Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-14
TO THE CITIZENS OF SACRAMENTO.

We are about to have an election for the
following city officers Third Trustee, Chlst
of Police and City Attorney. Il is OF TIE
greatest importance that good men should De
elected to FL these positions, and that the
people should know and select the men hEted
to occupy them. At this time the outlook Is
particularly encouraging. The present Trus-
tees have an intelligent understanding CT cur
affairs, and, as believe, an honest purpose
and ability to place them in such shape as In
a very few years will insure cur city's ad-
varcsment and prosperity. There are three
great cushions to be handled in this connec-
ton, which must not be trusted to man ignoT-
ant of or indiff rent to their importance !;
nor should these candidates be elected who
owe their nominations TO clique OF profess
sionsl politicians, for past experience has
taught Us the latter demand the first con-
sideration for their favors, while our poor
city has TO submit to the second or last. The
three important questions on which, in my
Judgment, hinges our future, will name IN
the order Of their Importance.
First-The Thorough leveeing OF the city,
and mean by that the city only. Much has
been done this last year-more, perhaps, than
in any ore year for long time-but much
more remains to do. / believe in the maxim
of the great Napoleon in this regard, that
"wbile there is anything remaining TO do,
nothing Is done" To make our levees i'm
pregnabie, and they can be so made at a
much less expense than the cost of partial
! flooding of the city, they should be built,
not as they are an almost perpendicular bank
| of earth inca pable of withstandiug the
assaults of waves and rapid currents of water.
| but the making of beach similar to that
which nature constructs on the margin OF the
sea, so that the water may roll on and along
| without damage, instead CT striking against
| and gouging into the so-called levee; plant
Burmuda grass on the sides. and l believe
neither gophers nor water could affect 1t.
/ Capitalists who fear nothing here but our
water defensss, would soon discover that we
had real levee, and avail themselves of tie
safety and eligibility of our location, while
the additional expense would be met by the
rapid increase of taxable property.
| Second-The funded indebtedness of the
city. This matter has been SO often talked
of and written about that it seems to me
there can be but few who do not know the
| Importance of its safe disposition. This
question neglected or permitted to pass into
the hands of ignorant or unprincipled men Is
a standing menace to every piece OF property
| in Sacramento. As Horace Greeley said:
resume" The way to dispose of our indebt-
edness is to pay it, and not bubble year in
and year out about how we may avoid doing
SO, We can, we should and We must pay it.
think the present Trustees have under GEN.
sideration q method by which we can hon.
orably and without difficulty settle all our
city debts in a few years, and without the
burden being seriously felt; but should
change in the present Board be made, see to
| A. A. L =. Il g.
it will be well to recollect, here and now, that
our debts originated through the rascalities of
ths men composing our city government in
years gone by. These nominated by the
| ling politicians OF those times, were supinely
vote / for by those who had to pay the taxes,
leaving to Us the legacy of a debt which has
proved a serious drawback to cur welfare.
Third-The drainage and sewage of the
city. When we regard the sanitary condition
of our people, this is not the least important
consideration. The experiments made and
now under process at the junction of Sixth
and Y streets, already show proof that all
the sewage and sipsge can be effactually dis
posed of by the pumping process. with GER
| tainty and at an expense that leaves no doubt
as to its being the only method. Taking these
| things into consideration, then, it is all i'm
portsnt that Intelligent and honest men
should be voted for to Fill the different offices
| of our city government that each should
| be in accord with every other, and all having
the citYs interest, as officers, their only con-
sideration. Il will not do to allow unfit men
to be put upon US through carefully managed
primary elections. Let all citizens who regard
the common wefsre see to il that none but
proper men ars nominated. Atteudt to and vote
az the primary election, as more important
than the subsequent election. For, as we
have seen, by skillful manipulation electors
have only choice between two or more op
posing candidates., none of whom should be
elected. It will be observed l take no party
ground Doubtless good men may be found
in either of the two great parties. hope to
see proper men selected from the Republican
party. L believe they may be found there.
| But give us honest men as the first quslihca-
I siou shall not apologize for the interest |
! take in the welfare of Sacramento-a resi-
dence of thirty years induces it; but l have
another reason at this time for calling public
attention. / have been informed that the
nominees for the Offices under consideration
have already been selected, and further, that
the legislative ticket for the city and county
| is named and on the programme. do not
assert it as a fact, but since the same has
been done before, it is not improbable.
Should it be SO, and the people permit such
things to be, then 1 say do away with pri'
mary and all other elections, and let those
who have tie power come to the front and
govern us openly. Yours,
j. r. WATSON.