The Grenada sentinel., 1894-09-08

t0rial and the communicates ce Messr,
Bledsoe and Horton, which we're pub
lished in your paper against vster
works, are, I presume, sufficient excuses
for any one crushing into print" wh,
has at heart the best Interests Of oul
city.
In the first place, l will say that
was very much surprised to see tina,
''our town paper" was opposed to the
establishment Of wster-works; because
for the past decade The SENTINEL has
been berating our people for being lag.
CARDS In the race for the developmsn,
Of our resources and the building up o.
our town and immediate section; in fact
its columns have breathed tho very
spirit Of progress, and within the last
sixty days it contained IN editorial
written in that inimitable style Of it.
editor, praising and applaudiug the
public spirit of the people Of our sister
city-Water valley-for the establish
ment Of water.works and an electrical
plant-to all Of which l said amen;
but when we come to the same period
In our development, and then for the
''mouth.piece Of our people, to voice
opposition to water-works, strikes me
with amazement. Why the change?
Non constat.
We have now, as we have always had
IN this country, too much oi that stuff
which is den0mtnated ''Old fogyism, "
which being interpreted means hesi-
fancy to get out of old ruts and a persist
ent refusal to he in favor Of anything
which requires the expenditure of
money. Ihave been, to some extent, =
student Of history and IN observer of
men and measures; and that Observa-
ton has taught me that that people and
country which can hope for advance
ment and development must keep pace
and step In the onward march Of i'm.
provement; development and progress
advance, p0ri p0ssu, with the adop-
tiOn Of the new ideas Of modern civiliza-
tioE;the advancement Of u people and the
prosperity of country in these ''latter
days of steam and electricity" can be
aud gagged by asoertaining to
what extent that people and country
mould and apply the new thoughts and
ideas to their present condition.
Water-worksa are not simply a luxury,
but an absolute necessity. No we'll
governed and prosperous city is with.
out them. Experience has demon
strated their utility, exempllfied their
proved their healthfulness
and illustrated their adaptability rs
adjuncts TO the cOnveniences and
comforts Of modern civilization. Now
the question is, can we, taking into con.
all Of our surroundings, pres
ent and prospective, and having an eye
to OUT present financial condition, afford
to be without water.works? No one
questions their utility, all concede
their haalthfulness and cleanliness, but
some inquire as 10 their economy. The
Is toauth0rize our municipal
authority to borrow a sum not exceed.
log 100000. For the present inquiry,
we assume that this sum will b. neces-
sary, the loan TO be for twenty years at
5 per cent. interest, One.twentieth
Of the principal and all Of
the accrued interest to be repaid
zach year; the total cost therefore ut
The expiration Of the twenty years, will
be 1872, 900; IN other words, In order to
meet the liability, we will have to raise
IN average OF $1,000 for the
next twenty years. The present value
3f our property rs shown by our City
rolls exceeds eight hundred
thousand dollars; this will require u
levy OF two mills on the dollar, or twon-
Ly cents for every hundred, or two dol.
lars for every thousand, or twenty dol
ars Tor every ten thousand dollars
worth Of property. Can you find In
this community any man, who, really
having at heat the material advance
ment Of his town, and hdring fully con-.
,ide,ed the subject, is unwilling to expend
30 little Of his substance and
income, for 80 great q benefit? Are we
10 short sighted rs to fail to discover
The benefits which necessarily will How
70 every property owner BY the ersc.
lion Of this permanent, public improve.
nenty There are some men who
ire 80 devotedly attached TO the al
mighty dollar that in the effort to part
with 1t, they squeeze It 30 hard a. tOl
cause the American Eagle on one side
70 scream with pain, while the Goddess
u Liberty ON the other side, bushes
With modification and shame; these
nen refuse to expend dollar unless
hey have the express promise, doub'y
to pay back the dollar with
he usual 10 per cent interest; but they
Ire not the true financiers, who consti-
ute the great commercial factors In
he building up Of . country, and who
ay, broad and deep the foundations for
heir future success and prosperity;
he former belong to the ''old fOgy
lead sure make 4 livingn class, and
heir visions Of accumulated wealth
vill be only dreams; they will die own
ng perhaps, as much property NJ when
hey began life, but their dreams will
'e buried with them. s.,
The estimate OF q two mill tax is
'ased upon the idea that our town IL to
emain Just ~ IL il, without any aug.
in population or enhance.
nent In values; whereas, IL IL reasona.
lie to suppose that In the near future
here will be rise in values and IN
Increase iu population. Il Is quite sure