The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-07-11
land YE WOULD NOT"

uale present singular ana striking
contrast which must certainly consti-
tute a matter for some contemplation
by all who are given to weighing
passing events as they apply to prin-
ciples affecting Human Interest. In
Idaho Fails a few days ago over a
thousand people gathered together in
holiday jubilee over the opening Of
an irrigation enterprise practically
controlled and executed by the peo-
pie. In Denver, on the other hand.
the people were gathered together in
sullen mood, with curses on their
tongues, demanding that private
water corporation fulfil It's promises
and threatening violence in case of
refusal. And here we cannot resist
reproducing an editorial from the
Helena (Montana) Independent on
the latter matter
The disgraceful squabble over the water
question in Denver. the attempt Of Il pri-
vate company to force the city into fir
teen years contract, at rates alleged to be
extortionate; the rebellion of the citizens
against the terms favored by the alder
men, the threats of riotng and violence.
the placing of the works under guard-all
these are phases of controversy which
mn ali a. 1 4
every other municipality feel that "A com
munity which places itself at the mercy
of II private corporation in the matter of "A
water supply commits the most extraor-
binary folly, and that the community
which does not seize earliest possible OPP
pOrtunity TO contro its supply Of water is
dead to all the warnings of history.
Says Professor Ely after careful and
exhaustive study Of municipal control of
monopohes throughout Europe and Amer
lea: when we turn to the United States
and compare the results of municipal
ownership with the results Of private
ownership of natural monopOlies. there
can be no doubt which has been the more
advantageous to the people as a whole. and
which has done the moe to promote the
excellence of Of public life The change
from private to public ownership removes
n troublesome factor in local politics and
II means. almost Invariably, cheaper and
better service. For every failure of mu-
nlcipal ownership and management which
it would be possible TO adduce twenty
failures of private ownership and opera
ton could be adduced 80
There, readers, are some strong
words from great and able paper
that must surely carry some little
weight Gf the SIGNAL cannot do
that to hold your attention long
enough to justify your putting some
serious study upon the future inter
ests of this community as affected
by the proper or improper handling
of our water supply. Would You rise
to the happy and rejoicing condition
of one or sink to the wretchedness of
the other? Read it over again, ga
community which places itself at the
mercy of private corporations com
mits the most extraordinary folly, and
that community which does not seize
the earliest opportunity of controll-
ing its own supply of water is dead
to all the warnings of history" Look
around you, not at Denver alone, but
at all the history of private water
corporations, and be warned. Let
Weiser learn wisdom in the days of
her youth and not submit herself to
be bound hand and foot to monopoly.
And to the outlying farming lands
the same words The people of
Weiser all have Il hope in their hearts
that in the not too distant future the
town will experience new life and
enterprises be inaugurated that will
cause it to spring into a city. If any
private water monopoly gains sway
and foothold over our husbandry, be
assured that stored safely away is the
firm determination to tackle the city
and bleed its necessities also when it
has attained the position we are
hoping for; and they can rest rejoic-
ing on the knowledge that we can
scarcely escape their grasp The
same incubus is hanging over the
town as over the country. If control
of all our sources of water supply Is
not soon gained by all the land in
this valley from the Weiser canyon
and west of the Weiser river, includ-
ing the town, you may have cause to
remember our words. No time could
be so favorable for this step as at
present.
------------------
COUNCIL.