Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1904-12-17
BONDS OR NO BONDS.


graphs we have tried to impress the voters of
Fitzgerald that it would be mistake at this
time to authorize the issuance OF SIS, 600 of bonds.
To these views we have expected some OPPOSE
ton. 1t has developed, but it is weak and Incl
pient, as strong however as the facts Will admit,
and as cunning as Misrepresentation can COM
pass and weak insinuations can effect.
Regardless of the statement of McCrary,
aud of the concern and unsel6sbness 10 OF any
patriotic CD writerwe stand by the simp pie state
meut that SIS 900 is not needed for the propos-
ed improvements. 1t does not require superior
ability, nor an engineers diploma TO know the
facts as they have been stated IN these columns
to the effect that the treasury will have, (or
ought to have) sufficient funds at the beginning
of the new wear to increase the capacity OF the
water supply and of the light plant nor does it
require anything more than good common Judge
ment to know that for $4,000 every reasonable
extension of the water mains can be made, but
it does require degree Of honesty, that is ap.
parently lacking, for man who expects an OPP
portunity or hopes to extort fee or placate
tool and courts the favor of men he hopes TO use,
to say so.
The same Influences that at work
for this bond issue only few years ago fought
with desperation, cunning and mlsrepresenta-
ton the effort to reduce and limit the city tax
rate, which was then ST. 80, to 81. on the 500.
1t is this same crowd that now tells the unwary
voter that they want the whole city to get the
benefit of the plant, because it is supported by
taxes on every body's property, yet until the
Enterprise said no they we're preparing to put
in a sewerage sewers that would not only reach
a very limited area, but would be a farse,
travesty in the name of sanitation. One good
old tax payer suggested to the editor of this
paper that the only possible benefit that could
come from the proposed system would be to
make the alley fronts in the business part of the
CITY more valuable. Then hear them pirate
about generously reaching out to all the tax
payers. Obi Such consistency would be jewell
ed ring in the snout of such hog. But why de-
vote valuable time and space to that phase of the
subject when every sane, uusel6sh reason is
against the bond folly?
Fitzgerald must have sewerage system, a
comprehensive, effective and modern system.
To do this we must have room for bonds. 1t is
dangerous to cut the margin down SO close as
this unnecessary issue would do If the coun-
Gil is genuinely in earnest particularly jealous,
surcharged with the fire of duty, bowed down
with the weight of responsibility, overwhelmed
with the sense of inj Justice to the poor taxpayers
who do not enjoy the luxury of a water main at
their front gate, let them get right down to
business and spend at least one hour in intel
liget and business-ke calculations, and out of
the $780, 900 of annual revenues coming thro their
hands, put $4,000 or $4,000 of that amount
into the work of extending the mains, thro the
hands Of an honest contractor.
Those who have read the Enterprise and
know the editor understand without being told,
and in spite of the mean insituation of unscrupu-
lous grafters, that we have but the one motive,
FITZGERALDS GOOD. We believe that the
people are as sure 10 turn down the bond issue,
as election day comes. The men who propos
ed it had only the one hope of it's success, and
that was, that the voters who were not reached
by the mains would be foolish enough TO take
the bait offered them by men who were willing
to make the issue 900 instead of $4,000 in
order to give sewer drainage to a favored Sec
tom, a limited lucky few
Well, the people will vote bonds, we dont
think.
The Enterprise is very we'll pleased at the
prospect The future looks bright for Fitzger-
aid.
The remains of Paul Kruger have been re-
moved to Pretoria and rest in the soil of his
native land.
The bobgoblins seems to haunt the visions
of those who fear that some OF the neghborirg
Forrnere ,n.v hecone Interested in orr mpnic;-