The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-23
water WOrks-TaxatiOn - Journal
istics

"
water WOrks-EaxatiOn - Journal
istic.
From the editorial correspondence
in the G0Swier, we learn that the COM
mittee appointed by our City Council
to visit Covington and Dayton for the
purpose of examining the Holly sys-
tenn of Water Works, had jolly good
time. Indeed, we presume, as pleas
ure excursion, it will have no superior
during the season. A careful read
ing Of the editors letters fails to re-
veal, however, solitary fact with re-
gard to the system, and its success in
Dayton, that was not furnished the
readers of the JOURNAL weeks ago.
It is evident, from the statements in
the correspondence aforesaid, that
the number and variety of tests sub
mitted for the consideration Of our
committee were not so great as on
previous occasion. when the City
Council Of Lafayette paid Dayton
visit for a similar purpose. De-
tails of the experiments then
made we copied from the La
fayette papers, and certainly they
were fully as satisfactory as anything
furnished us in the editorial CORES
pcndence. Perhaps the Lafay tie
Committee and editors exhausted the
subject and left nothing unsaid that
ought to be said, and thus robbed
our people" of the privilege of throw
ing flood Of light on this much dis
cussed question. However that may
be. it is pretty evident, we think. that
our City Council has invested one or
two hundred dollars in this pleasure
excursion. without any promise of
very extensive returns.
But we forget one item furnished
in the editorial correspondence afore-
said, which is somewhat significant.
We print it in italic in order that its
significance may been seen at a glance.
Says the editor of the Courier, in
speaking of the Covington Water
Works:
In ttis connection I may add thGi
he tdres of Cog'ngto1 amount q
80 IS upon hundred dollars gdlua-
ton of property, so that EvansuilZt
ouQht not to complain of the rate Of
ta.rattOn sBposed at home.
This reads very much like a hint
to our people to prepare for an In
crease of taxation. Of course. il
Democratic Covington can stand 9
taxation of nearly three per cent, Ev-
ansville, since she has given in bel
adhesion to that party, cannot reas,
onably object to being similarly
blessedl
High taxes may be an evidence Of
prosperity, but our people will be
slow to believe it. Most of them are
SO conservative in their notions as tc
think shat high taxes have a tendency
to drive capital from the city, anc
prevent other capital from coming
Believing this, the Republican
Council of last year strained
every nerve to reduce taxation
and at the same time diminish
the debt, in both of which endeavors
i was successful. A few Republi
cans saw proper to be dissatisfied
with this programme, and by voting
fer Democratic Councilmen last April
inaugurated the very different policy
of largely increased taxes or city in.
debtedness, or both-most likely the
latter. 1t remains to be seen which
Of the two plans will prove in the
end,most satisfactory to the Taxpayers
or advantageous to the city. We d.
not propose to spend our time in hec
toring the present City Council a
every step it may take. We think i
has already marked out a clearly de
fined plan of operations, and tina
this plan is in full accord with the
views expressed by Mr.. Van Ripe
when a candidate for the Council, viz.
that the indebtedness of the cit,
ought to be largely increased. and thu
money spent in making various i'm
proYements. His election, and thu
election of majority of tn,
Council who think like him, wal
ommittal Of the city to that pro
g me. The indications are tha
'ne ,-ogramme viii be carried out II
Hoou IN, aud that the indebtedness.
m 'ne C. will be largely increaGed
Inc Openh- Of streets, the extension