The Dickinson press., 1905-08-05

vote against the same? is the question
for each one to decide for himself.
Those who are opposed to city improve
ment, because it costs money, will natur-
ally vote against it. But those who are
progressive, who have an eye for busi-
ness and prosperity and look to the
future of Dickinson, will not be afraid
Of expending few dollars for improve
ments and will vote for the city councils
proposition.
A few years ago there appeared to be
general opposition to laying the pres
ent side walks and if the question had
been voted upon it would have been
voted down; but today, how many would
vote them from their doors and receive
the money back? After Dickinson once
has waterworks in operation there will be
found very few in the city who would
vote to do without them, even if the
money could all be returned with large
bonus beside.
That Dickinson needs water system
and sewerage, every fair minded citizen
will admit. The general health re-
quires it, proper fire protection demands
it and the general convenience desires
it. A city, to prosper, must be healthy
and must have adequate fire protection.
To this point we will have to come, and
we will have to find ways and means to
accomplish the same. To wait until an
epidemic of some kind breaks out or a
great portion of the city is burned, will
be too late to vote for water system.
If we do not provide for the same in the
manner the city council has outlined,
then we will have to, and that before
long. adopt some other plan. The city
will either have to build and own its own
waterworks, or it will have to give fran
chise to some private corporation. In
either case the city will have to provide
adequate sewerage, and therefore the
sewerage question is eliminated as far as
the selection of water works is con-
cerned. Water works we must have,
If we vote down the present proposition,
then it will of necessity come up in some
other form, or our city and business will
have to suffer by it, which means that
we must all suffer more or less through
it. We do not want dead town, nor a
Spanish Cuban town. We want live,
progressive, prosperous and healthy
town, where all can live and earn their
daily bread according to the talents
each possess.
We believe that municipal ownership
of water works is preferable to private
ownership. No individual and no cor
poration will undertake any business as
a charitable institution for the benefit of
the general public. Business men will
not do business just for the fun of it. 1t
is human nature to make an undertaking
pay and to pay well. Business men de-
sire to make money and to make good
money. Therefore in the end the peo.
pie will have to pay for the water. Why
then vote against bonding the city to
secure water works, and give the fran
chise to supply the city with water to
some private individual to enrich his
pockets? 1t seems to me that it is the
part of wisdom for the city to own and
operate its own system of water works
in the interest of all the people. If it
will pay private corporation, then it
will certainly pay the city also.
There are some who will say: "To do
all this costs money, and our city should
not be bonded" Yes, it costs money to
undertake and do anything. Everything
costs money,-even to die. To get an
education costs money and many people
are opposed to it for that reason. To dc
business of any kind takes money and
the greater the volume of business the
more money it will take. The man who
is afraid to do anything because it takes
money to do it willnever make success
of himself. Yes, it takes money; but
what of it, so long as it will bring us
good returns?
The common day laborer with the
humblest home as well as the business
man and. those Lying in the finest resi-
dences will be benefited by it in more
ways than one. The burden also will be
in proportion to the benefit received.
AS to bonding the city. what of II
We know of no progressive and pros
porous city that has not been bonded
There may be such, but we know o.
none. But we do know a lot of delapi
dated looking towns that avoided bond
ing and everything else. Such towns
are void of push and prosperity. Favor
able location without push, energy and
invested capital favored with an up-to
date city government, will not make Z