Amador ledger., 1905-09-29

heavy traffic, finds sidewalks essential
and some oInamentation desirable, 1t
must look to some form of cooper
atiye effort oD the part of the com
munity affected. The county machin-
cry becomes inadequate. For time
the people will bear the expense of
the additional undertaking by private
subscriptions and until it is seen that
this expense falls on the few who
always contribute cheerfully and
literally, while others equally bene-
fitted contribute nothing. This in
equality of sacrifice makes manifest
the necessity for municipal corpor-
alton. So if community desires
better streets, sidewalks, shade trees,
etc. at an equitable distribution of
cost, it must organize into a NUM-
opal corporation.
Functions of Public Safety
| Under this head may be considered: I:
Fire protection, police protection
and health protection.
One OF the first needs of an urban
community is. protection against fire.
This the county cannot give. With
out it insurance rates will be exhor-
bitant. In unincorporated towns
there is almost invariably an made
quate fire protection and consequent
tai high insurance rates. The fire de-
partments, such as it is, is maintain
ed at the expense of the few who
happen to be on hand when the
collection is taken up, and here again
comes the inequality of sacrifice for
the public good.
Furthermore, there is always an alb
sence of regulations to operate to
prevent fires. Fire trap buildings are
put up in dangerous localities, rub
bish accumulates in back alleys and
everything invites an early and dam
aging confsgration. The municipal
corporation alone has authority to
adopt preventative measures, and
those measures are more valuable
than fire department.
The more populous a community
the greater necessity is there for
police protection. Acts which, IN
rural community affect none but The
doer, in popuIous community be-
comes highly obnoxious to neigh
bors. Such acts must be legislated
against and punished, and here again
the municipality becomes necessity.
The public health is of grave con-
Germ and it is the urban community
that is most susceptible to all forms
of disease. 1t is here that epidemics
ravage and take away our loved ones.
1t is In the cities that disease
breeds and starts out to deal death to
the living, the strong and the beau
tiful.
Modern science is devotlng itself to
the prevention of disease as much as
it is to its cure.
Cleanliness Is the secret of health.
The law has been written "cities
must keep clean" No town, no matter
how small, can violate this law and
escape with immunity. 1t is recogn-
lied that the various fevers are trace
able to filth, and that epidemiccs of
this disease can be avoided simply by
keeping clean.
Therefore we must have pure water,
uncontaminated by filth, pure air,
unpolluted by noxious gases, and to
have pure water and pure air we must
not permit filth to accumulate.
Therefore we must have sewers and
such health ordinances as will main
tain the health of the community
The rubbish of the street, ana the
household waste, must be removed so
that it will not be source of danger.
The municipal corporation alone
has the only ample authority to pro-
tect the public health.
Industrial Functions.
Cities are rapidly taking upon them
selves new functions of an industrial
nature. They are operating water
works, light plants, street railways,
etc. A book could be written on this
subject alone and the advantages of
municipal operation portrayed. A
few words here must suffice. 1t is
generally conceded and statistics
show, that municipal water works
result in purer water, better supply,
better fire protection, cheaper rates,
lower cost.
The same can be said of the muni-
cipal lighting works. Over 40 cities
in this state operate water works and
dozen operate water lighting works.
Social Functions.
For the social betterment of COM
munity cities can maintain parks and
Fairgrounds, gymnasiums and baths,
libraries, museums and art galleries,
provide concerts and other forms of
entertainment and recreation. While
these things, are not essential, they
serve high and noble purpose and
the communities who wish to reach
high plane of social comfort must
have them and secure them through
the effor of the municipality. The
public library is a very popular and
useful institution, and no city is too
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