The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-08
~ A WEAKENING OF A CITY.
!. Harrisburg, Pa, Was aroused BY the Energy of =
Small Group of Pablo Spirited Hen.

.,.r,r,apd, In Worlds Work.
~ "anleipai election in Harris
ts7 mil OF encouragement and
Cor municipal government
c''n' ,,,er long slunber the city
ls e ~; and revolutionary work l,
go w ,,,ole methods and by few
srt,d men, natural situation.
:, r.ined in population uniS ,o De
r' a.. there. Few persons came to
rSo could avoid Its DIRTY wa'er'
= w.. s,,e its filthy streets. Its sor-
Rs ,ss and its lack of adequate
" ' y. ,otably convenient and cen
W. ~ ,he unique railroad facilities
s'u0~ .,oarkable freedom from dis
20. ,s brought and held people
IVA a more pleasant place OF
y eide susquehanna river cuts
pu 'rsrsl ranges of hills just above
and the fertile and populous
w 70 the natural advantages OF
!. ~ .,lected for city by old John
y ,,sa He left the town beauti-
4. descendants have not cared IN
. keep 1t SO. But In December
go dock showed by stereop-
Wy LV the natural advantages anu
peiuasrsss of The town, contrasted
alasv sItiss Of greater cleanliness and
';es ,,.,t even of the ultraconserva-
dlscv ss. bscame evident In May, 1901,
tnoen,ss wrote a letter to q daily
tu,ns The frst hundred dollars to-
oIe.ase ~ 5000 TO engage expert en-
! lunu ,smine the city and report
y 'gnrorement. The proposal met
q uDparaI In q few weeks the 5000
''..s Xxx by sixty citizens.
Fisos rotsble fact was that these con-
ny rare not enthusiasts, but con-
Gv s,I,sns OF the town--men whom
Nv ..n thought It was impossible to
wv .t,on An organization followed
Y! y snd money was turned over to
H..ivs committee, which added to
t Ess, he mayor, the city engineer
ouy .rrcilman from each branch OF
Visssiature. This committee en-
a,hr,e noted engineers-one for con-
rnon filtrage and sewerage, one
l..1sy marks and one to report upon
ssrins These men studied the con-
irths city. Their reports were pub
\ |, october, 1901, and they included
~ mans and estimates for the
The recommendations of the engi-
4 rsrs enforced by definite sug-
4, ~ the executive committee that
IN oi the plans be adopted.
HOWL FROM LANDLORDS.
n, me constitution Of Pennsylvania
NAV not borrow in excess Of 2 per
Al their assessed valuation without
\ seclhc consent from the qualified
4 II an election, and the limit of In
sdrey that may be contracted by
ID, can not exceed Z per cent of the
,tlsn. Harrisburg had possibility
little over more than $1,o00,o00 of ad-
nal debt. Plans were made for pre-
ns the subject Of improvements TO
rioters at the spring election, February
N2 The situation was complicated
10 fact that mayor, a city controller,
i treasurer and board of assessors
10 be elected at the same time and
usual partisan fight was imminent.
! publication of the report of the ex.
, with the recommendations of the
llttee, attracted considerable attention
Iehogt the country, and the first real
10 the campaign came from an elab
review OF this report by one OF the
V Philadelphia newspapers, which
warmly commended IL and called the
y under which 1t was proposed to
Harrisburg a model city 1.-The Har.
II Plan"
this time the sentiment OF the voters
undoubtedly hostile to m increase OF
TOT any purpose. Added to the usual
or conservative people, a large indus
Npu!ation, living In rented houses
% Be contended With. There was also
,Hll distrust OF the city government
drt suggestion Of an expenditure oil
y Tor Improvements" brought out q
nom the landlords. who promptly
tened an increase Ia rents II the I'M
nents were Instituted.
sixty subscribers to the original fund
formed themselves into 1.-The Harris
League for Municipal improvements,
hg others to join them In campaign
acatlon. To meet the honest objec
q those who feared the wasting OF
Ion dollars IL 1t were to be spent
"a the usual channels. board oi
works was formed las permitted by
Ne hwl, without pay, and TO have
control OF the improvements. Ar
ior Its appointment before the cleo
was passed by councils immediately
az ordnance had been passed submit
y me voters the question OF increas
y Guys debt for the following pur
ne hundred and ten thousand dollar,
\ satension,. Improvement and fiitra
= wafer supply; S365. 900 for the extern