The Greeley tribune., 1905-04-27
Mr.. Satiricus Unlimbers


tude regarding the possible city hall
complications. Don't be afraid OF
wasting ammunition now and then
even on imaginary foes. A big
stick carried in sight has its Uses
as we'll as its dangers. A few pieces
of light artillery unlimbered at the
head OF the street at an oppo,tune
moment have sometimes discouraged
mob and actually saved blood in
stead Of shedding 1t. The new
mayor Is gentleman, and likewise
the members Of the new council. 1t
isn't at all likely that our municipal
body as so constituted would make
any of the breaks you name; but
we do not know in what way they
might be tempted to distinguish
their administration. This is an era Of
municipal corruption and the public
has learned to expect almost any
thing and to be surprised at nothing.
For instance consider the fool street
car franchise not so long since grant
ed some promoters Of Greeley. l
voted for the larger share of the
gentlemen now doing our municipal
business: l highly esteem the rest Of
them, and l have sufficient conf
dence In all of them to watch them
very closely.
1 heartily endorse pretty much
everything you said at venture
concerning the rumors about the
proposed new city hall, and with
your permission l will expand the
subject on the same lines.
In the first instance our officials
may as we'll consider the fact that
although we voted bonds for the con-
struction of new city building
without definite explanations, yet
they were so voted on the supposi-
tion that the new building was to
occupy the site Of the old one, and 1
will hazard the statement that they
could not have been carried at all,
II the proposition had been made
either to purchase the old court
house or to build the new hall in any
other quarter.
Second; While / have no idea that
ou- present officials would think for
moment of selling any part of our
magnificent city park for that OR any
other purpose, yet If they should be
tempted to go into such deal, they
may as well consider the danger that
an angry people might hang some Of
the more prominent instigators of
the scheme next morning after its
consumation, to the trees on the
proposed new court house site. l
remember in connection with the
subject, as an extra inducement to
speak freely and pointedly now, that
at one time set of promoters actu-
ally proposed to have the parks all
cut up into city lots and put on the
market, ostensibly to obtain funds
for a new city hall and other pur-
poses, but In reality to give the real
estate speculators a chance In the
deal. l remember that at later
date, it was actually seriously pro-
posed to sell the site we now have,
and which was donated for that
specific purpose, and with the pro-
ceeds of that and other property
owned by the city. to build new
hall and hose house in the park. 1t
will thus be seen that the danger of
some such move as we are discussing
is not entirely imaginary.
Third: If the mayor and council
should be led to consider favorably
any exchange Of properties such as
you have outlined, and the people
should even consent to thus sell their
birthright from the colony for a
mess of pottage like that, in order
to save themselves a little outlay for
contemplated improvements, then in
that event they are invited to look
over the record and see on what
terms the city holds all its property
acquired from the Union Colony.
And If they do this they will prob
ably discover that the city holds it
for the specific purposes named in
the deeds, and that it has no power
to use it or sell it for any other
purpose whatever; and If they do not
know OF another fact, investigation
will convince them Of that also. to.
wit: The Union Colony is still in
existence and has for its representa-.
tives number of conservative old
fashioned gentlemen with very
peculiar views regarding honor and
public faith, and who not only would
probably have the will in such a
contingency, but the means, ample
means. to begin a suit next day after
the transfer was made to recover all |