The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-25
DR.. Heisin AGAIN Discusses Water.
h the E1ltnr Of -rhn Post

To the Editor of The Post
Replying to your criticism of my com
muitcation in which | take the stand that
We Should defeat the bond issue excepting
the bonds for school purposes and prepare
e. meet the water problem, you state,
though without attempting 10 show where.
IN. that take quite a superficial view of
the situation Let us consider. however,
IN few words whose position is the more
superficial
j. Your statement that The contract
with the water company has some three
wears to run yet" is certainly not profound
nor accurate, but misleading Ia say the
lC?st as the contract VIII have eX
PRED by November 30 ,l9oa Just two
" one week from now. Then as
the council has instructed the city attor
nov 20 bring suit for forfeiture Of contract
against the Houston Water company. the
courts may terminate this contract even
before IL expires. Then il must be re-
membered that water works plant Is
lct be able 10 buy one readymade. we
must be ready at least year or two Ia
advance.
. Your bare staten77.ss tnN the truth
u.s. Houston is amply able to take care OF
both propositions and there is no anprecia.
be reason in the contention that the street
paving now proposed will prove any serious
impeachment In the way OF the solution of
the water problem. without giving any
reason or refuting the one given by my.
self, namely, that the city will. If these
sued bonds TO its full legal limit, can hard.
Is he considered anything but superficial.
! repeat that unless the bond issue Is de-
frated the city will have issued bonds to
lis full legal limit, according To the coun-
ellis own statements, and even were 1t
otherwise possible to raise the appraise.
nlcnts SO as TO permit further Issue Of
bonds, there is not sufficient time nor
would II he possible to raise the tax rolls
to this extent; and further. that this Is
practically the only method under the char
tcr by which the legal limit once having
been reached can he increased At least
to rny extent II may also be added that
the rate is fixed nj l per cent for bond puf-
poses. Now. there are only two ways In
which the tax rolls can he raised; one Is
the natural growth Of the city. and the
otner by raising the apprasements. Bear
ing in mind that II this bond issue carries,
there will he outstanding against the city
bonded Indebtedness Of little over
to the city seeretary's report. and That
an np-to-datc water plant would certainly
cost no less than 100000 seven hundred
ana ffty Thousand dollnrsl or a lone
ffdnrtb1 as much MS the total bonded indebt-
cfness of the city, no one VIII nave the
hardlhood 10 contend, u they nave any
regard for their reputation that the taxa
bic property within this city must neees
sArily or Will of a certainty enhance In
value to this extent within the short time
Vi stil have, which Il would have TO do
n enable the city 10 issrN the necessary
bonds One thing Is certain, and that Is
h that II would he suicidal not 10 shy super
fetal 10 rely on any such growth Tor pure
" alter at a reasonable rate. Having shown
that the natural growth of the city can
not he relied on. the only other method or
raising the tax rolls by raising the ap
rrpisements must be considered To be
able 10 reasonably rely on this one would
nave 10 he reasonably certain of electine
4 mayor and board ~ aldermen pledged to
tIs out. and | asked lsuperhcially, per.
nRrs) whether any one belleyes that such
a council could be elected. !, for one,
eleotion for pure drinking water for my
seq and family. AS | do not hesitate to
assert without fear Of Capitalization that
ane candidate advocating such a measure
G u But not only. says The Post, do l
take quite superficial view Of the sltua.
ton but my aaHlee 70 DOH Ia ,la,S ~, "a
II socks TO establish This criticism ap,
pfes 10 the following clause OF my com
munlcation: -, 80
staInn onr seal Of disapproyal on the con
dnet Of those Of our officials Who favored
the late amendment to tne water eontt .ha
No belieye them 10 have demonstrated
themselves to he incompetent to handle so
large a sum Of the eity's money.
This advice far from adyocaung a re-
senffui splrit or being narrow In eoncep'
tien. simply calls into action the principles
o. selfpreseryaiieln.' ! hgla f 70 Gs me-
line of action above recommended for the
reasohs given II we accept them, ! e.: J,
heteve them 10 he Incompetent. In conelu-
ssrn / want 20 add that believe IN public
improvements hrst last ana nj ne lime,
I'M that believe In CARRYING out the most
Ky nortant srsi and that which Affects the
health ana life Of the community being
'Tanscendent In its importance notning else
should he attempted until this Is assured,
,,riess II can be shown that By SO doing
~ seenring Of pure water A. reasonable
rste Is not In the slightest tsopardlsedss =
isss - DR.. E. s. HeisiE.