The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-20

dustries of the city and the invitation to !
invest in it, begins and continues until the |
work is entered upon and completed. |
But if because the 10 per cent. limitation !
nothing, and fold our hands until that
obstacle is removed, clearly we lose valu-
able time and much credit, since in any
event just so much time must be given to
inquiry and planning.
In the proposition to be voted upon
only such clear specifications need be set
out as will precisely define the purposes
to which the money is TO be devoted, and
what are the limits to its expenditure.
Thus the present specifications may be
said to be as follows: To locate on such
ground as may be found best suited for
the purpose, chemical sewage disposition
works for the treatment of the city sew
age fed thereto by the city sewers, the
same to conform in style and construc-
ton to the most approved character of
olNA NOAhSs Oh d OdSIS Vi d SCIlto VI ldAlho
| for settling purposes, power house and
motive power, steam or electrical, and
chemical mixing and preparatory rooms,
and apparatus for removal and sale of
sludge, the entire cost thereof not to ex
coed the sum of Sl75, 900.
If it is held by the lawyers that more
specific details must be set out to lay the
ground work for a credit on which the
/ bonds can issue, the specifications used
by the city of Worcester can be secured
| in fortnight, and in another week can
| be adapted, under the known cost for
! labor and materials in this city, to our
need, and the notice given with that de-
gree of circumstantiality that is neces-
sary, and yet with such elasticity as will
permit of any necessary subsequent adj
justment without departure from the
main features.
For instance, when the late proposition
to raise certain levees was submitted, il
was set forth that they should be raised
to certain hight at a maximum cost and
on certain gradients. But this did not
put Limitation upon the Trustees as to the
means to be used or the material to be en-
ployed. So, to say that there shall be
constructed settling tanks of the style re-
quired by a well-known system and suf-
ficient for a specific purpose, is definite,
and the depth of the tanks, the character
of the walls and the place of their loca-
ton can be given if necessary.
The final consideration is the meeting
of the 10 per cent. limitation. This
can be done by making the next assess
ment roll sufficiently larger, say by some
three millions. 1t will not then be 81
high as it will be under the new charter
to take effect in less than year, when We
will be compelled to accept the county
assessment roll, which is higher by fal
than now for all property assessed
within the municipal limits. 1t will no
increase the tax rate, because if a rate
payer pays by a given rate based on al
assessed value, the increase of the latte
will work a decrease of the rate, If only tn
same sum is still to be raised. One cen
tax upon 500 is precisely the same as
half cent tax upon $500 of values.
The whole matter then crystsllizes int
these simple questions: will it be wis
to ask the Trustees to submit to the PEG
ple-say late in April-the question
of the proposed expenditure of SUN
f for which liability will be incurred mex
: winter, il the answer at the polls is in til
| affirmative?" "Win the people Civ
f that affirmative response?" To bot
these questions the RECoRD-UNIoN re
spends unhesitatingly yes. To the frs
because the answer to the last will be i
/ the affirmative; to the last, because ever
' voter will, after ordinary contemplate
OF the subject, see that it is not schem
= to increase taxation, but to lower it; tbf
9 it is not a scheme to put burdens upo
Q values, but to enhance every dollar {
# same time conserve and stimulate indus
n trial activity and commercial expansion
If besides confounding the enemies of u
d city, and putting at rest forever the
If slanderous statements concerning
: The most profitable and effective adve
tisement a town can make is expend
a ture upon public Improvements. 1t
y worth volumes of statistics, tones
h argument, and the most vociferous d
1t malls of falsehood.