP!

SOMNOLENT JOHNSONVILLE, WHAT MIGHT BE DONE. (Contributed.) Within easy and convenient distance of tlio city, and nestling snugly among tho surrounding hills, which form a picturesque background from all points of its outlook, lies thn somnolent village of iTohnsonvillc, bright, cheerful, and homely. For upwards of 40 years Johnsonvillo has hugged its primeval exclusivcness, and turned a deaf ear to the syren song of Progress, until those of its residents who represented its advanco and by futile effort tried to enhance its attractions have turned hopelessly away to' direct their energies into' more favourably-disposed communities, if less favourably situated for their purpose. Johnsonvillo possesses advantages, from a health point of viow, to which few otiicr suburbs can lay claim, and although its sanitation has for so long been neglected, it • still maintains a high reputation among medical men, on account of the dryness and purity of its atmosphere, and the beauty of its surroundings, as a desirable place for residential purposes. Against all concerted effort, however, to alhiro it into a wide-awako recognition of those prospective advantages, which are contingent upon sound enterprise, it baa been proof, and these advances ha ye been mot grudgingly and without enthusiasm. Now, however, a reaction has set in. The spirit of progress— which in all communities may be sup-, pressed for a time, but never wholly destroyed—is abroad, and a strong di;siro for a better condition of things, in the interests'" of thn piibliu welfare, than at present exist is animating its people. Following hard upon an unsuccessful endeavour to obtain the necessary consent to a water. supply scheme alone, comes a further proposal for a water and drainage scheme combined. The combination of these necessary conveniences, which, in this instance, are designed to meet the wants of more than double tho present population, is regarded as of paramount importance to tho immediate development of tho town, an opinion which was frankly expressed by the rejection of the last poll when a single service was proposed. For tho • important faut is nov,' being generally recognised that as tho population and rateable values increase so will the cost to tho ratepayers, incurred by means of.this' enterprise, bo diminished, while the intrinsic value of their property will bu moro than proportionately enhanced. ' ■ Health and Sanitation. It is a surprising fact that some communities when .threatened -with a danger they are reluctant to ndmit only become conscious of an intelligent appreciation of tho evil when its effects are- so potent that they can no longor bo ignored. This time is now rapidly approaching, so far Johnsonvillo is concerned, and before tho nomninnity is faced with a serious epidemic, 'the' presence of which is evidenced by sporadic' outbreaks at the time of writing, it 'is incumbent upon its members to bestir themselves by a proper sense of their insecurity. Complaints from tho health authorities and from other sources, consequent upon its insanitary condition, are so frequent and insistent, that tho gravity of their cause can no longer be denied. The creeks and streams running through the village are in such a' condition as to constitute a. serious menace to health, and thus what should, with due attention to cleanliness, and an observance of the laws of common decency, be an attractive featuro in its appearance, are now a festering eyesore which disgusts and repels all but thoso whom long use has rendered callous to its "unsightliness. The night sanitary system now in vogue is generally recognised as a crude, unhealthy, and wholly unsatisfactory means of attempting to cope with the serious problem of sanitation, and ono that is entirely devoid of any redeeming feature; for' while exceedingly nasty in : all .its aspects,'it' , does'"'not even • possess the ono ■ doubtful 'advantage of cheapness to recommend it. The cost of this dangerous .and' obsolete method, which rather contributes to the evils it is intended to mitigate, is, under the most favourable conditions, almost exactly equivalent to the cost of a complete, satisfactory, and modern system of drainage, and it is easy to accurately predict that the ultimate cost will bo considerably in excess of that of an efficient drainage scheme. It is thus at once apparent that the proposals now introduced should meet with tho support ■ which they claim from overy prudent ratepayer, and that from ono of tho strongest motives, viz.,- economy. Proposed Water Supply. The question of the proposed wate* supply embraces- many or-the "conditions attaching to the drainago scheme nl ready enumerated. The opportunity for securing a catchment area which, by general, consent,. is allowed'.'to'. , bo the best 'for its purpose, is - oho that will not in all probability occur again except at a prohibitive cost. Then tho fact must not be overlooked that a water supply is a rovenue-producing concern which will yield returns' . from several sources, viz., grazing fees, sale of water by meter for trado purposes, oic, tho reduction in fire insuranco premiums, and the possibilities of electrical energy, all of which tend to re* duco its ultimate cost without' taking into oonjideration the addition to tho population, which the carrying out of such a schene must necessarily induce. For it must bo borne in mind that ,tho contemplated establishment of a power station in connection with this water supply scheme could also be utilised, as has been recently demonstrated, to generate electricity ! for public and private lighting, and would thus prove financially/ remunerative, and. the most satisfactory system for, this purpose that could bo devised to meet the ■growing requirements of tho town. Fire Protection. Again, in considering the risk of a dangerous firo in a town where wooden buildings to'the value of probably moro than £100,000 exist, apart!from tho value of furniture, stock, personal effects, and tho loss of.'that which so frequently cannot be replaced at any price, we are confronted with a problem of very serious import, and one that can only be overcome by a high-pressuro water supply that will bo instantly available for service in all parts of the town, even to the highest levels. Another aspect which the installation of such, necessary works, as arc hero outlined, presents for one's consideration is the important fact that the first capital cost is practically also the final cost; for, so compactly'is Jolinsqnvillo situated, that no further extension is possible, except it bo desired to extend the services beyond tho limits of the town, for which, of course, an adequate return'will bo demanded. And as for the total cost' of tho work, a moment's reflection will dissipate any cause for alarm. For when the manifold' advantages of a water supply to a town like Johnsonvillo aro sot against tho present insecurity of property, together with tho: increased valuo that will ac'cruo from ' its completion, and the benefits of an efficient system of drainage aro measured by tho existing menace to health occasioned by its absence, which is so seriously retarding tho progress of the town, and in addition to which one has to consider the fact that the cost of the latter system is already being incurred without any enjoyment of its benefits, then who can honcstlv sny that such enterprise is hot imtifißrfP