Mexico weekly ledger., 1885-07-30

There is nc need to pay any further
attention to the many reckless argu-
ments put forth in behalf of the
contract than to remind
voters that ~recklessness is not enter
prise and whether public or private
prospers. Generally it bene-
fits nobody and if those interested in
the permanent welfare of Mexico are
wise they will not be misled by it.
Waterworks, if they are obtained
under the proposed arrangement, will
meet a recognized want, but at the
same time other public interests will
suffer. The city treasury will be de-
pleted of its permanent revenue and
made dependent for the means of
providing for its officers and other
expenditures upon such fluctuating
sources as licenses and fines.
The city 1evenue for last year
amounted to SIG $3.50, but this year
there will be a falling off of $500 in
the receipts from dram-shop licenses,
which are subject to further diminu-
ton through decrease of their num-
bers, Or by reason of the prevailing
contest for a reduction Of the cost of
licenses on the one side and their
abolition on the other. With the
unrestricted use of the whole city
revenue in the past our streets are as
yet mere roads unproyided with
curbing, cutters and drainage, and
yet during the past twelve years no
less than s54, 205.53 have been ex-
pended on them, ;the highest output
in any one year, 1882, being s1o,-
9G7.2O. With near $4,000 of the
city's annual revenue set aside for
water and O collection of 10 cents per
800 extra for the interest and sink
ing fund of its Indebtedness, amount,
ing to S1,444, that must be held
sacredly for the purpose for which il
is levied, making in all s7,444, how
can many dwellings and the city
itself be made accessible at all times
without additional taxation?
> A very specious argument in behal
!, of the proposed contract by persons
that overlook its cost is presented
$ through demand for a better and
more practical system. To gacl
questions it is a sufficient answe
that before << eontemplated work
are loesstaed such comparisons are i'm
,sbossible. Reservoirs, pipes and by
. drants will be required in any system
i and their efficiency and accepta9ilit
depend upon their positions and SUI
roundings, and these are what can
not be found out since they are rele
gated to the judgment of an enginee
and the future action of the council
But although full and fair compar
son is impossible some suggestions
e that direction may be made.
" It is almost universally concede
d that no large demand for water fl
domestic purposes exists and tn:
70 smaller and less expensive worl
4 than those proposed, judiciously /
~ Gated and operated, would afford o
n. binary protection against fire and
tb available in a more extended syste
he when the growth Of the city and d
f. mand for water for family use shou
o. justify it. Moreover there are ia
he and serious objections to the pr
posed system that demand attenti'
even in the event of its being adopte
. The contract does not insist up
.ts constant p%ressures on the pipes OIL
t;e hydrants and has no penalty for ne
in lect of such necessary precauti
cd beyond the general one of forfeitu
tn of rent and franchise upon failure
loo supply water for thirty days contin
ously. Neither does it contempls
en- a supply reservoir or tank of SUI
cient elevation to compensate for t
absence of constant pressure on PHI
and MIGRANTS and in case of fire fl
nish water while the distant engine
is getting up steam. Everybody t
derstands the value of abundance
y water at the commencement Of Fl
- and without a reliable provision
= it it is folly to talk of reduction
insurance premiums which are alrea
less by about twenty-five cents on
one hundred dollars in Mexico than
II some towns that have an abund'
ow water supply and irst-class ste
ebSihts.
Besides what has been adyant
lis there are several legal queries:
not 1st, Can a popular vote imp
to sanction to the withdrawal of :
the part Of the constitutional revenue
an, a city by n council from the iu
ub- diction of subsequent councils?
ice I'd, II the contract propo'
U.s. creates an indebtedness of $40
his payable at the rate of $1,000
of nually, does it not exceed the con
mo- tutional limit Of five per cent, ON
hall able property attached to the
han abling power of a popular vote,
-.