The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-23
WATER SUPPLY AND BOND ISSUE.


To- the Editor of The Post
ONO thing is certain and that is that the question
has NOT been Permanently settled 1t equally certain that
the problem can be ayodeG but that it win be
public opinion has already done in foc,ng the city
down and removing oisrcons bu, Inc work Of bildne S
has yet 70 he accomplished IN doing this much will depend
on = lnf Tho ih1l'e eTd Il 2 yeg
2 Which will better subserve this end for the city to
operate is own plant to contract with private corpora
stapd - ''' '''S' ;" "'''" lucy
The end in view is provide for an ample supDly of
at a times at all places and for all purposes including the
DEFINITELY notsithsandina the cdmtnred rrotb of the F civ
at MINIMUM cost the individual consumer. well
commercial and hygcnc interests Of the community and that
this can be accomplished can successfully rlutc
Which will better subserye these ends for the city TO
Operate ITS own plant or to contract with private
beed that private corporation performs this work for the
profit that is in IT. and to make all OF it will
employees as possible Il viii also ' not be over pareular @
II proh IS TO be made while no profit Is TO be derived the
VICES rendered some one says Il viii not do to mix poll
tes and water The 70 tns that they already
miSe that The furnishing OF water being IN its very naug
public function it must be regulated by the municipality,
it il politics ii way that Jew viii hesitate to say Is
source OF far corruption direct and indirect than it
ate awning Of his kind more cconomiea han nnbc
one This though in measure true IS si manly aeeo
pshed by lower wages being paid and inferior services
deedng whether the cy should her works
another thing to be taken into consideration IL as to whether
tne eiy IS n financial condition 10 purchase OF hdds
own plant IN answer to this will say that the city Is imam
and defeat the boaG issue to be voted upon next bud
july IS 1901 excepting the Ssoooo be issued for the pr
accommodate all the children Unless this is done
the city viii issued bonds 10 lis full legal limit and
otherwise possible to raise the tan rolls So as TO
permit further issue OF bonds there sufficient time
Hence the Importance Of goug to the polls aud defeating
bond issue. II is that this heroic measure as il
Viii necessarily retard public mproyemenH aorg certain
lines but pure water az reasonable rate is Of far
health and life itself OF its citizens than the improvements
provided Tor BY these bonds Rememer we do not take
ADVANCE 70 meet the ISSUE but allow our hands to be tied by
mercy Of the Houston Water company This company can
then dictate whatever terms they see fit make and we
would have no choice but 70 submit By defeating this bond
issue we also stamp our seal Of diaPpova the conduct of
me w9ter contract and SHOW them IN u9statabe terms that
we believe them TO have demonstrated themselves in
competent to handle SO large sum Of Ss fS money
The Post agrees with much that DR. Heisig says
TAe proposition that Houston should have plentiful
supply of pure drinking water reasonable rates no
one will attempt has attempted seriously to eonro
vert and that the best way this necessity
for the city to own its water plant will be agreed
to by many possibly and probably by large majority
OF the citizens For years past The Post urged this
very thing and is in favor of now than ever
ihS oDjeVtloH ownership in this
respect would develop into political machine is large
~ theoretical but even this to prove true it would
be preferable to the present arrangement
TO the extent just stated The Post fully agrees with
DR. Heisigi but when that gentleman urges the defeat
the street Improvement bond issue as means to the
end desired, he takes quite superficial view of the sit
uation The contract with the water company has
some three years to run yet BY the time OF the ok.
praton ofthat contract the city win be amply able To
take care of the water proposition IL its growth shall
be anything like what it is expected be- and what it
will he II given the boost naturally to follow thecom
pleton of the public improvements now under consjd
Grafton.
The truth is Houston is amply able TO take care of
both propositions and there is appreciate reason IN
the contention that the street paving proposed will
prove any serious impeachment in the way OF the so
tion Of the water problem
But there is another feature Of Dr. Heisgs commu-
nicaton which commands more than passing notice
that wherein he advises the people vote against the
street Improvement bonds IN resentful spirit be.
Of the action of majority of the city council
with regard to the lately deceased water con
tract. This advice is both in conception and
whether intended not vicious in the precedent II
seeks estabsh 1t ought to be ignored by every
votern the city Who believes in broad gauged methods
aud has progressive ideas in the matter municipal
affairs. We have had enough more than enough
OF preipdice spite the conduct city Affairs In
Houston, Let us get on a broader and more enght-
sned plane
We have chance here az Houston to make a great
city Shall we take advantage OF the opportunity?