The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-31

were not hamperei by any previous
building; the GROUND was but waste OF
marshy land when they began, though
even here is a revelation OF what may be
accomplished with the most. unpromistng
materials when genius and energy and
money and the spirit OF service set about
it, The secret of the city, however, is
In the principal upon which 1t was built;
1t was thought OF as a whole, Instead
of growing as most cities grow, every
man following his own prudent or I'm
prudent will. building his house after his
own PATTERN. setting his factory in such
places as he chooses. think first Of
himself and then-a long tine after-of
his neighbor. this city came into exist
ence under the inspiration of the coat
munity idea. II was TO large extent a
city of monopoles. one company lighted
Il, another provided it's electrical launches
another fed it-all under the regulation
of the committee of control. Thus the
citizens had good service al reasonable
rates and We're not obliged to pay for
the expenses Of advertising or OF unnec'
esSary establishments. For the CON
struction and adornment of ats buildings
the best architects and arrests, who had
won a high position by their good work
were chosen and given their own way.
The managers were not In office for the
purpose of getting rich: what they wanted
was to set up there beside the lake ths.
worthiest city for its purpose that hay
ever stood upon the surface of the planet {;
and they did it,
"Why Is 1t not done everywhere? What
Is the hlndrance that keeps us back from
these magnificent accompls hments? IL
Is not necessary to go back for answer
50 far as the question of Epicurus. to
whom his master said: AT the beginning
of all things was chaos whereupon Epi-
Gurus asked: And what was before
chaos? Neither is 1t necessary to be as
wise as the philosopher who wrote u book
which he entitled. DE Omnibus Rebus'
cConcern,ng All ThingsD, and afterward
issued a supplement, 'Et Caeters Re
tom. prejudice, UNRESTRICTED Immigration,
have part In the result Many things
mast be amended and some things end cd
before the problem of the city will be
solved. But there IS one chief hindrance,
the trouble with the city Is Just that
which under the same circumstances
would besot and ruin any business; 1T is
a lack of efficient men in the municipal
offices.
What happens when a good man get 8
into office has been shown recently N
New. York in the police Department and
/ in the cleaning of the streets. without
I change of law, simply by d.l.gent use of
I the sufficient laws already passed ana
| by virtue of resolute purpose to serve
| the public, Colonel Warning has made the
! thoroughfares of that great city decent,
I and Mr.. Roosevelt has made the police
! efficient. has closed the saloons during
hours prescribed by statute and has
, measurably broken the alliance between
the administration OF the law and the
maintenance of vice, The municipal
| not so good "a they ought TO be, but they
are good enough to give the citizens a
much better city than. they commonly
! enjoy at present. What Is needed first
1 is not better laws but better men TO en-
| force the present laws.