The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-10
FIRE PROTECTION OF THE WEST
SIDE.

FIRE PROTECTION OF THE WEST
SIDE.
The citizens of Richmond who live
on the west side of the river comprise
about one fourth of the population of
this city. They pay the same amount
of taxes every year into the city treas
ury in proportion to their wealth that
people do on the other side They are
within the corporation lines and there
fore pay for and should receive all
the benefits of Richmond. They are
above all other things desirable citi-
zens, most of them own, or are paying
for, their homes. Moreover factories
have begun to be erected in sufficient
numbers across the river to warrant
the assumption that it is one of the
places which will play a great part in
the towns future growth. Among the
benefits of paying city taxes is the
benefit of fire protection. This is
vital matter to every citizen but es-
pecially is it thing which enters the
mind of the man who has just built
his house.
The people of West Richmond are
right when they say that they are en-
titled to and have not adequate fire
protection. They are justified in de-
manding that they have a hose house
over there. Few people will be found
to doubt the justice of their claim.
But.
The fact is that the city of Rich
mond has not the money to spend in
that way, or any other way. OF the
reason for this we shall speak later.
But that one fact, no one who has
looked over or knows much about the
finances of this town. will question.
The city's finances have reache d
such a point that it is absolutely nee
essary that there be a decided re-
trenchment.
is little doubt that the present admin
istration and the ones preceding it
have been too extravagant. In other
words though there is no graft to be
connected with the present admins
tration, there has been too much
money spent in a way which would
have brought business house to de-
struction and bankruptcy long ago. II
is not charged that the expenditure OF
money has been dishonest-it is mere.
ly that it has been ill advised.
Too much money has been spent at
once on improvements, every thing
has been attempted in one administra
ton. money has perhaps in some in
stances been wasted in putting in tenn
porary improvements which are in the
end more costly than permanent
ones. in some instances also these
very improvements have been torn III
shortly after their completion and
About the size of it is. that too much
money has been spent and the treas
ury will have too take a vacation
This town can not go on borrowing
$4,000 at $50 per cent payable six
years from date. 1t has got to stop
And the sooner expenses are logically
cut down and the city run on bust
ness basis the better.
The newly married couple who must
live on definite salary after havins
stocked their house with all the pref
~ Gew-Gaws which seemed necessary
TO lovey and dovey existence. wake
up and find the installment man al
their door asking his pay. There-up
who will lend them money for a con
sideration. They soon find that the
dream of welded bliss is cut in the
bud. There they are. They have t.
cut out the foolishness and some o.
the necessities. They haven't an.
money left for fire insurance The,
might have-oh yes they might have
had But they haven't
However necessary; however need
full it may be that the citizens of Yves
Richmond shall have hose house. i
is manifestly impossible with the fl
nances of the town in their presen
condition.
1t has been said that the fire rat,
on ordinary and special risks in Yves
Richmond has ben increased by tn,
insurance companies over the rates o.
this side. On inquiry it has been stat
ed that this is not the case 1t ha
also been said that people will no
build in West Richmond until ade
quate fire protection is given. Rea
estate dealers cynically remark tina