Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-05-24
THE wATBRwoRKs PROPOSITION.

MI. y. A. Jones, anu now Piaceu oo'
fore the people by the city council fol
their ratification, is a matter OF grave
importance to every one Of citizens
It is so ssrious a question that we
hope every voter and taxpayer j the
city will cssefully consider it between
now and the election, June 8.
While we should like very much to
see the ordinance endorsed by the nee
essary majority at the polls, we would
not be willing to see it carried through
by a hurrah canvass in its favor unless
we believed that it possessed real merit.
| When the matter was first proposed
the Intelligencer took 3 decided stand
against the adoption by the council OF
any mans plan, before the matter was
fully and freely advertised, so that
there might be the largest competition.
This policy prevailed. The committee
thoroughly advertised for bids in the
metropolitan newspapers, and as q re-
suit three distinct propositions were
made, that were of such a nature that
they could be considered; j. e. for the
waterworks companies to erect the
works, conduct them themselves. and
only ask of the city so much rental per
annum for so many fire hydrants. Those
propositions which looked to the city
to issue bonds, sell them, and with the
proceeds build the works and conduct
them, were at once discarded as i'm
practicable.
What the other two propositions be-
side Mr.. Jones' were Chose which
aoere considered), it is not necessary to
speak at length. 1t is sufficient to say
that while the rental they demanded
was practically the same, the works
proposed to be built would have been
of only about one.half the capacity,
power and strength.
The committee has possessed itself of
the facts regarding cost and capacity of
works in almost every town in the
United States now supplied with water
artificially, and their report, as printed
last week, is intelligently made. They
know, and we believe, from the papers
we have seen, that they have not only
selected the best bid made to them, but
that the proposition made, if accepted,
will give to Lexington the best and
most complete waterworks system of
any town in Missouri, large or small
that is, in proportion to its population.
The ordinance proposes that six
miles Of water pipe shall be laid in
Lexington, under direction of the city
council. By taking the map and ex-
aiming it carefully it will be seen that
this will take the mains 10 every street
in town, no matter how remote or out
Of the Consequently no man
need vote against the ordinance because
his house ID outside of the water dis
trict. He may be satisfied with his els
tern now, but the first time he has ex-
pensive repairs to make upon it there
will be the water, ready for use, abun-
dant, pure and cheap. Every little
street in town will have it, and have it
not only for domestic use, but as a pro-
lection against fire.
What will it do in the last mentioned
Let US see. First, it will
reduce the insurance rates on CONNER
cial risks from Is to 80 per cent. On
mills, factories and all extra-hazardous
risks, numbers of which we have in
The city, it will amount to a very large
sum of money, which will be one tax of,
10 help rs pay the water tax. While
The reduction of insurance on residence
property will not be SO large it will GER
'ainly be something, and whatever it
mounts to will be that much advan-
age. In this way it will go hand in
land with the insurance companies in
protecting rs from loss when fire does
come.
1t is q very selfish policy to answer
hat the insurance companies alone are
adequate to remuneratc or reinstate us
case of fire. Many persons cannot
insure. They are not financially able
o do so, or they neglect 1t. 1t is easy
pooh-posh such persons as unworthy
If consideration. Some of them are
good, honest people; sometimes they |
ire women; always they r the ones
who a least afford to lose what they |
nave. They are not loafers; they are
not dronesi their labor conduces to the
welfare of the city. They eat, wear
hats, shoes, and, unlike some
If their Weather neighbors, they buy
everything from home merchants, home
mechanics. The city should provide a +
means of protecting them against fire,
especially when it originates with others
han themselves, and when they are in
no way responsible for its origin. A
steam fire engine will cost half as much
% maintain as we are asked for water
No man will pretend that it
could be one-twentieth the benefit. AS
10 fire protection, Nh. Jones proposes
supply the city with fifty double,
n~on-freezing hydpants, from which he
guarantees that any six may be used at
Dne time, and that they will force six
to a height of so feet, with
hose of sufficient length for all practi-
cal purposes. Privately Mr.. Jones says
hey will be able to force water $50
teet high, but he wants to keep well
bounds. These fifty hydrants,
properly distributed, will protect the
entire city from fire, efficiently and
we'll; beside which there will be in
every block numerous private hydrants
to draw from in case of need; and every
business house, hotel and factory can
take special measures for its own pro-
Drought and freezing will
not affect this means of protection as
it does those we now possess, even if
fully developed.
We want manufactures. We can
never get them in any considerable
number until we have waterworks.
Most manufacturers wish to be in the
business part of town, but they also
desire an abundance of water. We
know of ono Iorno o,,koo+