The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1907-06-22

and these under private ownership.
With the granting of the water
and light franchise Monroe had
voted a tax of 81 mills for ten
years, the income from that source
going to pay for street lighting
and water for fighting fires. The
service was Indifferent, although
the pay was very good
Mayor Forsythe argued that II
the franchise was profitable to the
private company it would be more
profitable to the municipality, and
the plant was purchased. This abb
sorbed 500, 900 of bond issue that
had been voted for that purpose.
The move caused the three and
oue-half mill tax to be discontin-
ued, but the newly purchased light
and water plants were in such in
different condition that they prac-
tically had to be built over. The
rate to private users was continued
as it had been previous to the pur-
chase by the city and the profits
devoted steadily to betterments.
These departures from the acep-
ted way OF doing things at Monroe
caused much comment and some
opposition, but that was nothing
compared to the storm aroused
when, in 1908. Mayor Forsythe
announced his scheme for NUM-
cipal railway. There was no provi-
sion in the city's charter which
would permit such move, but
this did not daunt the mayor and
his followers. They took the mat
ter up at the session of the Louis
lana legislature for 1904 and had
their charter amended.
Private corporate interests which
had an eye on the street railway
franchise now awoke to the fact
that Forsythe's talk OF munich
pal railway was something more
than bluff, and and they began to
| fight him. Their chief objection to
the movement was the alleged
fear of a corrupt ring" which
they professed to believe would
dominate politics once the city
became engaged in the operation
of the various utilities.
, But the municipal ownership
{ champions won out. In addition
to the original bond issue, a spe'
. cial tax of S mills for ten years
was levied for public improvement
: This income was to be devoted te
, building a city hall. city prison
a city market and a street railway
)l In order to realize upon the tag
; thus voted, Mayor Forsythe CON
, ceived the idea of issuing what be
: has called certificates of pay
r ment"-bonds in everything ex'
cept name-predicated upon the
. ten year tax and other funds. He
| met with fierce opposition in thi:
: move, for the local system car
ried on campaign against the
$ legality of the certificates of pay.
, ment' and came near frightening
the money markets into turning
r them down.
, Finally, after the construction
: of the street railway had been del
, aged more than a year, the city:
' paper was negotiated, and wo1l
r On what was destined to be tn,
first municipal railway in Americ;
; was taken up.
. In connection with the munich
n pal street railway the city has ex
: pended over $40. 900 in the acauis
= itson of park. fair and amuse
Inent grounds two miles above tn
e city on the Ouachita- river, t
i which the car line. extends. 1t
known as Forsythe park. Their
a are over $50 acres in the tract.
4 It is an ideally beautiful site
! but what nature has denied
h being supplied by art. Over 90
y trees of many varieties have bee
v planted. The park fronts on a