The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-03-14
MERCHANTS LUNCHEON
Concluded From First Page.)

part OF citizens for better govern.
Iment were general
No Cause For Alarm
Eabert A. Smith. president Of the
Cairo National Pank, spoke at some
length on the financial situation. He
said as a banker he was willing to
cooperate with the movement 10
solve any financial problems tina
might confront the city, but believed
that the thing of first importance was
5e learn Just where the city stocd
Al the statements he had seen in
print were deficient and gave little or
nc IDEA of the actual state of things
50 far as he could iadge there was
nc occasion at an for alarm; IN fact
he believed the city was Better Of
ieht now than She had been in 80
rears. He did not believe IN CRITICS
ing the city administration for any
deficiency revenue. in view of all
tho greet improvements that were
@o'ng ON. The city always had
deficiency in revenue. in view of all
ficipa'ion warrants he did not see
any good reason for trying to arouse
and alarm the people now. There
We're two WAYS to look at the matter.
from a political and from a business
point Of view He would not favor
haety action to meet the former view.
but would consider the subject coollv
with a view to settling it in a bust.
uess-like way # people were to be
aroused about conditions now with
honiel debt of only sG5.5)O. what
would they have thought in 1878
when the city had a bonded debt of
half q million or more. He felt sure
hat It this We're done and a full re-
liable statement were published
showing exactly how the city stood
and how much it would need 10 place
IL in proper condition citizens gen
orally would wllnglv stand the tax for
whatever length Of time II might he
needed. II was not right 10 irmp on
business men every time the city was
little hard up. When he was
member Of the city council the r.
ecipts from the corporation taxes
were $4,000 annually. now II was
s4L'n', ana increase of $4,000. al /
though the real value of property .
had more than doubled At that time /
be city paid one-third Of all street
improvements. while now every doh. +
ar OF the cost Of such Improvement .
vas charged 10 property owners. (
fte sneaker urged that it be not pub.
i=hed TO the world that the city was
ard up as it world do harm.
SPOKE of Oklahoma.
Rev L. NJ. Jones. who is conduct
ing a series Of revival meetings at
Cairo Baptist church was invited fol.
make a few remarks. lie compIi. 4
heHted the citizens present on Tie
interest they manifested in their city +.
-fa.rs and expressed the belief that I
much good would result from these \
weekly gatherings. lie smoke Of
'A.aHo-Ha as the great city Of the
'aHtawest where the people wer7
mhue1 with am intense LOYALTY ana
'hierpiiSe. An organization of hnsi
Tess men similar to that he was adj |
Pressing took am active interest in
lI movements to build mp the CITY
hey had decided to have great
"aeaticnal Institution and hal gone
to me different church congregations
IN an ofer of loa acres Cf ground
At 100000 cash 10 build ona. aqi
had resulted in establishing a fine ,
.siitlti ton. Like all was given t.
reel new church buildings. All the
i''ze1s were so strongly moved by
de inr their CITY that they would
ct tolerat2 any shacks to exist.
chairman Fisher appointed II. ". {
Ole 70 preside at next Saturdays
IncheCn.