The record-union., 1898-05-25
THE PEOPLE MUST NOT BE
CHEATED.

The city authorities have under con-
Eideration propositions to expend suffi-
cient money, and for which indebted
ness will have to be created, to lay
new water main on the south side from
the east to west boundary of the city,
80 complete the sewer system, and to
erect a suitable High School building.
The Record Union" has commended
these three things. The water main and
the High School building and the new
sewers are needed, and should be had.
But if, as is suspected, it is proposed
70 kill the greater scheme of submitting
a clearwater proposition TO the vote of
the people at the same time, then the
other two should be defeated, and will
be
It will be useless to lay a main to be
related to the present system of water
supply. It will be folly to expend money
10 erect a High School building Or plant
more sewers, at the sacrifice Of the
greater want of the people-pure, clear
water in ample quantity.
To refuse to submit the water propo
sition at the same time with the others
will be taken as a direct and purpose
1ul plan to defeat clearwater progress
and put off reform Of our water system
for ten years or more. 1t means that
1he people must remain anchored to the
present filthy, unhealthful, inadequate
and dangerous supply of water for do
mestic purposes.
Above, beyond and superior to all
other considerations is the demand for
n better water supply, under a system
10 be owned and operated solely and
alone by the city. The present system
aeaves the east end inadequately rro-
sected from fire. It entails heavy cost
mpon such of the people as will not Use
s8he river water. but get their supply
Srom carts that bring IN the water from
the east and south side deep-driven
cased wells, tapping an inexhaustible
supply, pure, clear and in all respects
desirable.
Sacramento cannot make material
progress with a dozen architecturally
handsome High Schools, perfect sewer
system and a main in every street in
all directions, new and of the highest
type, as long as it is cursed at home
and abroad with a water supply that is
at once an offense to the sight, an as
aault upon good health and deterrent
10 city expansion and desirable growth
We must enjoy the human right to
have pure air and pure water before
we build High Schools or lay new sew
ers or great water pipes. The peo-
pie are to be trusted to pass upon their
own necessities. Refusal to submit to
khem the water proposition is to slap
them IN the face and say that they are
incompetent to manage their own af-
fairs.
Honest intention, straightforward
duty-doing never fear to face the truth
If there is refusal to submit the water
question to the people there should be
and will be defeat Of all the Others
High schools will do US no good if the
pupils are to be compelled to drink the
digease-laden.w water we now have. Sew
ers will availqus little to carry off waste
matter if we. are to continue to poison
our children and wreck the health Of
our adults by drinking a fluid that the
united medical faculty declares is unfit
for human use.
A committee Of the City Board Of
Health as recently as Monday night ap-
peared before the City Trustees and,
duly impressed with the solemnity Of
4heir duty and the great weight of their
words speaking for their board, deelar-
ed that the present epidemic of sick
ness, in which virulent typhoid fever
has become prevalent, is due to the
water that is supplied to the people
through the city pipes. More than that,
when one of the City Trustees expressed
his belief that the river water is harm
less and sen-purifying, the Chairman
of the Health Committee had the cour-
age to take him to task and notify him
that Indulgence in such assault upon
the judgment of men trained to know
the causes Of effects in sickness and