The record-union., 1897-09-28
Some Suggestions.

Eds. Record Union: Being on the
eve of an all important city election,
with several parties in the field, the
contest commences this week with ward
| caucuses, primary election for dele
gates to conventions who will nominate
candidates to be voted for at an early
day, and in addition, perhaps several
independents, as usual may also seek
your suffrage and vote on election day.
Every citizen should, therefore, vote
[ at the primaries and vote to send del
egates to the conventions who will in
turn nominate and vote for men to go
on the tickets for the many important
offices to be filled. If this policy is
generally adopted there will be less
cause for complaint, and we will stand
better chance to have presented to
US the right men for the various inn
portant positions to be filed
We want a progressive, non-silurian
Board Cf Trustees, who will rise above
party, and work in harmony with the
chief executive officer of the city (our
Mayor for the common welfare Of the
city-there should be no solid five, or
solid four with such pledged combina-
tions. I believe honorable men are
open for conviction. [ believe that
right will prevail if men will stop and
reason, and not allow petty partisan
feelings to sway their judgment against
the welfare of the city at large.
There are many important matters
to be determined, which the new ad-
ministration will be called upon to
solve
There is no such a thing possible as
! a city simply holding its own" We
must either progress or we will get the
reverse.
We need many city improvements,
such as a full and complete sewerage
system for the entire city, new City
Hall and Jail, a chemical engine for
our Fire Department, the good work
on streets and sidewalks continued; a
clear water system, to be owned by
the city; a new high school building,
and last, but not least reduced taxa
ton, and with all this seriously con-
sidered, we will get out of the old
rut and a new era of prosperity will
dawn upon us, and capital will be at
tracted to US, manufacturing enter
| prses will be started real estate will
advance, and our population will be
soon largely increased. Then we will
(and not till them be the important
city Of California, for we are fortu-
nately situated in the center of the
great and extensive Sacramento VAL
| ley, surrounded by the most productive
| land in the State, near to the mining
counties east and north of us, which
| last year produced twelve millions of
dollars Or two-thirds of the gold mined
in the State (our home Klondike).
Our river will be again made navi
gable at all seasons, through the CO.
| operation of the United States with the
River and Harbor Commission of this
State, and larger continued appropria
tions may be expected, when the great
Importance of our city as a great trade
center is more prominently known in
Congress. We can justly claim
Sacramento as the terminal point of the
great railroad system of the State, with
their extensive shops, employing thous-
ands Of our citizens.
Now the question will be asked how
can we make all these great needed
improvements in our CITY, and I can
hear the old echo that has been singing
in the ears of all old citizens for the
past thirty years, we must get out of
debt--first pay off the old bonds out
standing. and tax the people here to
do it, and then we can go ahead with
| the needed local improvements so de-
sirable, and in the meantime continue
the old high rate of taxation which is
levied on this tax-ridden community
from year to year for city, county and
State purposes. amounting from So ~
to &3 IS on the assessed valuation of
all property per S10O.
The first question asked by strangers
coming here is: What are your taxes?
The answer is simply paralyzing, and
we all know the result-they pack up
and leave. The absolute failure of the
| Sacramento Development Association,
fostered by a large number of city tax
| payers for the purpose of inducing
manufacturing companies and persons
to locate here. received the inevitable
answer after their investigation: I'VE
can't afford to put in our money here
and pay your high taxes.
How can we help ourselves? you ask.
The answer and solution of the ques
ton is this: Let the voice of the people
be heard ait a special city election.
Shall we issue new series of bonds
having twenty, thirty and forty years
to run for a sufficient sum to pay, or
/ fund the old present existing indebted
ness. together with a sufficient amount
of bonds to be sold from time to time
as wanted for our much needed local
improvements named. This is a simple
/ business proposition, and one that
| the old bond holders will gladly accept
if the opportunity is given them. Our
city tax can at once be dropped one
| half-the old slow process of the city
bondsd commission can be dispensed
with-which would have been done
years ago had their theories and prom
| fses been realized, by relieving us of an
! old indebtedness that still exists. and
| will continue to exist for years, if
move is not made to remove it from
i our tax lst-relieve the pioneer tax
| PAYERS, manufacturers, merchants and
| capitalists of to-day, who have been
| staygprirg under the burden for
many, many years. And others
will. IN years to come, be given the OPP
portunity to solve the question and
| wipe out the legacy of debt left for
/ them which at maturity will seem in
signi fcant. when compared with the
vast increase in property values COM
/ pared with NOW and then
The party that places the strongest
plank in its platform pledged to the