The record-union., 1898-11-01
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEETING TONIGHT.

Ok1AMbER Of
MEETING TONIGHT.
The Chamber of Commerce is to hold
an important members meeting to-
night to consider several public ques-
tions Of first importance to the city.
Among these is that OF bonding the
city for a sum sufficient to effect GER
tain needed public improvements.
There can be no question whatever
in the mind Of any we1l informed citi-
zen of the necessity for these works,
or that it is in line with true economy
to borrow the money and have the
works completed rather than stump
along with inconvenience and heavy
cost and constant taxation for lack of
them.
Among these needs are a City Hall.
Jail and Receiving Hospital The make
shift we have for these now is a dis
grace to civilization. There is needed
a new and additional water main to
afford protection to the south side from
fire; there is needed new High School
building, and there is necessity for irn-
3 proved sewer construction and far bet
ter drainage than we now have, to-
gether with improved methods for sew
age disposal
But rising above and superior to all
these necessities is that for a better
water supply. That we now have is not
only inadequate, but antiquated, an Of
fense to good taste, a heavy cost to
householders in addition to their water
rates, and a menace to the health OF
the people.
Whatever may be decided upon by
meetings Of the Chamber, by the Trus-
tees or others, this may be taken as
emphaticallv the truth, that the citi-
zens of Sacramento will negative any
proposition to borrow money for any
purpose unless there is included a suffi-
cient sum securely set aside for the
introduction of pure, clear water sys-
tenn.
1t is the greatest need of the city. 1t
is more than q need, it is a sanitary
demand; a cleanly imperative demand.
It must be responded to literally and
promptly. The people will never con-
sent to expend more money to pump
in more river water, which, by the way,
is steadily growing worse. Whatever
new machinery is had should be of a
character to give us a domestic service
of clear, pure drinking water under a
system owned by the city. This, 1t IS
now under demonstration east Of the
city, can be had. and in precisely the
same way that scores Of other cities,
and several of them in this State, Sc
cure it from subterranean sources.
With ample supply east of the city
Sacramento will act in a suicidal man
ner if she refuses to adopt it. 1t will
not cost as much to pump it into the
city as it does to lift and force in the
machine destroying, gritty and un-
wholesome water we now have. 1t Will
he simply folly to build new school
houses, new halls and jails to be sup
piled as are those we now have, with
water that shames the city is a re-
proach to us wherever Sacramento is
known, and is the one great deterrent
TO the city's more rapid development
and general progress.
This subject must De considered with
freedom from prejudice and predilec-
tions. The horizon Of view in this
case should be very broad. The day
has gone forever when it will do to
plead that we have got along for forty
years with what we have, and can get
on awhile longer with it." It is sim
PIE idioey to stand against the unani-
nous opinion of scientists and declare
that the present supply is good enough.
1t is evidence of mental unbalance to
plead that the city takes no harm be-
cause Of our present domestic water
supply, or that 1t is not the cause Of
disease and death which are needless.
First and foremost bettered water
system, then it will be in order to PRO-
vide a new High School, q new City
Hall, and to extend and complete tbs
sewer system, and so on to the end of
our chapter of needs. If the City Trus-
tees make the mistake of submitting to
the people a bonding proposition which
does not include provision for a pure
water supply it will meet with certain
defeat which will mean waste OF
money and loss of time.