San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-07
ANTONIO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY Z 1880
A Sample of Political Grease.

Editor LIGHT
AS sample of grease, that is used
to keep the wheels of our municipal
political machine in running order
may fairly be mentioned that which
is distributed to some of our aldermen
in the shape of "extra" fire hydrants
The most recent application of this
grease was granted to Alderman Rel
mann, of the seventh ward. Several
months ago Alderman Mauermann,
by request of Reimann, introduced a
resolution asking the council to locate
a fire hydrant at the corner of Water
and North streets, to ornament the
property of the seventh ward alder
man. Without first referring the mat
ter to a committee for investigation,
the council adopted the resolution,
and the mayor interposed no objec-
ton, though the manner in which it
was done was contrary to law, mas
much as no appropriation was first
made for the purpose. On the follow
ing day a communication appeared in
the Express, severely cOndemning the
action of the board on account of the
unwarrauted and unnecessary ex-
penditure of the peoples money for
private purposes, and proving to his
honor, the mayor, and the city coun-
Gil, the utter uselessness of crowding
another among the several hydrants,
that were already located unnecessa-
rly close together in that vicinity.
Some of the mayors friends in the
council who had read the cOmmunica-
ton, declared that they had been
imposed upon and that the mayor
after having learned the true condi-
ton of things, would certainly refuse
to order the hydrant in question.
Thus the matter rested until about,
two weeks ago, when the mayor is-
sued his order and the Waterworks
company at once put in the hydrant
as per the demands of Alderman Rel
mann. II these hydrants did not cost
the city anything, nobody would
care how thick they were placed to-
gether, but since the city has to pay
the WaterwOrks company, an annual
rent of fifty dollars for each and
every one of them, the taxpayers very
naturally enqu re: Why was that
hydrant located on Alderman Rel
mann's corner in the face of the fact
that there are already no less than
six hydrants within reach of Remnants
place, on North street, distance about
sixty yards; another corner Rusk and
North streets, distance about so
yards; another on corner of Water
and Lafitte, distance about so yards;
one on the corner of Water and Cen
tire, distance 100 yards, one on corner
of Water and East Commerce, dis
lance $50 yards; and another Oh cor
ner Water and South streets, dis
lance about 200 yards. These dis
tances are measured from the corner
where Remnants extra" hydrant
has Just been located, and are given to
show the public the utter uselessness
of the thing the taxpayers are called
upon to pay fifty dollars per year for.
According to the rule governing the
laying of mains during the past
several years, the Waterworks Com
pany lays 800 feet of main pipes for
each hydrant the city agrees to take at
fifty dollars per year. There are quite
number of places in the Seventh
ward where people are compelled to
haul water from the river and where
that hydrant, along with 800 feet of
pipe, would do mighty good service,
especially i'll the direction of New
cOmbville, where the colored people
live. The above is merely given as
one of the many instances in which
the peoples money is squandered by
our present mayor, to crafty the
whims of those aldermen whom he
uses as tools to carry out his political
designs. TAXPAYER.