Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-11-29
The Water Campaign.


duties before them in connection with
the pending question Of a bond issue
for municipal waterworks.
The first duty is to register. AS to
this proposition there can be no di-
vided opinion. Every citizen entitled
to a vote should register, for when 1t
is to be determined whether blanket
mortgage of 100000 shall be placed
upon all the private property in the
city. every voter should he heard. The
registration closes Monday night
The second duty, in our Judgment,
is to defeat the bond proposition.
Good citizens. all of them having
the interests Of the town at heart, and
all of them taxpayers. are divided in
opinion on this question. Before the
election is held there will be consid-
cradle amount of feeling aroused
among the more excitable, no doubt.
This certainly has been the case in
preceding water elections.
But it is not a subject for excited
discussion, and as it happens. those
who are disposed to argue the most
violently on one side or the other US
ualIy know the least about the merits
Of the controversy. And assuredly,
honest citizens who are doubtful as to
the expediency OF voting bonds or who
have decided that they will oppose
the proposition, will not be induced to
change their minds by epileptic edi-
torlals which attribute dishonesty to
every man who does not favor the
bond scheme.
Incidentally. it may be worth while
TO state once mere the position of The
Republican on this question.
AS our readers of three years ago
are aware. most of the arguments in
favor of municipal ownership were adj
vanced and defended in these columns
when the question first became a pro-
minent issue bfore the people Of Phoe-
nix. At that time there was in sight
no proba bility that the Phoenix Water
company would better the conditions
which had become so intoIerable. The
water service was abominable. there
was substantially no protection from
fire. and to all appearances there was
but one solution new water system,
owned by the city. If the company
was financially able to renovate its
plant-which many citizens doubted
it showed no inclination to improve
the situation beyond the making of
promises. The general question as to
the wisdom of municipal ownership
was OF secondary consideration. in
view or the towns urgent necessities.
Had it been legally possible to vote
the bonds at that election they would
have carried almost unanimously.
Last spring. in the last campaign.
the situation had changed. somewhat
The water service was better gene~-
ally. because the company had great
Il increased its well capacity had in
stalled heavy pumping machinery, and
there was no longer a shortage in the
supply. But the fire protection was no
better. because the mains would NOT
sustain the necessary pressure. The
new management was promising de-
cided Improvements. however, and
facts We're laid before The Republican
which led US tc believe that the com
pany was making these promises in
good faith.
On the ether hand, the ardent sup
porters Of the proposition to vote
100000 in bonds for new plant were
not able to satisfy us that the plans
and specifications drawn were exactly
adapted tc existing and future needs. |
Since the former campaign, new flu |
tu"e had dawned for Phoenix Water'i
storage for the valley made it a GER
tainty that We should have a popula |
tioA of $4,000 inside the city limits |
within four or five years. and $4,000
within few years thereafter. 1t was
a grave question, indeed, whether the |
plans before the people were suited
and adequate to the needs of the fu-
ture city. 1t was obvious, however.
that the people could afford to take