The sea coast echo., 1895-05-11
"HELp re, cAssIUs, OR 1 sINKr'


ready devoted much space anc
attention, and which, apparently
has been disregarded by the peo'
pie. The question to which we
refer is that of water works, q
necessity without which we can
not reasonably expect to endure
much longer. From tine to time
within the last few years, fire has
visited our city which has re-
suited in much destruction. Not
withstanding this fact, no step
was ever taken by the people OF
the peoples Representatives, eff
feet means by whichs the destruc-
tive monster could be conquered,
or at least fought with. Strange
it is that our city so precautions in
other particulars should be so
delinquent in this respect.
| Should an infectious disease
be declared in an adjoining town,
immediate measures would be
promulgated to prevent the dis
ease from reaching us, and the
strictest surveillance would be en-
forced so these measures would
not be violated, and yet the same
people stand with folded arms
while a disaster, more fearful
than all pestilences, threatens us
momentarily.
The fire of last Friday night,
though slight, again demonstrated
our inability to combat with the
flames. 1t is almost as easy to
drain the Bay of st. Louis with a
tea spoon as it is to extinguish q
fire with drop Of waterl In less
than half an hour Fridaysnight all
the wells in the vicinity of the
fire were as dry as though they
had never known water; and had
it not been for the high tide which
prevailed enabling the procuring
of water from the. Bay there is no
surmising to what extent the loss
would have amounted.
Prentiss in justification of self
de fense said: t.If war was de.
clared against your country by an
insulting foe, would you wait till
Iyour sleeping cities were wakened
by the terrible music of the burst
ing bomb? till your green fields
were trampled by the hoofs OF
the invader and made red with
the blood of your brethren? No!
you would send forth fleets and
armies-you would unloose upon
the broad ocean your keen fall
cons--and the thunder of your
guns would arouse stern echoes
along the hostile coastl" The
stirring queries of the orator finds
no response in the soul of oul
community. For over one CEN
tury the peace and tranquility OF
our city has been wa:ened by the
awful sound of the fire bells,
homes have been swept away as
though they were of no value
safety has been trampled under
foot by the invader, and yet nc
falcon have we unloosed, nor has
the sound of one single gun yet
been heard to warn the enemy
| The logical view of Prentiss an.
plies to our city as well as to the
individual.
Each administration since the
incorporation of our city devoted
time and money to its develop,
ment. Against this, however, we
have naught to say; but we dc
think that it would be better hac
no street ever been opened, not
one shell placed on our main roac
than be in our present condition
Certain it is that the none,
which has been expended il
opening and shelling new streets
in recent years would have beer
sufficient to inaugurate a system
of water work. However. the
past is passed, but we have tn,
present and the future with which
to contend.
! We must have water: witbout
it there can be no safety, with
out safety there can be no prog
ress, no prosperity. Those that
are here now are in constant fear
and the stranger is too wise t,
to invest in a community which
does not even assure him the frs,
principles Of welcome and protec
ton. Of course an engine is ais,
necessary, but if the purchase =.