Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-10-18

To Democratic principles OF govern
ment. Will this effort be made /?
If not we had better get ready at
once to bow the knee to Grant and
the Empire.
u
1t will lie seen in the report of the
Board of Trade meeting that our
senior editor ventured to ventilate
the gas question on that occasion.
His proposition was voted down,
but he desires it understood that he
has not done with the subject and
intends to keep it before the people.
His resolution did not contemplate
immediate action, but a conference
with the City Council on the subject.
We recognize the force of a good
deal that was said by Mr.. HerndOn
on the subject, but consider his
objections only applicable to the
immediate prosecution of the enter
prise, not to its ultimate adoption.
Of his first objection we do not
admit the validity at all. If it were
considered valid against every
scheme for public improvements,
that they cannot equally benefit
every individual Taxpayer, then no
Improvements of any sort could be
adopted. Mr.. II. assumed that the
only street gas lamps would be
placed on that part Of Franklin
street where the principal stores are
situated. This is very far from be-
ing our idea. The residential por-
lions of the city and the great ware
houses on Front street demand
illumination quite as much if not
more than that locality, and by the
by, as an arg,aae7lttan ad h0malen1,
we would say that the corner of
Front and Commerce streets, close
10 Mr.. HIS residence, appears to Us
one Of the most important spots for
illumination in the city.
His financial objections we con-
slider more valid. In the present
state of our city finances, and with
the present provisions Of our city
charter, we do not ourselves see
where the means for such an inn
prOvement could come from, and
we will add that the city urgently
demands several other improve
ments which, for the same reason,
cannot be prosecuted on an adequate
scaIe-sewerage, for example. 1t
was Il realization Of these difficulties
which prevented Us from replying
to Mr.. Fl. or prosecuting the ques-
ton any further in the Board Of
Trade.
But we are far from admitting
that, if the City Council as at pres
ent limited is iHcompetent~fOr the
prosecution of necessary improve
ments, the people of GAINESVILLE
cannot afford to pay for anything
which they really need and we are
certain that they are both able and
willing to foot up the expenses for
any substantial Improvement which
can be shown to be essential TO the
city's well-being. We admit that
there is no public means for lighting
cur streets at present available, and
that anything done at present would
have to be effected by private sub
scription among those who would
be more Immediately benefited by
1 by the scheme.
The truth is that, in we'll regulated
cities these matters of public health
and safety are not left to the City
! Council, who are not elected to
office for qualifications which render
them competent to manage them.
| Boards of Works or of Public I'M
provement have and ought to have
the direction of them, and the funds
raised for the purpose ought to be
entirely a separate thing from the
ordinary city revenues. All this
can only be provided for by State
4 legislation on petition of the citi-
zens, and we desire to keep the sub
ject before the people with a view
to legislative action in our next
/ General Assembly. Some of our
readers will consider this PROPOSE
ton inconsistent with our cOndem-
nation of the lobbying in behalf of
the water-wOrks last winter; but
our objection to that movement was
that it did not come from the peO-
pie; it was got up in secresy by the
CITY Council and the WateF-woFl<s
Company, or their agent, without
consulting the people. If any action
of the sort in the matter We are now
contemplating is adopted, we want
it kept before the people when we
elect delegate to our next Legis-
lature, 50 that public opinion may
express itself openly pro or con, sat
isted as we are that no project
which is not backed by the convie-
lions of those for whose benefit it is
projected and at whose expense it
will be carried out can be safely or
advantageousIy entered upon.
That Fire.
A certain out house on the College
I Tot yr-as burned down for thp fOurth