The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-10
ISLAND CITY NEWS ITEMS.
Colonel Wheeler on Coast Country
Drainage Laws.
WILL PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT SYSTEM
Henry Uosenbcrg's Gifts TO the City
Nearing Rcnlixntion-I.ocnl Pol
tiles Are Warming W.

Galveston. Texas. April 9.--colonel II.
7. Wheeler. who has Just returned from
Austin. whore he has been In the interest
iof legislation of Importance to tho coast
country. was questioned by Post CORE
spondent today us to the status OF such
legislation and said:
1.-THE drainage bills both the Harris
house bill and the Lirn senate bill. have
become laws; the governor required The
Harris tlll to be amended In one formal
particular; 1t then becomes law These
bills provide a very thorough and com
prehensive system OF drainage for the
whole coast country.
There Is another very important bill
before the legislature, which has heen in
troduccd In the house, aud that is tho hill
authorizing the commissioners courts OF
Galveston. Harris, Bralorla and Wharton
counties TO issue bonds for tho purpose of
building public roads. AS the law now
stands tho commissioners can issue bonds
ior puliding bridges. court houses and
Jaiis, but not for roads. This is n casus
omissus In the law. The practical opnra
ton OF the new law In Galveston county.
Tor instance. Will he that without any IN
creased taxation VIC can build system OF
roads. The county having lowed a tax OF
10 cents on the 500 for roads and bridge
lund, cents OF which ia appropriated to
support the Galveston bay bridge bonds,
we VIII have Sc left with which under
tho present conditions but $4,000 or sll,-
ono would DO afforded each year for road
building, but which under the new law
VIII support an issue OF Sl65, 900 In bonds
for the construction OF %good roads This
would put the county in shape TO secure II
good plant, and in two years the people
would have good roads throughout The
county. Tho bill will become law In a
toW days II Ia earnestly supported by the
Houaton BUSINESS League and by the
representatives OF Brazorla ana Wharton
counties. and has tho unqualified indorse.
ment OF the commissioners court OF Gal
weston county,
with the county able to contract FOR
roads upon large scale Il will save 10
per cent on road building. according to
Mr.. Vidor's estimate. A contractor can
mako preparations for better work upou
large contract than he can upon small
one, and then IL must be remembered that
ne VIII be paid In cash instead OF warrants
az at present. which warrants are .ub-
iected 10 a discount Of II per cent The
county VIII not have TO stop road building
when this slG60O0 is expended nor viii II
have to raise taxes Thu amount OF money
necessary 10 carry 10 tho Santa Fe and
bridge bond funds is annually growing
less. and by the time the $l66 900 has been
spent. now issue of bonds can be made
and supported without raising the taxes
There is another important measure he
fore tho legislature. That is the bill TO
prevent the sale OF fraudulent fertilizers
Farmers now buy fertilizers that nro Ia
heled as pure bone meal, when In fact
they are largely made up Of oyster she'll
and clam sholi. This is a species OF lind
piracy which viii be stopped