The record-union., 1895-01-14

showed good judgment and generalship
by advancing with caution and making
haste slowly even when IN full dash and
charge for progress and reform.
The Mayor and the Trustees acted as
unit, and no time was lost in having
competent engineer going over the
ground. A report was presented, with
plans and specifications and estimates of
cost for complete sewage system.
Again, the Trustees showed good judg-
ment by consulting with the Board of
Health in the matter and inviting the
pubhc and press to examine what they
proposed to do.
Up to this time all went merry as
marriage bell. 1t seemed our city had
got her right foot foremost in the march
for needed reform. Improvements were
to be carried out on business principles.
The new charter, with its new Board of
City Trustees, seemed a grand success.
Our city had got awakened at last, and
silurians and shellbacks were crowded to
the wall. The good time was coming and
a new sacramento was about TO appear in
our beautiful valley.
Our trumpery sewers were to be thing
Of the past. Sewage Lake, with its green
scum, was to be blotted from our city
map. The storm water was TO have new
and sufficient outlets; our streets and
alleys and easements were to be flooded
no more; sipage water was to be utilized
ana taken care OF, ana our reezing, tetiI ,
obnoxious, nasty ceSspools were to De re-
moved from every back door in the city
forever.
Why has it not been done, and whose
fault Is 1t that it is not done? Was it
only case of a new broom sweeping
clean or just squirt of make believe
energy and action? The pace was not
| too rapid for the people.
In year from now. the term of office of
| half the board will have expired, and, if
we are to judge the future by the past,
how much nearer viii we be to now
sewage system then than we now are !?
/ Three months after taking Office the
board were in possession of complete
plans. details and specifications for q
complete system of sewage and pumping
plant for the city. Why The matter was
allowed to stagnate at this stage is best
known only to the board.
The Sewage Committee of the board
| nave always seemed anxious to carry
out the work intrusted to them. New
plans were advertised for and have been
| acted on long ago, aud it was found
nothing better was offered than the plans
the city possessed and had paid for. If
our city trustees will keep close TO the
needs and wants OF the people, and show
with the new year the vim and push thev
nau a year ago, g vast amount of good
VIII be accomplished. Give the people
whose servants you are an opportunity
10 vote on this question, and if it fails
you nave done your whole duty by them
IN this matter. The zeal shown by
tie board is commendabIe, but what
| we want at this time Is united action for
the public good. There may be other de-
partments OF our public works as badly
oH as our sewers, but to vote against
any measure simply because it does not
| come under the department OF any par
| ticular member is wrong. narrow
minded, and shows lack OF public
spirit. We need relief from our present
sewage system. The courts have de-
clded against maintaining them as they
| are, and it is certainly better to put the
money into needed improvements than
hlre special counsel and pay damages.
Respectfully, Pro Bono PUBLICO.
Sacramento, January Is, 1895.