Bisbee daily review., 1903-02-11
BONDS FOR FIRE PROTECTION

It is a noticeable fact that it is diff bee. For several weeks now the question of the issuance of s20,000 worth of bonds has been before our property holders and up to date it is the least discussed proposition in town On Monday the killing Of a Mexican easily took precedence. Tbe Review is at loss to assign the cause for this seeming lack of inter est of our people in public questions of vita1 importance 10 tax payers. The most apparent cause is the ab- sorption of our business men in their own affairs and the extreme lack of interest on the parr of the small prop erty holder.
 Be this as it may, the question is a live one and will be brought to a vote in March according to a resolution duly passed by the city council. The first question the interested tax payer will ask is what benefit will the property holders receive by voting an issue of s20,O0O bonds?"
 The off-hand answer is: Better fire protection and a reduction of iDsur- ance rates" and the manner in which these benefits are proposed to be pro vided is set forth in the following re port of the fire committee appointed hy the council, which made the fol- lowing recommendations:
 ITO build two steel tanks of 11O,- GOO gallons each, placed high enough on School hill to force water to any property holder in the incorporated parts of the city. There are to be six inch mains leading from these tanks to the principal pa-s of the city, and reduced to three and four inch pipes, in the thinly settled parts The esti- mated cost, as near as can be gotten at, of all tanks, pipe lines and labor, is to be in the neighborhood of $20,- OOO."
 Before the city may issue bonds r is necessary that an election be held and in the event of twothirds of the electors of the city who are tax pay CTS, either on real or personal prop erty, vote for the bonds, they may De issued but not otherwise. This is tho question that is now open for debate and consideration and which will bt voted upon early in March.
 The action of the city council il coming forward with proposition t issue bonds for better fire protection is the outgrowth of Q demand of Iarg' property holders that the council "dt something" Recognizing one thing next to perfect sanitary condition that BiSbee is soTely in need oi was better fire protection, the counci committee spent weeks in studyin out the above feasible plan and ha come before the people asking fo their endorsement
 Taking it for granted that the proI erty holders of Bisbee desire bette fire protection (which 10 one wi care to deny), the only question ths remains to be settled is-"Is the pla or the city council a feasible and ec nomical one?"
 h arriving at decision on tn question the taxpayer should bear mind the difference in insuranc rates now and then, and then als the satisfaction of knowing that case of a serious corfagration a adequate fire protection system is hand. This fact alone will insure II erection Of more substantial buildins and as a result the taxable wealth the city will be materially increase Estimating the necessary tax to levied for this purpose at four mil on each s100 valuation the city cIeI says:
 Some of these bonds will be T deemed in five years, some in te years, and so on as may be provide until all are redeemed. The sinkiI fund will be made up as follows: Sc tion 564 of the revised statutes pr vides that there can be levied by u common council of every town a smount not exceeding four mills C