Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-23
ro.MoRRow,s SPECIAL ELECTION

The proclamation of Major Wynn, is
sued on the 4th. inst. calls for q special
election, to be held. Tomorrow, TO decide
whether OF not Yankton shall issue bonds
u the amount of ten thousand dollars for
lhe procurement Of means for %extinguish.
ing fires in the city of Yankton. The law
which authorizes the inssusnce of bonds
by this city requires that they be ordered
Nv n vote of the people and, that q, two
thirds majority of all the votes cast shall be
in favor Of this insurance; otherwise no
bonds can be issued. Those who oppose
the adequate protection Of cur property
from destruction bv fire base their hopes of
accomplishing the defeat of the bonds upon
the clause in the law requiring a two thirds
majority In their favor; and 1t seems pro.
table that they may be able TO array one
third of the city's voters against the project.
Through what plan of reasoning any ofoQr
property owners have reached the conclu-
stoh. that protection against fire is rot a
result. to be DESIRED lis one of the things
unexplainable. Th%eexpense of the needed
protection is an item of some significance
perhaps to those who have Arrayed. them.
selves against the measure, but the. gentle
men who take this view Of a7beneicial pro-
ject should remember that the, investment
might pay for itself many times over while
they are arguing among themselves upon
the propriety or improperly Of SO consider.
able an outlay In our estimation tine pro-.
position submitted by the mayorIis the on.
lvteasiable n for immediate uses. The
ten thousand dollars suggested in his pro.
clamstlon would purchase and outfit q
steam fire engine of sufficient capacity to
afford protection against fire and would
pay for the construction of a sufficient mum.
Der of cistcrns to render serViceable q ma
chine Of this, sort. By investing in this
apparatus the city Of Yankton would be
prepared for O. vigorous and effective de-
fence against CONGREGATIONS which are liz
able ia come ct any moment, That this To-
what We want is 80 plain 1 fact as to ad-
nit Of 20 argument whatever. It cannot
be said; that the steam fire engine 10 not
valuable Protection. Tho experience of
Of cities show that 1t Is. and this
experiences, dearly bought in most instances,
of ten fold more consequence to us than
be ~prejudieed theories of men who, to :
void 9 present expense. would incur the !
'isk Of losing property q hundred times J
more costly than the investment suggesied. b
I, in the estimation of the majority of our
'eop]e, 1t be deemed advisable to adoot the Z
arrow policy of q ~niegardly administra. :
lon of local affairs. then let all expensive r
be cut of. Abolish the ONCE of +
,syor md sFelegste 10 private life our al. q
ermen, justices shd other city officers; re.11
lit the street and poll tax and discharge !,
ne eetlcommlsstoner; tell the police that q
heir services are no longer worth paying b
n and close up the jsil; l6ck the doors Of 3
school houses-all these things costisa
'oney and the outlay prevents the grasses h
this productive region from growing p
non our streets. Toeo, when ali interest Il
the progress Of the city is effectually q ~
nothered, the men of enterprise will pick 4
. their bundles and 60 away and mani is
on will reign supreme amongst she::Rip Il
N Winkleso Of 1 modern sleepy hollow. %
,pital wilrnot seek you.out In totr baess. :.
quiet and strangers will not intrude al
new tangled notions to disturb the
rect dream of INDECENT peace which will
II upon your daily and nightly existence.
We are not in favor of the exercise of
necessary e%xtravagance. but w arc In ~
vor Of kesping pace with our natural i.
'owth and of stimulating that growth BY d,
vestments which shall show that we are th
10 the necessities of the hour. When OF
, fall behind in this We lake the frat !.
ckwafd step towards . premature decay, =
d now il not the time for Yaukton 10 III,