The record-union., 1898-10-31
TO DISCUSS IMPROVEMENTS.
TO-MORROwS CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE MEETING.
Important Matters That Will be
Considered-The Coming
Bond Election.

The meeting called for Tuesday even
Ing at Pioneer Hall of members OF the
Chamber of Commerce will be very
important one and should be largely
attended.
The purpose of the meeting is to con-
slider various matters of public import
ance, such as the proposed special elec-
ton for voting bonds for certain puollc
Improvement = better sewers, water
mains, High School, wharves, ETC. Inc
result of the meeting will probably he
to recommend certain things TO the
City Trustees to be included in their
call for the election.
At the last meeting of the Directors
Of the Chamber of Commerce the gem
eral sentiment expressed regarding the
High School proposition was that bonds
for new building should not be voted
for at the present time, as there are
SO many other public improvements to
be made that will call for a large out
lay in money. Every Director is in Ia
vor Of having new and modern High
School building, but they all agreed
that it should be deferred for a few
years. 1t is not yet known, they said,
where the school could be erected, and
to vote 100000 for a building before
this matter could be determined was
thought to be premature.
Mayor Lands idea was that by eX-
pending $1,000 or $4,000 the present
school building at Ninth and M streets
could be nearly doubled in size. giving
large, airy and healthful rooms, and
that after other necessary public i'm
provementS had been made-say in four
or five years-a new and modern High
School building could be erected, one
that would be an ornament to the city.
Other members of the Chamber
agreed with Mayor Land that this
would be the better course to pursue
under the circumstances, though they
all expressed themselves as strongly
in favor of a new High School builG-
Ing at the earliest possible moment. At
tomorrow nights meeting some action
will probably be taken in the matter.
Another important subject to be con-
sidered is that of asking the Bonded
Debt Commissioners to make some dis
position of the city bonds in their pos
session that have been bought up and
paid for. Upward of a million dollars
of the old debt has been paid. yet the
people of the city are still being taxed
on the full amount, some $1,000, 900,
while they really owe probably Jess
than one-sixth of that sum-
Several of the Directors of the Cham
Der of Commerce expressed the opinion
that the Commissioners could be pre-
vailed on to cancel at least a portion
of these paid-up bonds and thus relieve
the taxpayers sufficiently to enable
them to issue new bonds for public i'm
DrOVpmpntC ha
Though the City Trustees have not
signified their intention of including IN
the list of bonds to be voted a propo-
sition to provide the city with clean.
pure water it is likely the Chamber
of Commerce will ask that it be done.
Under the direction of the Chamber a
committee has been making tests of
the subterranean water supply south
east of the city, and have met with the
most gratifying results There is moth
ing of which the city stands so much
in need as good water. 1t is the first
subject of inquiry by visiting strangers.
and the thing on which they harp after
their departure. Laying aside the mat
ter of the purity of the city's water. it
Is bad enough to have strangers go
away declaring they couldn't get water
clean enough for bathing
The use of the river water-dirty in
the winter and subject to pollution at
all seasons-has done more to keep Sac
ramento back during the last thirty
years than all other causes combined.
not even excepting her high tax rate.
This subject should receive earnest and
prompt consideration. 1t is something
that should not be pushed aside for any
other proposed improvement.
These matters should be considered
calmly and intelligently, and men with
hobbies or pet schemes that are not of
vital Importance to the city's immediate
welfare should be modest enough to
hold them in allegiance until the city
can shake off the bonded debt incubus
that has handicapped her out of the
race for so many long years.