Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-02-06
Good Words for waterworks.

been brought into the city of Lancas-
ter, and a most perfect system OF
waterworks completed. it might per-
haps be out of place to look over the
past and see how il was brought about,
what obstacles were throw in the way
and how finally the grand result was
achieved At the last meeting of our
citizens which was called to consider
the ACCESSIBILITY of constructing a sys-
tenn of waterworks for the city OF
Lancaster, the expression manifested
was greatly in favor of waterworks,
and the vote was then taken, instruct
ing the city council to call an election
to determine whether or not we were
willing to bond the city for $24, 900, to
put in a system of waterworks. At
this time the row began and the Tel
Ter as leader of the enemies of pro-
gress, as matter of course, took the
offensive.
AS a rule, individuals as well as
corporations dislike to 90 in debt. but
there are instances where we are COM
PEELED to do so. Let us take for ex-
ample the necessity of building a
school house, which is generally put
off until it becomes so urgent and
necessary that it has to be done with
out farther delay many has to be pro-
vided for at once, and the district is
compelled to borrow money or issue
bonds. But in case like this, the
Teller would adopt different plan; ii
we needed, say a $4,000 school house
he would advise to raise $1,000 a
year by tax until we had raised the
whole amount; in the meantime let
the children for ten years be deprived
OF proper school accommodations, or
as necessity might require let them
run loose and not 60 to school at all.
When our civil war broke out and it
was necessary for this government to
issue bonds to raise money to fight for
the maintenance of our Union. when
the rebels came near marching into
our National capital; had Abraham
Lincoln at that critical moment. fol-
lowed the Teller's theories he would
have said Hold on, stop fighting,
don't let this government issue bonds;
but let us raise an annual war tax I'M
til we have enough to fight the rebels
With the same mode of reasoning |
suppose he would now. if occasion
should require, stave off an insult,
robbery or invasion by England or
any other country with the slow pro-
cess.
AS to our waterworks his advice is
the same: don't issue any bonds. get
along without any fire protection, let
the city be destroyed by fire, drink
your poisonous polluted well water
and give business to your doctors, I'M
dertakers and tombstone men.
have no doubt that in many in
stances municipalities misuse the
privilege the law gives them to issue
bonds for certain purposes, but in the
case of the Lancaster issue of water
works bonds and the benefits at least
nine-tenths of our citizens receive.
either directly or indirectly therefroIn
only the very smallest kind Of a soul
has any reason 10 take exception. 1t
is true that in improvements made in
any corporation we cannot all be
equally benefited, but is against all
reason and the intention of common
law that the great majority should
suffer on account of few who might
not receive direct benefit 1t would
be just as absurd if the old bachelors
and parents. who have no children,
would insist that our common school
system should be abolished, because
they do not derive any direct benefit, i
But by the way, touching once more
upon the Teller's argument about is
suing bonds To issue bonds for the
purpose of building something, or
making improvements, when we have
not the ready money to accomplish
that object is parallel case with an
individual who has to borrow money
to carry on business. or farmer to |
buy farm.
Adopting the Teller advice, and to |
avoid the money sharks (as he calls
men who have money to loan( we are I
TO toll on without the aid of capital |
until the merchant had accumulated |
enough to pay for his goods, and the |
farmer to buy him a farm, and to
equip it with every thing necessary to
carry on farming. Now you business
men and you farmers, where would
you be to-day. had you followed such
advice? Would not more than half of |
you still be dependents and tramps
and in very uncomfortable situations?
Why is it that the good Teller man
does not practice himself as he preach
es? Why has he not place of his ,
own to carry on his printing business
instead of paying rent? Why does he
pay rents and interest if it is so bad a |
thing TO do?
No, Mr.. Teller, YOU may try ever so
hard to tickle the readers of your pa
per with your impracticable reason
ing, YOU cannot with all of them con-
ceal your real object; there are a good |
many who will not take stock in it.
Well, when the issue of bonds for
the construction of our waterworks
was determined BY vote of S53 for.
and 1874 against. how surprised the