The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-09-25
HIGH GRADE.
Editor. Bulletin

You are daily doing noble work in try
to teach Cairoites the ONLY way of making
their city success. Mayor Halliday has
made every citizen his dcbter by making
our levees the magnificent structures that
we always claimed them to be; and which
we knew too we'll they were NOT But the
mayor will mmortalize himself the day he
lifts US out Of this funnel up to high grade"
BLESSED Is the peacemakefH says certain
book, but twice blessed is the man who
saves us all from the eternal suspense and
danger of overflow; who compels US to be
our own best friends, by putting our prop
erty and homes in such a shape that the
waters can do them no harm. When the
whole city boosted up as high as the lcvees,
only think of the long blessed nights of
sleep we would have when the floods come.
We would lie in our beds in safety aud not
tremble at every dash Of rain, fearing and
thinking it would rush the leyees off and Us
also. What happy contrast to the times
OF the past, when that everlasting weak
place in the levees kept us scared half to
death, and our hearts were forever jumping
up and down in our throafs like jam.
dasher When no midnight ever caught US
with both eyes shut, but generally found US
dressed in our best plugs and swallow.
tailed coats, ready for plunge from our
second.story window to the skif that
anchored beneath il. When q clean paper
collar aud substantial lunch Of bologna
sausage and hard tack was ALWAYS carried
in our pockets, for fear Of actual starvation,
should we be swept to some "ioreign shore
Those were the times that "tried mems
hearts but they are past forever l never
would have thought SO, had not gone over
the new leyees aud examined for myself.
While the rivers are so low one can Sc
what vast work has been done. But un.
happily, when the waters are high, they
SO'Nl oO ulhNu VI VIC DihbhuhLlrHNo, NhnN
only a small strip of earth is visi bic, and
strangers think we have very slight protec-
ton, They will get away as fast as they
can and keep away. They will never pine
for home among US till those mounds
greet their sight, They will never have
confidence in our city till We prove, by our
works that we ourselves have confidence.
They will have to see US invest some money
TO protect our homes,-to set them above
danger line-before they will respect US.
When high grade Is established, they will
come in and help US build city OF safety
aud beauty. And, in my belief, it will pay
property holders to give half they have, to
make the rest worth having.
The city can be filed and MUST be filled
to make it a place worth spending lite
time in. Our citizens crow and flap thei 7
wings during the dry season, and Justify
shout--"whose afraid7' But when the
"big rise" comes, they are quick in their
search for higher places. Such has always
been the way, and always will be, till We
build on solid foundations. Trunks are
packed for flight nearly half Of the year,
and the money spent in taking aud keep.
ing citizens out of danger every year would
90 a long distance towards mound build
ing.
To use q slangy phrase, | must insist that
your "head is level" about high grade, 30
go on as you are. Yours, B. l..