Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-03
TIE $4,000 TAX.

The Leader, referring to this all.impor-
tant subject to Sacramento, says: ''Our
evening contemporary ought to feel lone
some in its almost single-handed opposition
to the special levee tax. From every side
comes positive expression in favor of the
proposition to strengthen and perfect our
leyee system, that danger from flood may
be averted. II an estimate could be made
of the loss the city has suffered throughout
the State directly chargeable to her def.
cient levee protection, we have no doubt
that the people with one accord would de-
clare unequivocally for whatever tax might
be needed to defend us against a possible
deluge from the Sacramento and American.
1t is not, as the Bee persistently states,
merely to inspire confidence among
our citizens, that the strengthening OF
our levees is demanded but it is rather
that their present insecure condition is a
constant bar to the progress of the city
menace that warns strangers from the
city and diverts outside capital, always
timid, from investment with US. But il
there were no other sufficient reasons for
the tax, we maintain that this acknowl-
edged temerity on the part of our own
people is reason enough. 1t must neces-
sarily result to our great impairment as
a city to have it known that our own
people stand hating and fearing for
the security of their homes. Sacramento
is eligibly located for great inland
trade mart. We fondly anticipate that
she will one day become the seat of vast
manufacturing interests, while her com.
mercial Importance will keep pace with
/. -
has been especially kind to US. She has
sent a noble river flowing by our doors,
and round about us spread out a land of
unrivaled richness in all that goes to
make up prosperous, thriving, progress.
sive community. Unfortunately she has
given us, also, few people whose con-
tracted visions stupidity and stubbornly re-
fuse to see the importance of fostering and
protecting the kind offices of nature
toward US. These people are now fighting
the proposed levee tax. But what are all
our boosted advantages without adequate
protection from floods? The gentle river
that bears the products of our
lands and factories to the sea may
likewise prove our dire destruc-
ton, and in day undo the work of
a generation. We submit that it is not
good public policy or business sense to
shoulder any further risk on this question
of floods. We maintain an extensive fire
department to protect our property. We
pay heavy insurance rates as guarantees
against loss by fire. Yet single rush
of water through or over our levees-
not improbable event-would cause
more damage and suffering in an
hour than all the fires in the ordinary
course of century. We can afford to
take no chance in the matter. Every con.
sideration of public and private interest
demands that the city be thoroughly and
absolutely secured against all danger from
floods. A number of representative tax.
paying citizens, acting in the capacity of
disinterested but public.spirited men, ex.
amined our levee defenses and, after o
careful consideration of the statements of
both the City and County Engineers, pro.
nounced them inadequate and insecure.
The Mayor indorses the proposition to
strengthen and improve them, and citizens
generally favor it. We believe that the
spirit of enterprise that is associated with
the name of Sacramento throughout the
State, will assert itself on the Ilth of
March in an overwhelming majority in
favor of the SIS, 600 tax.