The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-05-01
WHERE IS THAT REPORT I?
IS the CITY TO HAVE A PUBLIC
BUILDING OR NOT.
A Report on Chairman Belknap's Resolution in
Order -other City Matters and the
Public Health.


After meeting Of the City Council
held not n month ago, committee. OF
which Alderman A. Belknsp was Chair
man, and which had previously been ap-
pointed to visit and inspect the city Jail
and police headquarters, or, as 1t Is more
Mmiliarly called, the "bat cave" sub
mltted its report condemning in strong
and unqualified terms the hole into
which prisoners, white, black, Chinese,
Mexican or what not, male or female,
were cast to await their trial before the
Recorder. The committee reported that
it had made thorough inspection and
saw little hope Of improving the present
quarters, and therefore recommended
that, us San Antonio was growing in
wealth, population and commercial
Importance, suitable building be
erected to serve as police head
quarters, city jail, Mayors office, Coun-
Gil chamber, Recorders court, and In
fact all the city offices. This building
was to cost not exceeding $4,000, and
was TO be eligibly located. Such was
the written report Of the committee sub
mitted to the City Council, and by that
body unanimously adopted. The report
after adoption was referred to a commit
tee, and so far as the public Is informed,
is in the hands of that committee yet, or
rather not in their hands, but buried
down in the depths of their business,
where il is not likely to turn up again
unless called for vigorously. Some mem
Der made bold to ask in Council, n meet.
ing or two ago, what had become Of this
report, but he was either not heard, or
not needed. The LIGHT, at the time the
report was submitted and adopted, COM
mented on the action of the Council and
thought such step but in keeping with
the oity's steady growth and onward
march Of progress. A report from the
committee to which it was referred
either recommending that the city hall
be built and that the necessary funds be
appropriated to pay for it, or disapprov-
ing the whole report, Is now in order.
1t necessary that something be done,
and that, too, right quickly, to improve
the condition OF things about the "bat
cave" and it is also expedient and
highly desirable that city of the size,
wealth, population and great CONNER
cial importance of San Antonio
should have its officials housed
in something better than den of foul
odors and reeking in filth, or in the
cramped, crowded rooms, portion OF
the officers now occupy.
On every hand the wealth of enter
prising private citizens IL being ex-
pended In the erection Of handsome,
costly and substantial structures, both
as business houses and places of resi-
dence. These valuable improvements
are met with at every turn, and still the
city has no place that it can point to
with feelings of selfrespect, much less
Of pride, as the temple where its laws
are made and administered. Such
should not be the case in San Antonio.
Again, in conformity with the regula-
tions, enaotments and ordinances Of
the city, citizens have had constructed
in front Of their property on many OF
the streets substantial and valuable
psvements. The city, whose duty it is
| to pave in front of its own property and
lay the crossings from walk to walk,
has here too, been derelect in its duty.
1t has allowed its private citizens to out
strip II in enterprise and has not even
kept abreast Of them in improvements
ordered by its own direction. A gen.
eral awakening to the true condition OF
things Is necessary, and the day and
hour has fully arrived for "old fogyism
and mossbackism" in San Antonio to
step down and out, and make room for
the clear heads and energetic men OF
grit and enterprise, who fully appreciate
the true value of substantial improve
ments to city in San Antonio's condi-
ton. The LIGHT wishes to see that
committee report resurrected from the
depths to which it has been consigned,
and given square showing before the
whole Council, the province Of which
body 1t Is either to endorse or reject 1t.
Bring II out and let 1t be known whether
the city is to have hall for its officers,
or will still intrude them upon the bats.
1t Is about time, too, that some Of the
live, progressive Counoilmen, and they
are not wanting, were tackling the
street and sewerage question again. II
Is disoouraging to be defeated, but then
constant dripping will wear away a
stone," and so constant, unceasing effort
must achieve success. The hot, sultry
summer season is fast coming on, and
the warm rays Of the sun draws forth
the fatal malaria from the earth and
putrid, stagnant pools that abound In
the city. Disease and death in mias
matte form hang over the river that pen
etrates the city, and epidemic wants but
signal to come forth.
Action, prompt, speedy and effective
is what me health Of the city demands
New York Fair.
40 East Houston street Is the place /,