The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-11-17
IMPROVE TIiii CITY

The city Of Dallas Is so peculiarly slI'ln'eu
Tint complaint after complaint In summer
and In winter Is heard IN reference 70 us
miserable condition In the matters OF clean
Illness and the locomotion Of its Citizens
Generally we find that mos! cities oil ms
size are passable during one season OF the
other. but when 1t transpircs that atho
time ofthe year a city is as 1t should be Tor
the convenience of its citizens, IT IS about
time something were done. No stranger
who visits Dallas, however much he may be
impressed with its activity, life ana GROWTH
but feels himself compelled to enter pro-
test against the present general physicai up
pearance Of the place. 1t is notorious
fact that there is not in the broad eNpahse
of this Union q city Of our size ana preteh-
lions, a city with the same business ana as,
Sc ,sed value of property, and the Samerapiu
growth. that is so poorly equipped III the
matter of streets, sidewalks, parks, OF wha'-
ever goes to make up the general appear
ance, and beauty and attractive
ness of town as Daiias
This state of affairs should certainly ana
speedily be changed. Why must mud and
filth and debris of every description, rot
ting sidewalks and imperfect cutters be left
untouched to poison the air, retard BUSH
ness, keep strangers away, and jcopardize
the health of nearly 10000 people? 7Attcn-
ton has time and again, through these co.,
umns, been directed to the necessity for
, city improvements, for better streets, good
Sidewalks and efficient sewers, and it may
not be uninteresting to the citizens gcner-
ally to indulge in few figures and offer
some pertinent suggestions on the subject.
The fact that these improvements are badly
needed no one will deny and the only ques-
ton now is, can and ought they to be made?
The assessable value of the city property is
at the present time in round numbers
+ $6,000.000 at least, though We are aware OF
the fact that it is put down at less.
Now, suppose 100000 were subscribed by
the city, this, together with what property
owners would have to subscribe, and no
doub; would cheerfuly furnish, would give
us fund sufficient in every respect for the
creation of system of sewerage and the
matchmaking, paving ana plac ing durable
crossings on two or three principal thorough
fares throughout their whole extent that
would be an ornament or credit to any city
in the land of even double our population,
This 100000 in the present growing and
prosperous condition of Dallas and with its
trifing debt could be easily ioated at per
RI ~
annual interest in this particular Of So 600,
which, however, upon a rough calculation,
would only entail tax of about one-fifth
of one per cent, The bonds can be made to
run for twenty or forty years. say and does
any one now living in Dallas suppose for a
moment that Il debt such as that twenty
years hence with all the wealth and growth
that we are reasonably anticipating in the
pcyt decade - two would prove burden
JA - even Troublesome? And is there
,g property wner IN the corporate linr
Il with so small d soul that he prefers to
take the mire md the filth, the null
titade (oi /incahveniences of travel
wnita how exists rather than pay the
pai,ry one-dfth Of one per cent. tax,
- say .othing Of the increased attractive
ness, accessibility and consequent increase
in value to his property? Let some of our
merchants ponder on these figures. Sup
pose they are owners Of business house
worth $1,000, what would it cost that man
or firm to have satisfactory sidewalks in
front of the door, passable street or a
OF, taoli,,rr ~ tbotr ,,1ooa ~ hup
ufhat the shopping public could use and
" ip,fa01nne with pleasure? Only $40,
a(ll ~ 3oS-a> moment over such a
proposition is indicative of wanr-of .5us:'
ness sagacity and penuriousness almost
criminal. A case in point illustrative of
the benefits of such changes may not be in
appropriate here In New Orleans when
Mr.. Caldwell desired to put down such
pavemcnts as were thought to be the best,
he was met with strong opposition, but o
block, his own, was so improved and the re-
suit was so attained. 1t soon became no.
ticeable fact that business began TO gravitate
toward that block; then others were i'm
proved and soon a whole street was paved
and improved and rapidly drew business
thitlTr. This settled the matter, as others
fad to keep pace or become deserted. Now
Mayor Caldwell of New Orleans, though
villified and opposed, has left durable
monument behind him. So was IL with
Mayor Hurley, of Galveston, and it is COM
mon remark that Galvestonis the only city
in the State. Why? Because she has the
air and mark Of city, finish and conven-
fence that draw and endear people toward
her. So the first important question, can
this system Of improvement be done, are
we able to do il, is II feasible by the city at
the present time, is easily answered and
after analysis appears too simple TO argue.
But while many admit that It is practicable
TODD these things and with triaing cost.
they are disposed to hesitate and object and
urge the impolicy Of the crea-
tion Of additional debts. But we
answer why should a city refrain from
using is credit for things necessary and
calculated 20 immediately and directly ben
eft any more than individuals or firms
The merchant goes in debt and reaps a
handsome profit on his speculation, and 50
innumerable others. The cost TO the
generation, as we have seen, would
Itle. and We assume that 20 great
ping decade viii be advancement
values here that the hnal liqui-
e obligntiOns % created that at
he Of payment the cost would be
B7nally Insignificant. Another feature in
favor ofsuch a movement Il the fsci that
each year as values Of nsses.abls property
went up the rate oftarafion would proper
ti0nately decrease. until ins short time We
might enjoy The luxury of q cl.an and besu-
tiful city without even feeling the cost q
making u 20. Itcannyt be denied that an