The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-25

meant 10 DC IacetlOuS. NOBODY
knows better than the editor of the
Courier, that the JOURNAL never ad-
yocated the establishment of monop-
olies of any character, Water Works
or otherwise. But then, he was
in bad temper. aud felt justi-
fed in making statements which
could not be sustained by facts.
Not q single editorial paragraph
can be quoted from the JOURNAL
advocating the construction of Water
Works BY a private company. Not
only did the JOURNAL oppose such
an arrangement, but the Republican
party, in convention assembled, passed
a resolution recommending that the
city construct the Works. All this
the Courier is familiar With, but then
when an editor loses his temper, he
cannot be expected to confne himself
to dull matters of fact. 1t is so much
easier to draw largely upon the do
main of fiction.
We copy still another charming
specimen of Imagination run wild -
OF all the improvements that have
ever been projected in Evansville, by
the city, the construction of Water
Works is the only one that will ever
return money into the city treasury
during the lifetime of this generation.
Our railroads were needed to extend
our trade, open commerce with a
greater scope of country and to in
crease our facilities of business of all
kinds. To secure these desiable OBJ
iects the people submitted to a large
public oebt and heavy taxation.
But none of these lines of commune
cation with the great world were ex-
pected to become a source of revenue
for many years. Not so with our Wa
ter Works. Within two years from
the day they are put in operation, in
any part of the city, they will become a
source of revenue, which will increase
as the years 60 by, until the Holly
works will not only have paid for their
own construction, but the revenues
derived from the water rents will go
a long way toward the payment of the
debt of our city incurred for other
purposes.
At every meeting of the Council
two wharf-masters hand in weekly re-
ports. showing the amount of revenue
derived by the city, from the wharf.
We supposed the wharf was an "im-
provement" that returned money in
to the city treasury, during the life
time of this generation" But when
an editor gets mad he is apt to be
blind to the most palpable facts, and
hence we are not surprised that the
Courier should overlook so valuable
a city improvement as the city wharf.
Indeed, were it not for our wharf, We
do not know what our Finance Com
mittee would do. 1t is the great "im-
proyement," by mortgagiDg which
money can be raised. We observe
that the bank debt is being reduced
by converting it into bonds secured
by the wharf, at the rate of one dollar
for eUery seDenty-IfUe cents. This is
what the Courier facetiously terms
prudent legislation and the construc-
ton of public a0Orks, and so distribu-
ting the burthens of taxation that an
other generation aoiu haze part of 1t
to bear.
We suspect that the 'other genera
ton" to whom the Courier looks for
the payment of these debts. will make
up its mind that it will be cheaper to
sell out and take up its residence in
some other city. where the "burthens
of taxation" have not been increased
especially for its benefit. IF the pol
icy of paying debts by increasing them
at the rate of twenty. five per cent. is
continued. another generation" is
likely to have hard time of il, and
will doubtless be sold ont under the
hammer.
We confess to a decided partiality
for the old custom of not contracting
debts until the means of paying them
are provided to a reasonably certain
exteEt. To say that because certain
improvements are needed, there
fore they must be ordered
and the city run in debt for
them, is foolish fnanciering. Many
men feel that sundry improvements
in their houses are necessary, and
would add materially to their COM
fort and the beauty of their situation,
but who of them would be so silly as
to go ahead with the improvement,
mortgaging the property for the cost
of the same, and trusting to chance
for means to meet the debts when
they become due. Yet this is pre-
cisely the policy advocated by the
Courier for the city. improvements
are needed; so head; who cares
for expenses?" Another genera.
ton" will have to bear large share
of the burthens of taxation resulting
from such improvements. All this
may be very nice. but we think when
the editor fthe Courier re- covers his
equanimity, he will recognize the
fact that it is also undoubtedly very
foolish.
THE recent New York election put
all its predecessors to an open shame
nv reason of the high handed and