, 1874-01-26
THE LAKE.FRonT QUESTION IN THE COUNCIL


70 The Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
SIN: Tho question iB being frequently asked,
Whyi the Common Council so dilatory IN bring
ing tho LRko-front question to an isBue?
Tho Importance Of early action il clear. II
aale iB to bo made at oil, tho sooner it is nalo
tho better. Every day of delay is a loss Of ill.,
forest to the city. The city will soon mood every
dollar it Gnu raise to meet it's liabilities and
maiutain it's credit. Under such circumstances,
hesitation ia unwiso.
We havo no other moans of providing for tho
deficiency In tho Treasury than by the sale of a
portion Of the public property. It iB our duty to
face this fact. It cannot 10 ignored. We hayo
no authority to borrow. In the way Of dcbt. wo
have already gone as far as our chartor
will allow, and great deal farther than We
ought to have gone. It is high time that an ora
OF retronchment and economy should DO ill.,
augurated. How cau we make bottor COM
moncomeut than by selling, ~ faat aa buyers
eau bo had, tho uuproluctiyo property Of the
city, Such policy would not only be sub
stantial relief to the Taxpayers, but would add
to tue credit OF our city abyoad.
We have gouo OH borrowing until tic end haa
come. Wo have boen squandering so much
money, and incroasng our taxcs 10 rapidly that
it Inns become u difficult matter to collsct thom.
aud, II this evil is permitted to grow, tho timo
il not far distant Nlou tho legality OF our taxoB
will he generally questioned, and wllon tax-pay-
eia will only pay up at tho ond OF n lawsuit. In
view Of such factt, it seems strange, that tho
Council should postpone action on tlia Lake.
trout question?
Why laye not tho Committee reported to
whom vas rofcrrod Alr. Picliorlng'H resolution
some weokn ago7 They have had ample timo to
post themselves. Tie matter is plain and
Ep,Y,n Thin rhirnn,lQ 1y0nt tItn rrf111nff un1
offer more for it than any Que Il 50 tconld gare.
Ihoy propose to build upon tho ground an
inn,ot!Bo depot, 900 feet long by 2oo fcet wido.
Their offer IL cash one. and tEev WILL 60 to
money, anl llas no olior logitin4ato way Of lais-
Ing it. Tlls property holders aso unanimously
III favor OF tho proposed sule. The buanetn
interests Of the city will DO largely promoted by
such salo, and tho public sentiment il decidedly
Ii lilo C.ty Legislators haye any renpeot for
will it ncod 10, drop matters Of lcat
.nonlont, and give their attention to this.
tO III ost 1 nos{,g qusiiltGn e., o',r St ,as ,s 9r
upon tho shoals Of bankruptcy. The wiaous
oconomy il that Which "taltuA tinlo by tho foro-
lock-" md cautiously provilca for coming con-
tn,Gonclos. -. ,,,.,.., ,.u.,.
Ti,o til!lo l.ay gone by WHOM important nat!rra
can bu buried III eunllAsttceA, AMI no questions
asiBa ~ to 1c}y sl!ci, burial has talion place.
Alombors nlhy deliberately aud oriu,inally post-
pone uotlnn, but thoY caHllot At!lo inquiry, nnr
nttangla Busploiu,,, nor p.oyont criticism. Wo
hays hal TOO much suc hualnoss iu tho past.
Tho public interests havo too otton buen triitotl
will. by mon III oillco, WHO aoaln to 10 ll!cul!-
soious Of tho roat constituency TINT IL watching
tliom. It IL true t4at llaanin'ty Of opinion 's
rnrely attaiuHblo, but llpneHty OF 0plnson md
houuaty of action are expected, anI inay reaaou-
ably b0 donaaued.