The Monitor., 1890-04-18
s.sosiah's- scraps.

One who knew more than we profess to
know, has said: "a fool is wiser in his
own conceit than seven men that can rem
der reason" Now we are not willing to
admit are are ''fool;r somehow it morti-
fies one's vanity. Neither are We willing
to admit we are wiser than seven men, un-
less we first know their reason" or can
exercise our Judgment in making the
selection. This We do admit, however, We
feel at this time a disposition to grumble
and to find fault with everything lying
round. Whether this disposition is be-
gotten of something radically wrong in
newspaperdom in general, or is the reflex
action of something radically wrong with
our liver in particular, we leave TO the
diagnosis of our readers. As between fol-
instance and seeking remedy in the CON-
pounds of the apothecary, we choose the
former at the risk of being stigmatized a
cynic.
We noticed in the last issue of the MoNT-
TOR communication on water supply
by one signing themselves Taxed The
writer, it seemed to us, reasoned from
false premises and jumped at conclusions.
As an evidence of this we quote why
carry water two miles when it can be had
one mile nearer? And why carry it one
mile when we have only too plenty of il at
hand ?'' On the same line of reasoning we
might ask: Why have houses that are ex-
pensive when we can live in huts? Why
have carriages and railway cars when we
can go afoot? Why have plows when we
can dig with stick :? Why have cook
stoves when We can have fire in pit?
Why not live like the Hottentotts and do
as the Hottentotts do? Now, such reason
ing, like the argument OF the writer quoted,
is on false premises as regards our best
interests. but, like his or hers, good on the
score of economy. As an evidence that
the writer jumps at conclusions we again
quote q reference to recent effort TO light
our streets with electric lights 1T is
known that thirteen thousand dollars
would have put in a better system of lights
that could be run with correspondingly
less expense than the one proposed. And
we think it probable water supply can
be furnished at correspondingly less
figure than that named" Now the writer
of this article took considerable interest in
lighting the town with electric lights, be-
lieying they would help make the town at
tractive and tend to draw those desiring to
build homes thitherward. We have yet to
learn of any other company being formed
than the one referred to, or of any PROPOSE
tion from outside parties to light the town
for anything approaching the sum named.
If il is known that our streets can be
lighted every night in the year and all
night for a sum not exceeding the interest
on thirteen thousand dollars, and our
Borough Fathers" fail to 'scateh on,
the most charitable thing We can say Of
their stupidity is, they ought, forthwith,
TO be relegated to whence they came
Thirteen thousand dollars can be nego-
tiated on the credit of this town at rate
of interest that will scarcely exceed the
present expense of lighting. A set of
Borough Fathers" who prefer coal oil 10
electricity at the same cost is too anti
auated and fossilized for this marvellous
age. No, it is not known that the sum
named will put in better plant than the
one proposed, and our Borough Fathers
are not the censummate asses Taxed"
would have us believe. Our Council are
now making strenuous efforts to secure the
best terms possible for water supply and
are submitting the matter to number of
constructing companies, but, as yet, have
not been able to obtain more liberal terms
than those offered by Ferris. Halliday &
Richards. If Taxed" will give Council
some tangible points Council no doubt will
feel thankful, and those interested in water
works will tip their hats in compliment.
We admit, as Taxed claims, that water
drawn from polluted river like the
Schuylkill that supplies Philadelphia or