The record-union., 1896-06-01
THERE Is TIME TONIGHT.

The Board of City Trustees still have
time to deal with this question of the
issue Of bonds or certificates of in
debtedness for public works, as reason
and wise business economy dictate. It
can this evening undo its order regard
ing the $4,000 proposed to be thrown
away in so-called drainage and dis
poss1 work, 10 be located ON the lower
side Of the city.
The main objection to that appropri-
alton is that it is inadequate. The need
for it is not denied, but is admitted to
be 80 great, Of such Importance to the
whole people that TO attempt TO meet
it with such a sum is folly. The ex-
cuse is offered that the drainway and
pumping plant and sewers and laterals
planned under the appropriation, will
easily and naturally fall into and be-
come part of the general system for
Sewage disposal that is to be, nay
must be adopted for the whole city
very soon.
But here is the error Of the propon-
ents, since they assume that they have
foreseen what that system will be;
have made accurate forecast Of tue
plans Of engineers the city may a few
years hence employ to lay out a correct
and comprehensive system. We doubt
very much if any man in the board,
unless 1t be Kent or Devine, either of
whom is wiser, more far-seeing and
more deeply learned than any others
Of the race of men-in their own esti-
mauon-will venture to stand before
an intelligent people and sincerely say
that he knows the proposed sewer on
south side of the city and a plant to
LIT therefrom will fit into and become
a proper and available part Of a sys-
tenn, as yet unplanned, that will drain
the whole city and care alike for storm
water and sewage, and enable US TO
dispense with the death-dealing, in
toIerable, costly cesspool system, where
by We store in the soil beneath our
feet contamination and disease, to be
distributed throughout the porous
earth and poison every square loot OF
Gods footstooI within the city limits
There is not in all the land an en-
gineer who has made drainage study
and involved his life with experience
tation by commencing such a work as
1t Is proposed we shall undertake IN
this city at the wrong end, or who will
dare 10 plan a discharge system for
sewage Of a city without taking into
contemplation the entire city and the
whole scheme Of its sewage carriage
Objection that We should first adopt
@ general and comprehensive system is
replied to on the score Of economy, that
the city cannot now afford the cost
involved In such scheme. Then it Is
to be answered It can still less afford
to throw away $4,000, which loss is
involved in this plan Of the Trustees
We are not disposed to say that 1t Is
absolutely so involved. If the Trustees
are prepared to show to the people that
the proposed disposal scheme is relat-
ed to sound and well considered, a
comprehensive scheme for the whole
city drainage and freedom from cess
pools and pestferous, over-charged and
fostering canals, and of offensive
drains, and that such a comprehen-
sive system has been approved by high
authority and skilled scientific men
the case VIII be somewhat modified.
But even then It. Is to be said than il
It is justifable to issue bonds for $780,
900 it Is still more defensible to issue
them for enough to cover the cost ol
the whole system The people who ex-
claim so loudly against new indebted
ness represented by a bond ISSUE and
at the same time excuse a bond issue
for S65,000 to benefit Ward Kent pri-
rnariIy, remind US OF the POOR girl who
excused her unhappy slip by the plea
that cit IS only little baby"
Somebody In England Is said TO have
discovered that the real purpose Of the
raid of Jameson into the Transvaa
was 10 make sudden descent upor