Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-06-18
Sc NTlNEl
YPsILANTI. WEDNESDAY JUNE 10. 1915.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

and consequent unproductiveness
Of our Public Works, ere beginning to advocate
their abandonment by the Stale, and advise their
sale a relief from deb. aud taxation. Now for
ourselves, though sensible ofihe truth Of the rea-
sons urged We cannot see that they tend so strong
ly TO this conclusion; and must beg the Detroit
Editors, il they intend to take the lead of public
opinion ~ this NATTER to be sure Of the teiabIIi'y
of their ground-o be doubls fortified in the just
The State has becn run in debt by the consiruc.
lon of these works very we'll, aud was il eS-
pececed that The State could build them athout,
running in debit But they yield no net revenue!
True, but they not yet completed, and the
most successful of American works Of improve
ment, the Erie Canal, left the STATE millions in
deb al lis completion, and vet, has since paid for
itself, supported unproductive lateral canals, and
yielded revenue. But, they are used as poliico
capital, as price for party services and fund of
party corruption. "True, and pity 'lis, Ills true
but is this an unavoidable State of ,hpgs?'' For
what has the Wing party protested for years to
labor but for the correction of these and other
abuses and have the advocates of sale at length
come to the conclusion, that "where the carcase is
there ,ciH The viltures be gathered together" with.
out remedy. and therefore do they now propose
The removal oflhe carcase a
What they may have seen ia the immortality Of
i
the city to lead them to this conclusion, we know
not. Certainly the deec,abIe company of the
honorable the Legislatures of The State for part
OF the year, and OF The supper ten thousand in
general for the remainder, cannot give them any
very exalted notions of the prevalence of political
virtue and integrity, and perhaps their fears are
well grounded considering the experience they
hare had; but we can assure them that The coun-
try is full OF Wings. good and true, who are un-
willing TO give up the prospect which they once
saw, of seeing the State Improvements become
productive as State property. Who, conscious of
their own integrity, cannot see why great advan-
Iage should be foregone from the mere wan, of
honesty 10 secure it-who, clearly seeing the
mlsmanngement which has brought the State ia,o
its present difficulty, are willing themselves to
help and ask others to help il out of difficulty and
manage better for the future. .a
i To us, it seems that the idea of the sale of the
Public Works to defray the debt increased by their
construction should dictate US to pursue the con-
trary course. For what sharpsighted capitalist
would invest his money in any concern where
profit could not reasonably beexpected? But the
amount of these debts exceeds, by the influence oil
the speculations of The time in which they were
contracted by interest since accrued, and by mon
/ ey lost liz bank failures (unless we repudia.e) VIVA
the present worth of these works would be in the
market, provided there was not a strong prospect
that upon their completion they would become
profitable. &c @ p
i Ii under all these circumstances the public
works can be sold for price decentIy approach
ing the amount Of the State Indebtedness, it is :
good proof that the State could not do better thar
to become itself the purchaser pay its debts by
taxes. clear out "the money changers" 60 into !
thorough reform, "Wnh pleasure own their error
past and strive to mend their manners for th
future. There have not been wanting CONCLUSIVE
signs that our Improvements the Central Rail
road in particular, has been watched in cerla
quarters with interest bu, too indicative of il
, great importance for the good The Watchers
!, Our last Legislature bad scarcely met before Ger
!, tain Eastern Editors those who manufactur
"pubic opinion" by announcing what it is belor
it is formed, intmaled that "lhere was every pros
j: pect that the Legislature of Michigan would pa.
law for the sale of the Public Works." 'sTh
the sale oihe public works was to be one impo
= tant measure of the present Legislature" &C.
= Indeed our fears that the Legislature would col
slder itself bound 10 act according to the work thu
:, cut out for them by these disinterested person
e was only couheracied by the greater fear that
& voon TO their own priuate business would prove
their acting intelligentIy that or any thing els
:. For which fear there was the most ground, Il
n public must Judge. sss- a.
i'll -s-. s For the Ypsilanti Sentinel.
gn THE MONROE TRAGEDY.