The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-04-12
r. T. DENNIS g. BRO.
Let Tom Alone.

The Tom Padgitt natatorium was
not built for private speculation. AT
least, that was not the leading motive.
There is no merchant or broker or
professional man in the city who can
fail to remember the circumstances
under which it was built. Or if any
one forgets it the torgetfulness is rep
rehensible. There was long and
loudly expressed desire heard on all
hands that the grand water about
which all men enthused should be
utilized for the advancement of Waco.
The call for natatorium was loud
and general. 1t was understood that
the world should be made aware of the
great virtues Of the artesian water and
that the facilities for bathing should
be had and the virtues advertised to
the world. Why should not Waco be
a second Hot Springs. The pressure
of public opinion was great and con-
tinued, but no one seemed willing to
step into the breach and invest private
funds for what was esteemed a very
general public benefit, but which was
very doubtful as private speculation.
1t was, eventually, under the pressure
of public desire, that Tom Padgitt de.
clded to risk his private means in def
erence to public demand. Mr.. Padgitt
did not need to use private speculation
outside Of his own business. He did
not need to make new and doubtful
experiments. 1t is nonsense to say
that Tom Padgitt built the natatorium
for private gain. He may have hoped
eventually to have realized at least
interest on the investment, but the
truth is he went outside his own
business where gains were certain,
moved by the popular outcry and be.
cause no one else would do it, Once
having en- aged in it he went on with
it with the thoroughness of the bust
ness man he is, and spared no money
to make the natatorium frst.class in
all its appointments, which it is!
That Tom Padgitt in giving to Waco
this grand nstatorium was moved by a
laudable public spirit and became
public beuefactor only the utterly
stupid can deny.
The natatorium does not pay. 1t
would take FIVE years to
make ratatorium pay ex.
penses from home patronage
and any business man will readily un-
derstand why. Tom Padgitt iO not
working for the present, He has
spent and is spending money like
water to advertise abroad and bring
people to the water and Waco. He is
doing a marvellous work in advertising
Waco, having in contemplation big
foreign patronage and the necessary
outlay for hotels and other things.
What should be the attitude of any
business man towards this great en-
terprise undertaken and carried on
with as much pluck, public spirit and
private money. The question needs
no answer. If any enterprise ever
challenged the hearty moral support Of
every citizen of Waco this natatorium
does. Jay Gould and other men hold
ing in their hands advantages to Waco
are wined and champagned and cigar.
red and toasted till they try to escape.
A wealthy private citizen spending
piles of money for public institution
should at least receive the moral sup.
port of the community and that com
munity should at least see that no OBJ
stacle is put in the way of citizen
working for the good of the town. At
least, let Tom Padgitt alone.
Pro Bono PUBLICo.