The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-04-12
THE POND QUESTION.
How to Dispose of Them Still
An InsoIVed Problem.

We have heard often of coming back
TO first principle, but 1t yer saw il better
illustrated than in the matter of draining
the East Waco ponds. The result OF the
deliberations upon the matter last night
was that Il committee of three be ap-
pointed TO inquire into the best and cheap
est means OF getting rid of these ponds,
and report TO the next meeting OF the
council. precisely the Very thing that WAS
done when the pond question came up a
year ago or more. Since then one com
inirtee after another has been sent over
there on that and other errands, all have
come back, the council would appoint
another committee, they would inYcsti-
gate, report and ditto, ditto, ditto. from
| meeting to meeting until as Aldermen
McKeen and Wilkes very well said, the
thing has become too mOnOtOnous to bear
much longer. AT the last regular meet
ing OF the council a committee of three.
was appointed to 60 to East Waco and
| zee which If any of the railroads
| or how many OF them are responsible tor
those ponds standing there. with vie w
to causing them to provide suitable
means for carrying the water of or Al
| least repair the damage done Their re
! rOIt was presented tn the council, real
! before that body and aiteI being laid
down was not even cOmplimentcd by vot-
| ing that il be received or rejected.
| though il stated in almost positive terms
TWO of the roads are responsible Ia some
extent. il not wholly tor the wat-r stand
| ing there, the question OF
calling upon the roads 10 DO
something in the matter was
not discussed, thou.h the mayor stated
| that when lie called the special meeting
and when int committee was appointed,
| that il was tor the purpose of seeing to
what extent the railroads are liable
That part OF il was dropped and the old
| first plan taken up again. 1t may be that
al last the right method has been reached
ami glancing 10 wn.thc avenue OF ime some
OF us my see how I, turn to first prin-
ciples, and going over the ground
again may accomplish the desired
results. When W; find the cheapest plan
TO drain those ponds, where are we to
ind the money TO do it with? We are
not allowed to make eXpendi beyond
our revenues, though we haye in Il few
eases OF necessity done 50, and bills have
actually been paid out OF time and the
mayor has more than once had TO step
into the breach and give his own sigma
ture TO save the city's credit. Ii the city
had the means it would be an easy matter
TO tell how the ponds could he drained
bur we are tied hand and foot in that re-,
r'pect. Looked at from any and all stand
points this pond question is a knotty one
and We sincerely hope that the fresh start
may be tie beginning Of not only an
early ending of discussion over the mat
ter, but also be fruitful in accompli hing
the draining OF those ponds. They
shouldbe removed, and if they cannot be
removed any other way, the suggestion
OF Alderman Mckeen that the people OF
East Waco he allowed part of their taxes
to do the work with, is not unworthy OF
consideration. Meanwhile Justice to the
committee who went over md furnished
a report as to what figure the railroads cui
in the matter, demands TINT their report
ceive consideration, and il it is found
the railroads can be made responsible
d images should be asked from them in
case they refuse TO put ia, if track in such
condition that the water can pass under i
and follow down the outlet which il has
always.