The Grenada sentinel., 1894-09-15
CLINCHER.
Same Strong Facts ON the Water-works
Question, far all to Read.

Editors Sentinel:-The proposed
issue of Bonds by the town Of Grenada
for the purpose OF erecting water
works, is exciting some interest, and
while the only argument used in favor
of the enterprise that is plausible, is
the probable decrease in insurance
rates, yet this argument is OF no value
in the light Of the experience OF other
towns and cities that have been in
duced under this plea to shoulder an
onerous and ever increasing debt,
under the guise of water-works bonds.
The issuance of the Bonds for S2O,OD
is only for the purpose OF putting in
the plant. Then the real expense will
begin. Experience establishes the
fact that it requires at least 80 per cent
more to operate public enterprise Ot
any kind then is required to carry on
the same plant by individual or private
enterprise-nOt less than 81, ,oOO annual
ly will be the cost Of keeping the plant
in good working order after the $780,
OOOi expended, and like the horse
leech the cry will be ''give! give!!
The water-works system in Memphis
was total failure until about $500, 900
was spent in sinking artesian wells.
The whole system was condemned as a
nuisance. and the water wis condemn
ed as the source of di4ease. In Selma,
Ala, /, city OF l5,0OU people, the system
has been pronounced Il failure, and the
people are abandoning the use OF the
water under the advice of the medical
profession as dangerous to health,--
the supply OF water being obtained
from the Alabama river.
The State of Mississippi'paid 81, 900 pei.
annum for water to the Jackson water
works Co., for the use of the Lunatic
Asylum alone, and thought her public
property secure. Yet that most dis
: astrous fire ut the lunatic asylum oc-
Cured in sight Of the water-works
planti in the winter OF 1892, and the
3 water-works had just been put in a
. great expense TO the State, hffOrdine
no protection whatever in combating
b the fire, AS II common sense business
: proposition it will not bear the test
i TIE population OF our city Is less thai
25OO: our State, county and munlclpit
taxation now amounts to over pc
Q cent; our insurance about 5 per cea'
). and we have no assurance that the IN
n surance trust will charge less whe
a water plant is put in. The expeIr
ence of Jackson, Vicksburg and Merit
ian is that the insurance rates nav
IL been raised since the water plant nj
n beeh completed. With business dul
40 cotton at 5 to { cents per pound, prol
~ ~ erty already heavily burdened, wit
81 taxation, does not prudence and goc
'r business Judgment protest against
a experiment Of such doubtful utlllt
h It is we'll understood by sensible bus
~ ness men that thu protector OF tn
III scheme, like all other financial ente
m prises, are shrewd business men, an
ed ious to benefit the public by selling u
- watcr-works plant and putting it in +
:, city Bonds, that they are able ana
10 often employ the best counsel TO be Nd
Is, toassist in creating a public. sentlme
est favorable to their enterprise, ana
,xa that way they fasten upon the public
. bonded debt which is curse 10
"A. community and does more to preve
me men Of capital from investing a
er. building up II city than any ott
cause. Men Of capital seeking lnve
ment usually enquire first as to t
rate of taxation, and in all large ent
prises the most important point is
i first try to secure immunity from
lat taxation, and this immunity is usua
re- a .'s;ne q,.a non" in locating manut'
turing enterprises.
TIC What inducement could we oner
such enterprises with a city ov
whelmed with bonded indeo'edh
pc and 4 continual annual charge wh
will be more onerous than the Dol
upon our city revenues! | app
ST. tc every business man to answer.
IDS this propitious time to incur Ia
Indebtedness? Has the financial sto
left us in such security as to enable
to plan with reasonable certainty
the future? Does not prudence
tate an economical administration
our public affairs until the return1
wave OF financial prosperity aPpe
: in sight? heSpecIu1,y, ~,