The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-03-08
THE SEWERAGE.
An Excellent Communication From Dr.. Hadra
on the Subject.


Permit us as citizen and physician
Of San Antonio to put few words to
the German voters of this city. Much
has been written, much has been slnned
in this matter. One believes himself,
through natural shyness, particularly
The other Is so impressed with some
special article, that he has read some
where, that nothing else exists for him !;
and yet the aflalr Is such a difficult one
that in all civilized nations the best
minds are busy at work to solve this
great problem. 1t Is not simple book
example. Such an important question
as beverage or not ?'' cannot be treated
so simply as If on one side stood satan
and the other the angel. Science does
not believe In both. 1t is satisfied
If II can calculate more on one
side; and our affair IL really
scientific, so far as finances
are not considered. This great question
is solved in other countries by scientific
judgment and not by public vote. BE lit
understood that do not want to ques-
tion The right every citizen has over his
own money. | merely wish to show that
Tom, Dick and Harry need not necessarily
know of this matter, though IL be ever
so wise.
|, for myself am not thus convinced of
my own wisdom, but as q man of soien-
tiic calling am inclined to listen to those
who deal in such matters, and through
life have occupied themselves with these
things-they generally know more than
others, and we do well in following
these. In my explicit explanations
| will especially write up what / have
found in well known books, English and
German, and only add so much of my
own "spice" MS il essential to combine
the whole.
BY the by, let me remark that myself
doubted until / was convinced by COM
petent judges. But, above all first,
few words as citizen and fellow-citizen:
You insinuate that ''jobs" are intended.
Where are your proofs for this? Is our
City Council really so unreliable and
dangerous? Look at their names, and
you will find none wanting in integrity;
none whom you would approve of dis
honesty. Do you ever hope to become n
more honest body of men? If not, every
step of progress in our city administra-
ton, for which you will have to vote,
would be impossible in the future; you
would always fear the "jobs." One
says: The water works are back of it.
Certainly they are there to transact bust
ness with, as is the case in every other
undertaking." The question Is if the
business transactions are honest? For
tunately the city has the water works so
in its power that an honest member of
the City Council can guard, it entirely.
The price Of water is fixed and every at
tempt Of this cooperation to impose
upon the citizen can and should be re-
jected by the city administration. If
the water is used TO flush the sewers ex-
pert engineers estimate this at about
$1,000 yer year, and l say to him whom
this seems incredible, wait until / have
spoken more explicitly proposed be-
low. Where is the sob" in high
water? There may be theft everywhere
and If all people were thieves who have
something to dowith the affair, Mayor,
Engineers, Water Works company, etc.,
1t were better we moved away entirely.
Let us so on. The physicians also seek
their own advantage. Most assuredly,
and why not? And l will tell you IN
what respect they wish to profit. First,
in their own health; second, in that of
their families, and, third, on the invalid
strangers who come here us long as San
Antonio has the reputation of u health
resort. But the influx of strangers will
cease when the death rate continues to
increase as it has been doing for the last
years. To put the physicians as poison
ers of water and air In the 18th century is
almost punishably stupid.
Wiser heads say: Other '.jobs" are
made in the contract for supplies. 1t
may be, and it may not be. There is
not the least cause to presuppose such a
thing; there is no sign of it. Not
one of your housewives should have
her wash hanging in the yard,
for it might be stolen! No more of that
empty talk about '.jobs." If you have
found one go for him, but do not paint
the devil on the wall beforehand. These
are evasions of those who fear high
| taxes for that which they have perhaps
| acquired in '.jobs" and excuse of those
who have been frightened of by the
former. Now let us go on. How many
people do you believe live Off the money
of the Government, and trade with wool
and hides, commerce with Mexico, and
Of the poor population around us Do
you believe that this would give bread
to 10000? Every sensible person will
answer mol San Antonio exists by more
than half on quite something else, and
that is its strangers. Go into the streets
and count the faces that are
familiar to you. Go into the
hundreds of boarding houses into
the hotels, everywhere you meet
strangers, and wealthy strangers, that
have come from distances for the benefit