The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-05-16
WE MUST FACE IT.

that the city or Walla Walla was
about to issue 5000, 600 municipal
bonds with which to purchase from
private individuals the water plant
which supplied the public, and thus
escape monopoly under which all
were writbing. We now find the
following in the Walla Walla States
man:
The citizens of Walla Walla have good
reason TO shake hands with themselves
and one another over the splendid finan-
cial success of their venture in buying
the waller works. The heavy reduction
in waller rates ordered by the city coun-
Gil at its last meeting came as a crafty
ing surprise to the people OF the city.
Within less than year and a half since
the city took possession of the plant the
revenues have so largely increased that
careful computation shows that the CITY
can grant 45 per cent reduction in rates
and still have plenty Of money for meet
ing interest obligations for the accumu-
lation of reserve fund, and for the ex-
|
growth of the city.
The note of cheer from the happy
Washington city comes very forci-
bly, to those here who are chatting
under the almost criminal inactivity
Weiser has been guilty of in the
bonding matter. Carelessness or in
competency in the first instance, de-
feated the bond issue after 1t was
carried by vote of five to one, the
result showing that the Weiser pub
lie had fully settled in its mind that
Weiser should start right in the
matter and avoid private monopoly
from the start. Then we must wait
for the enactment of more liberal
bonding measures on the part of the
Legislature. Here carelessness, or
something else, got in it's work again
and once more our enthusiasm was
hattened out. 1t may be that while
Weiser has fully round three-quar-
tiers of million dollars of taxable
wealth, inexplicable and imbecile
laws prevent us from bonding be-
You'd an amount insufficient to com.
plete the work laid out, but if start
were made, might it not be possible
to issue fifteen or twenty thousand
dollars of additional bonds wear or
two hence when the way is paved
for intelligent assessment? It'll
is certain that the delay that has
occurred since the first vote on bonds
has been suicidal to both public and
private interests. The city's growth
has been held back, capital has been
turned away to seek other fields and
business has suffered depression
The direct effects of CONDUCTING an
extensive municipal work this spring
and last winter chad such been pos
slble) can be easily grasped by every
person of perception. The results
OF the cash expenditure alone would
De such as to cause long continued
activity after the municipal work had
been completed. 1t would of course
be grounded somewhat on that sub-
stance OF which national prosperity is
now manufactured, but we have CON
dltons to face and it is our business
TO make the most of every Situation
which confronts us, and however re-
sulting benefits, from the cold stand
point of trade measurements. NAV no
viewed, the fact remains that we have
reached stage where water and
light must be had as an economic and
and protective measure, or we must
surrender prestige to some more for
tunate locality. 1t may be that if
private plotting, impotent laws, and
rustic nonprogressiveness and pre-
|uoice comprise too great an obstacle
TO overcome in securing the sensible
and satisfactory municipal plant we
nay have to submit to certain amount
't evil with the good and pass
franchises out to private spectators
IN public utilities.
THE SERPENT'S FANG.
Inc rule of this world has hean Tho,