The record-union., 1899-04-17
THE PROPOSED BOND ELECTION.

THE PROPOSED BOND ELECTION.
On the 18th Of February the Board
of City Trustees passed an ordinance
declaring that the public interest and
necessity demand that certain public
work shall be prosecuted and that the
cost thereof is too great to be paid out
of the ordinary income of the city.
The board therefore resolved by or
dinance that it is necessary to incur
Indebtedness for the purposes indicated.
These are for a. complete system Of
sewers throughout the city S120,000."
For a complete system of water mains
throughout the city, and a water pump
and wing dam in connection with such
system $40, 200.r For a system of
wharves and elevators upon the river
front $50, co.," ''For a High School,
building lot therefor and furniture
therefor, $10Os000."
1t will do no possible harm whatever
if delay is now had and new and
more specific declaratory preface be
der new beginning imperative. The
board has waited now a month and a
half after the full publication of the
declaratory ordinance without taking
the next necessary step. Further de-
lay will not only be harmless but vast
~ beneficial, because the entire scheme
for a new debt Of $395, 200 will be de-
faated by the votes of the people if
there is not included a proposition, and
If It is not made first and foremost, for
"a sufficient sum of money to give the
city system of pure clear water for
domestic purposes. The people de-
mand the right to pass upon that and
will resent thesrefusal to give them the
opportunity.
Pure, clear water is the first, the
highest and supremest necessity of the
city to-day. 1t will never cease to be
the foremost need of Sacramento until
a sufficient and economic supply of
water is flowing through the city mains
of the character described. We do
need a new High School building: it
will be beneficial to construct certain
wharves along the water frontage still
owned by the city,. as matter of
course wesneed an improved sewer sys-
tenn, and unquestionably a new system
8 great main running from Front to
Thirty first street on the south side of
irhe town.
But, it is simply folly. in the judg-
snent Of the people, and we think We are
well informed concerning their senti-
anents in the premises, to erect new
High School building without first hay
Snfs pure, clear water in the city pipes
1o, supply its pupils with decent drinking
ySater. The voters Of Sacramento will
not. in Our opinion, vote dollar Of
new indebtedness upon themselves for
q complete sewer system" until there
is further and better engineering advice
upon the subject than the city has thus
1ar had. They certainly are not salts
ned that the engineering skill of the
Board of Trustees is at all equal to de-
yising a, sewer system which the city
should have-at least, they are unsatis-
fed with the experimenting of the board
thus far made in that direction.
The people of Sacramento, we believe,
Will not vote another dollar for the
purchase of a. water pump-and to build
q wing dam--to pump in more dirty
river water to clog the proposed new
mains and cut out the proposed new
machinery. until they are given reason
able guarantee that every means shall
be first exhausted to furnish the city
with a clear water supply. To that
end they stand ready and ask leave
to vote for q sufficient bonded indebted
ness to search for, find and secure that
clear water supply. Give them OPP
portunity to exhaust that search and
endeavor. and the other propositions
will go through; deny them their right
TO vote upon that proposition and they
will assuredly retaliate by defeating the
other propositions.
Moreover, the people, SO far as we
can learn their sentiments upon the
subject. will not vote for the sewer and
other propositions favorably. until they
are far better informed upon the basis
Of high engineering authority az to just