San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-29
SHORT STOPS.
What the People are Saying.

1
There is dullnesS in business circles
| that the people do not quite understand;
| il was not so dull year ago.
| 1.-THE causes of dullnesS cannot be at
| tributed to any one source. but to many
sources. IL is not because the city is not
| tearing up as many streets as it did a
year ago.
The expenditure of large sums of money
for public improvements is good sign,
and promOtive of real estate speculation,
and we doubt much of the speculation in
additions and investments in business
property were stimulated by the city'S
activity in improving streets, etc.
But every one recognizes that a better,
more permanent plan of public improve
mentS is needed, instead of the boom
creating plan of wasting hundreds of
thousands upon surface improvements.
y
There should not be foot more of
block pavement laid until a system of
sewerage is begun: every one can see
that our streets must all be torn up and
rebuilt.
Certainly our city has shown its ability
to control its peace and dignity. We are
not gOoder than other communities, but
Austin, right under the nose of the saint
ly Gov. HOgg, does not think of closing
up irS sporting houses; neither does
Houston, Dallas or other cities. but San
Antonio has closed its sporting houses.
Austin may close its saloon doors on Sun
day and put on more sanity airs than we
do, but San Antonio has put damper on
the risky stranger.
1t is recognized in other less metrOpol-
itan cities than ours, that while the law
against gambling is a general one, yet it
is more applicable, and better suited to
villages, surrounded by rural popula-
ton, not capable of taking care of them
selves: in fact, it is a wise precaution in
favor of the greenieS.
Our guardians of the peace and dignity
of the state have certainly demonstrated
their ability to enforce any law on the
fore them: the Sunday law hangs like
dried gourd on neglected fence.
How about their official conscience:
does closing the general sporting houses
dianS Of the peace?
We must go still further. much further,
before the record can be declared without
blemiSh. Our numerous saloons must
close their front and back doors on the
Sabbath day" the beer gardens, sylvan
resorts and places where our citizens
seek SOciability and innocent recreation
must be closed on Sunday.
4
The social evil must be put out,
then. and not till then, will the millennium
dawn upon our city; our officials walk
abroad with crowns of glory upon their
heads and harpS in their hands; then
San Pedro Park, no longer base ball
ground on Sunday, will be the proper
place. under the city management. for
"chatauQua.
Who can doubt that it only remains for
this great reform to prOceed-the enforce
ment of the law-to lift the pail of com
mercial dulness and business inactivity.
The smart alex from the COW district:
the traveller round the world: the tourist:
the man from home who comes here to
the cattle buyer; the wool sampler: the
thousand or more fiOaterS, who fill our
hotels and seS small coin in circulation,
may 90 to Austin if they like: but here,
oh. no, we are law enforcing. and sanity
people.
Perhaps some people may think
too much repression not good thing for
big, cosmopolitan, trading. frontier city:
evidently they are mistaken. The law
must be enforced, and while our streets
might be as quiet as a church yard our
conscience will be purged.
Like the little vineyard in the midst of
vast prairie, the hooking birds will find
it, and gather the harvest, while the
owner can take out his pay in sweet
songs.
If there is any cause for the dun times,
let MS blame the state officials for not en-
forcing the law up to the handle.