San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-03-03

The greatest danger that has
ever threatened the city govern
ment hangs over it today. 3
Notwithstanding the reckless
and ignorance waste OF the city's
credit in the past, there still re-
mains credit margin Of million
dollars; that is, the city can issue
bonds to this extent.
BY the rapid growth of our city,
and consequent increase of our as
sessessed values, reaching over thir-
ty millions, our credit has been en-
larged.
Although we have standing
against us a bonded debt Of 81, 273,-
500, we have absolutely no public
work Of permanent character to
show for it.
Our city is without sewers, and
its water supply is in the hands of
private corporation that has
grown rich by its exactiOns from
the public purse and from the pri-
vate purses of our citizens.
An attempt is made to secure
city ownership of the water sup
ply and build sewers, and thus
utilize the credit still remaining,
and forthwith there arises a re-
lentless warfare backed by cor
porate capital, to defeat the people.
X
Arguments as specious as they
are dangerous to the best interests
of the people are urged to prevent
the city from owning and controll-
ing the water supply and the most
criminal suggestion of all, is that
the city should consent to a per-
petuity of private ownership and
use it's remaining credit to make
"street improvements"
Look at our street provements
that today represent our million
dollars of our bounded debt-worn
out, badly constructed boulder
beds. North Flores street, Laredo
street, East and West Commerce,
go when you please it is all the
same, off of the block streets, but
it cost us big pile of money.
And with the certainty that
every street must be torn up to put
down a sewer, we can count our
money all thrown away.
Let the people take the bit firm
ly in their teeth, we have been rid
den long enough by the private
water monopoly-our backs are
sore, and no padding of the same
sort of stuff will relieve us Of the
chatting of the burden. And we
don't want the balance Of our
credit thrown into the mud.
If the rates heretofore charged
the city for hundreds of useless fire
hydrants, and the rates charged
private consumers, are not eXtOr-
tionate why is it proposed by the
company to reduce them now?
To gain time, to secure change
Of city administration, to reinstate
the old eXtravagant, ignorant
methods Of the past and squander
the City's credit, so that few
years hence and the city will be,
not only powerless, but completely
at the mercy Of the Water COM
pany, seems to be the aim of those
who oppose public ownership.
When the Intelligent, patriotic
citizen looks at this matter from a
standpoint Of personal disinterest-
edness, he can't avoid q. feeling Of
Indignation, almost Of enmity
against those who would wreck the
prosperity OF our fair city, sap its
very vitals, for their own selfish
gain.
No wonder that today the land
rings with denunciatiOns aimed at
corporated capital, overreaChing
selfishness, disdain for public vir-
tue, has caused it. The people are
honest-a fact that is lost sight of
by those who are blinded by selfish
designs.
To Elect Officers.
The annual election for Board of
Directors in the San Antonio Real
Estate Building and Loan associa-
tion will take place in their Office,
IL SAInInI