Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-02-16
Think Of These Things.

jamestown has a bill before the legis-
lature asking that it be incorporated as
city. The Alert IS pleased to seeain our
citizens the disposition that led to the
taking of such step. The weight and
dignity of the city title will be worth
something. 1t would seem nnenterprls-
Ing for town of the size, pretensionsS
and aspirations of this James river metro
polls to continue to retain its baby name.
We believe in enterprise; and it would
look poky and old-fogylsh if we did not
now take the step we have. But just
here, while we stand as it were on the
verge of cur new dignity, the Alert feels
it Its duty to utter word of caution.
There may be danger IN becoming too
fast, and it is to be remembered that all
enterprises should be entered into with
judgment. She has never had boom
that drove her off her balance, but her
progress has been steady and healthy, ,1and
she has always stood on solid founda-
ton of worth. Her business men. too.
are cool and calculating, do not easily get
excited, and hence our ship has been run
with steady helm. Now that we are
about to take another step forward we
should endeavor to preserve the same
even course, and not launch out in enter
prises we are unable to sustain in q
healthy shape. We must not try to run@
before we are able to walk.
On Wednesday new fire engine pur-
chased by the village hoard was tested in
the presence OF q number Of our citizens
Many thought it was not as good rs we
ought to have. In this age people are
accustomed to see fire engines worked by
steam, hence their expectations from this
machine were high, and they were disap-
pointed. Our village board seem to be
men of conservative tendencies. They
concluded that The engine was all that
could be expected in machine Of that
kind. 1t filled the terms of the contract,
and hence Their acceptance. The Alert
believes the spirit that prompted their
action is wise. One thing is certain, our
city is not yet in position either to pur-
SAAeSo~ q oSS0h1SA, VI w NOlA AuO G0hC C6x0
of one if we had it.
A gentleman was in the city yesterday
representing an electric light company,
and is anxious to have our city authors
ties take hold of the matter and introduce
his light here. The electric light Is one
of the great inventions of The nineteenth
century, and it would make q vast inn
provement in the appearance of our beau
tlful city. 1t would be a good adver-
tisement for us, and would extend our
reputation for go-ahead and enterprise.
Our citizens would greatly enjoy basking
in its effulgent rays. y
But before we build our house we
should SIT down first and count the cost.
The light cannot be used on our streets
without very large annual outlay The
question for the board of trustees to ask
themselves is, "Would we be justified in
committing the city to this expensel Does
the public interest demand it, and would
the people uphold us if we went into its''
If our village fathers have tins matter
submitted to them they should be delib-
crate and consider 1t in purely business
light, as they would consider any matter
IN connection with their own private
affairs. They should not let their desire
boom the town turn their heads, but
if their best judgment tells them that the
electric light is little premature, then
they should defer action in the matter.
The Alert does not wish to be UNDER
stood as throwing cold water upon en-
terprise for our city. Far from it. We
have enterprising citizens in large NUM-
bers; and we believe we have just cause
to lay claim to beng called an enterpris-
ing community both in private and
public relation. But we wish to see all
steps taken coolly and intelligently II
citizens wish to organize an electric light
company among themselves the Alert
would like to have them succeed, and
will hold up both hands for the step.
But for the village to commit itself to
Indulgence in tins luxury at the present
time does not appear 10 us wise tbingt
Nothing will be lost by delay.
The columns of the Alert are open for
the opinlons of our citizens on this or anv
other subject of public interest
A Welcome Acquisition.