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


plan to the people by which, without any
Improbable raise of the tax rate, and
probably under less tax rate next year,
we can prosecute and carry to completion
inside of the next twenty months some
great reforms, which will more than any
thing else confound our enemies, and
will greatly enhance the business and
residence desirability of the city; reforms
that are necessary to be done now to keep
pace with the commercial and building
advance of the city.
It's on all sides conceded that the plan
looks in the direction of accomplishment
that every one wants, and also that it is
feasible. In brief, to present it anew, it
is a scheme to secure for the city a new
sewage disposal system; the abolition of
the present retention system; the extern
sion and improvement of the present
sewer system, which is in the main good,
but too limited; the destruction of gar
bage by the crematory method; the crea-
lion of a large general street crossing
and improvement fund; the erection of a
city hall and assembly room, and the
creation of a reserve fund for industrial
invitation and harbor and other improve
ments.
The cost is distributed from the sum OF
100000, to be secured on forty year
lo,,1r o+ : 49,. ,o,,+ With n e;1l-ipo, fund
at p per cent, Or, in all, the raising OF
$4,000 a year only will be necessary.
This is TO be accomplished in part by GER
tain economies amounting to fully one
half that sum, and a portion of which
are already provided for under the new
charter when it shall go into effect.
The element of time is the most i'm
portant one in the whole scheme. The
sum is not large, the security is ample
and the benefits of the improvements
great and undeniable. But the Act o
1891 prohibits the mourning of liability il
excess of 10 per cent. of the total value o
all real and personal property as assessed
1OI ldAdbtOlI. " I'LL VIC pACSGLlG htOL ~
the city the 10 per cent. limit will be ex
ceeded by the new liability.
But deciding whether one will incur
liability is not mourning it. The liabilit.
does not arise until action is taken whicl
amounts TO promise to pay, and tina
has been accepted. If the people to-da,
70 Ha, H. !,
local Legislature scheme authorizing
the board to incur an Indebtedness in tn
name of the city, the liability is not in
Cured by the vote being in the atfirma
tive, and not until the board actual
issues the city's note of hand, a thing
might resolve thereafter not to do.
other words, asking the consent of tn
people to incur liability, is not creatin
a debt. OF this there can be no doubt.
Now, since it requires at the very leas
some two months to investigate an
to prepare plans to carry out the improve
ments contemplated, why should til
neople wait until the next assessmer
period before acting? If they do, the
lose a full half year of precious tim
Whv not vote now, or within montl
unon,the question whether we will entt
months matter of improvement at all
twill be a positive waste of money an
time to investigate and plan for iinprov
ments that may be rejected by the peopl
Rnt if the people should in April, 1S9
decide by vote that the authority shoul
10 wasted in the Trustees to incur Il
liability when the city revenues call f
IN income on an assessed valuatic
that will escape the 10 per cent. limit
80, that is to say, at the completion
the new assessment roll in 1898, or
aeon thereafter as the legal fact necessal
shall develop, then we could 60 on fro
Anil 1904 until the date of the issuan
of the bonds, some months later, al
take all those preliminary steps that a
actually necessary to be taken before
atroke of work can be delivered, al
+hns he that much advanced when reat
to begin work.
The moral effect of this preparation W
10 as great as if the work were at on
entered upon. When a city, by vote'
o1ores in favor of line of improveme
o,d the drawing of the plans and layi
out-of the details begin, the effect up