Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-05-28
viii 1t Paw!


and intelligent business man is viii 1t
psy' The decision upon this point usually
decides all other subordinate questions.
As q rule the purchase of necessities
at their real value does pay, tut 1t is
corresponding rule on the other hand that
luxuries are dear at any price, and their
indulgence ru,nous in proportion to the
indulgence.
1t is also very generally conceded
proposition that public officers who are
entrusted with the transaction of busl-
ness for the public, should conduct that
business as nearly as they would their
own individual affairs, as circumstances
will permit.
The question of water works for the
city is one which is now upon the city
council, and each individual member is
required 10 decide for himself, for or
against the enterprise, and the first ques-
ton that presents itself is, Will 1t pay?
In arriving at an intelligent answer to
this question the present financial condi-
lion Of the. @its,m milst I've "a ken into 80
count, together with that of the school
district and county Of which the city is a
part, and must bear its pro rata share of
their burdens Of Indebtedness. The
bonded and floating Indebtedness of the
city must be paid wholly by the city, that
of the school district nearly all by the
city, and large proportion of that OF
the county. Besides this accrued indebt.
edncss the necessary current expenses of
the city, school district and county, mus,
be provided for by taxation.
The question now is, whether under
these circumstances, the city can afford
the luxury OF water works for such 1t
would be to . great extent. 1t would not
only involve an ipcreaseof direct taxation
to between 1000 and $1,000 a year, but
IN addition to this the individual expense
TO those who obtain water for their prl-
vate use from This source.
Another phase Of the question is
whether IN an equitable point of view, 1t
is right foi the representatives of The
whole people to impose this extra tax
burden upon lhc whole people for that
which will only oc benefit TO the few
in the business part OF town, and OF no
benefit TO those living in other parts OF
town beyond tte reach of this wafer sup
ply. Not one u five of the citizens OF the
city would derive any practical benefit
from water Y orks, ANA Jet the four
would have ID pay a pro rata tax with
the fifth for thAt which would alone ber :
eft the dfth.
The citizens of the south, east, north
and west parts of the city would have to
yearly pay lsrge portion of the tax Of
a, 900 or IS 700 for the water works,
from which tley would derive no benefit
If water WORKS was an absolute necessity
then the eqgities of The case would be
diff erent, b4 rs it would be manly .
luxury, the objection from the people llv.
ing outside tie immediate business por
tion OF the cty is unanswerable.
These are Questions which the repre-
senta,ives o\ the whole people should
consider will view TO the interests of
the whole p$ple, and they will be held
responsible BY the people for the decision
they make. Ihcumbcring tho city with
an extra tax burden Of $4,000 or $1,000 a
year, for the term of twenty years. in
other words. giving mortgage upon the
peoples property for that amount, to be
paid every year, is a question OF serious
moment,
Misforlunes never come singly. MIR. l.
T. Carr, editor Of the Republican and
Press, Nelllsville, has been doubly atftlct-
ed. On the 18th of last January the re-
mains of his slaughter Ella, twenty-eight
years of age, were placed in the receiving
vault at Monroe cemetery. On Sunday
evening last, his youngest son, Charles
NJ, twenty-three years Of, age, died OF
consumption, and his remains were also
taken TO Monroe, and buried beside hi
sister on Tuesday. Charles was a promi
nent young man, and his friends wer'
numbered by the hundred. He was
member Of the Harmonic Cub and tn
Odd Fellows lodge Of Jefferson, where n
formerly resided. TIE former club sent
an elegant boquet OF foN ers to be placed
on the casket, the Odd Fellows providing
the bearers. and the members of the orde
in Monroe participated in the burial ser
vices. Mr.. Carr, has only one child left
. son, Frank, twenty years OF age
whe is with his father in the 2rlntnl
business at Neillsville. Charles had oeel
ailing for year but was not confined =
his bed until the day Of his death.-Janes
vilk wis., Recorder.