The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-06-10
To The Herald:

vile.
To The Herald:
I had about concluded to diseon-
tinue writing to The Herald. but to
man up a tree it looks as if a little
agitation at this time Will do no
harm, and might perhaps-mind you,
l say perhaps of some benefit.
First, I should like to say to Mr..
Oldtimer that I heartily accept the
olive branch extended in his recent
communication. and will be pleased
to meet him at any time or place he
may choose.
The burning" question on the
lips of all Brownsvillians is the cleo
trio light question, and so far as
can ascertain they are all as mad as
hatters that they are subjected to
such beastly treatment.
There is something rotten in Den
mark" said Hamlet, and if we are
permitted to borrow the expression,
as it appears to be quite apropos in
this case, I would like to substitute
a word or two and say, There is
something rotten in Brownsville's
electric light plant Let US review
the facts:
The plant is not a year old, and
yet it is so demOraliZed and run
down that it has not been able, even
with the assistance of experienced,
first class labor, to produce a kilO-
watt in two weeks time. Is not this
glazing fact enough to get anyone's
/ ''gOat?" Is it not enough to make
a foreigner sit up and ask pointed
questions? Is it not enough to drive
off prospective capital? Is it not
enough to cause capital to tighten up
its purse strings and say: The time
is not yet ripe to develop Browns
Vile Let us pass on" Here is a
supposed up-tO-date light and water
! plant, less than a year old, that re-
fuses to make light, and serves lique-
/ fed mud instead of water to its resi-
dents
In less than one year Brownsville
has outgrOwn the present capacity OF
its plant The Herald has stated
that more than 500 new lights have
been hooked on, and in order to ac-
cOmmOdate tbs demand the electric
light committee is considering the
ACCESSIBILITY of replacing the arc
lights which are used to light the
city with a smaller light, and has
practically decided to cut out" the
moving picture service.
Now, I would like to know what
kind of business policy this is? Is
there one business man in Browns
vile that would not provide for
greater volume of business if it had
customers clamOring to be served?
I Is there one business man in Browns
Vile that would not provide for such
an eXigency? Let's see what a bust
ness man would do. We will picture
him to be on the same level as the
city of Brownsville, without any
/ known resources We Will picture
him as the owner of this plant
/ The business man reads by the
signs of the times that the time is
not distant, in fact it is here, when
he must provide for an increased
volume of business. He looks about
and notes the large number of dwell
/ ings under construction He antici-
pates the increase in business. All
his funds are tied up. He realizes he
must provide for this new business.
But how? He cOnfers with his bust
ness friends. He opens his books,
explains the conditions. proves his
claims, and in less time than it takes
to tell he has sufficient funds to en-
large his plant
He would not wait until the bust
ness grew so fast he couldn't accom-
mOdate it. He would not allow his
plant to run down in a years time,
so that it would be only fit for the
junk heap He would not turn any
business away No indeed, we know
he wouldn't But that is what the
city of Brownsville has permitted.
/ How long, oh, how long must this
be so,
Would the city Of Brownsville sub
nit to this treatment from any pri-
vate company or corporation? Not
on your life. They would jerk the
offenders UP and read the riot act to
them.
A. NEWCOMER
IMAM EhfCsa.rrO -.tUc