The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-03-21
PRESIDE BOARD OF TRADE GIVES HIS VEWS'
Mr.. DaviDiscusses Proposed Bond Issue and Other
City Hters in Decidedly Interesting Manner
Are PIing Up Debts Too Fast.

to be. Now, if it is just where it should
be why spend $1,000 or more of the
peoples money to move it 10 your
Main street lot where it will soon be
right III the business limits) than it
will cost to keep it where it is now To-
Gated and properly remodel it? The
cost of remodeling and charging it
would be small if the city would use
the material in the old fire department
headquarters and the old primary
building on the white school grounds,
as was originally intended. A com
mittee was appointed by the council
last year to do this, and it was under
stood they were only waiting for these
old buildings to be vacated before be-
ginning the work.
Now, let's stop minute and take a
conservative, business view of all we
are doing and undertaking to do gen
orally. Aren't we becoming somewhat
| frenzied inanciers, and that fast?
Would it not be we'll to pause just a
moment and consider where this accel-
erative movement is likely to lead?
Let US compare for our own infor-
nation and benefit our city's financial
management with the cOunty's. The
county has levied no tax for several
| years, is giving US model roads, is re-
firing its bonds before they mature,
is loaning money and will soon have
enough to finish retiring its bonds.
The city is levying as much tax as ev-
er. the streets are very poor, has just
issued S65, 900 worth of bonds and
is calling for $4,000 more, with
other schemes entailing large expend-
itures piling up monthly, with no inn
mediate prospect in sight of clearing
up in the financial sky.
1t is urged in defense of some of the
lately proposed expenditures that we
! have enough money left over from the
sale of school bonds to pay portion
of it. Now, is this money burning the
city's pocket for the want of spending?
If so, it will be an easy matter to find
a number of vacuums that are really
rusting for the want of filling. The
way matters are being rushed it
would appear that some of our council
seem to think that this is the last
council Dawson will ever have, and
what they fail to do while in Office will
forever be left undone.
The statements in last weeks NEWS
that those who are opposing sewerage
''will tell you so and so, but it is
not true, " and 81 hope you will not lis
ten to these Misrepresentation etc.
reminds me of the story of Jew who
used this kind of argument to get peO-
pie in his store: "Do not go elsewhere
to be robbed; just step in here"
In conclusion, let me say that l be-
lieve we are now about to face cri
sis in the history of our town, and a
right or wrong step now will vitality
affect our future. l do not think [ am
considered a croaker. l am at all
times in favor of businesslike, con-
sentative progress, but when we try
to progress too fast we are liable to
progress backwards. Let US under
take no more enterprises that will re-
quire large expenditures and issue no
more bonds until our waterworks
plant is put in operation as outlined.
Then, make careful statement OF all
Indebtedness and obligations with the
amount required annually to discharge
the same, together with a complete
statement of all the annual revenues
and income of the city, and our people
can more intelligently determine what
other necessary. enterprises we can
safely undertake. w. H. DAVIS.