Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-02-25
LEXOWlNG !!
"ObserVant" AIDS Observer In the
Search For Reform.
Webster, s. D., Feb. %. 1897.

80" = 80 .
My attention has been attracted by a
communication in the Day County Her.
aid signed "Observer" and while the
obvious intention OF the article is to
incite public opinion and precipitate
another Kilkenny fight over municipal
Offices, 1t contains some very pertinent
suggestions as regards the management
OF city affairs, and | arise to heartily
second the same. Skipping over his
conundrum az to the whereabouts OF
the arteslan well and waterworks and
his error in regard to the compensation
OF the chief OF police, / reach the follow
ing ''The village council paid no rents,
the present council pays $10pe month"
There can be no justification for such
unwarranted extravaganza. The village
council formerly met sometimes in one
mans business Office, sometimes in an
Others, and sometimes not ut all. No
objections were ever raised to this tram
STORY mode OF doing business and it
was eminently satisfactory,-at least
TO observer and myself. OF course,
the village possessed no fire apparatus
while the city does, but it does not fol,
low that rent should be- paid for the
housing OF the same ior it could. just as
we'll as not, stand in the court house
yard. The neighbors could then borrow
the ladders TO put up storm windows,
the pals for house use, the X to chop
XII ndling, while the lanterns would be OF
use to citizens on dark nights on their
road to the station and elsewhere. Ii an
extinguisller would happen to freeze up
occasionally, it could be thawed cut by
the heat OF the first fire at which it
would be called into use. The payment
OF rent would not only be avoided but
the apparatus would be OF inestim-
able value to the people in daily life,
instead OF standing idle in "a building for
which the hurdened taxpayer has to
shell out SO each calendar month.
Another strong point made by the
intelligent observer" is "Why should
not the street commissioner level down
the snow-banks the same as other cities
1t to be done ?" 1t is safe to
wager, Mr.. Editor, that observer is a
LIST warder for that is the very question
that the residents of that ward have
been asking since the storm of January !
End, since which time they have been
compelled to traverse five to eight
feet OF solid snow, extending up Main
street from the Masonic temple to the
Norwegian Lutheran church. Suppose
the artesian well would catch fire. how
on earth would the fire company reach
the scene OF CONGREGATION with. that
for which the toiling masses
are paying the muniicent sun of so
per month for the sheltering thereof. 1t
is q shameful condition of affairs and
Mr.. Commissioner should be promptly
that instead OF spending his
princeiy salary in idle luxury he should
get out his shovel and go to leveling.
When he gets through with that part OF
Main street, there is a twelve foot bank
snow in front OF the Elevator Store
and adjoining properties to which his
attention might be directed, and which
he could proceed TO distribute over the
EAST side OF the street. This finished, he
could tackle LIST street north OF the court
house and place that in navigable con
dition. The cost OF leveling these banks
would be but "a trifle and not only would
q great benefit be conferred upon the
but it would encourage the down
more much-needed reforms would
be attempted.
Ii takes a brave man to deal blows
existing evils and to plead the
OF reform, and while Josh Billings
sarcastically declares that Reform con-
OF getting the other fellow out and
yourself in," it is very evident that this
is not the kind OF reform that anilnates
the pen Of my friend observer" Public
spiritedness breathes in every line OF his
communication aud | anxiously await
his promised letter giving further light
the existing municipal venality.
Hoping | have not trespassed on your
valuable space. / remain
Yours respectfully.
OBSERYANT.