The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-05-13
WILL VOTE ON JUNE 10
A SpeCiaI Election Will be Held on
Thursday, June 10th to Vote on
WaterwOrks Proposition.

The question of voting bonds for the
establishment of system of water
works in Leon will be submitted to a
vote at a special election on Thursday,
June 10th. At the regular meeting of
the city council held last Thurday even
ing petition asking that an election
be called was presented to the council
containing the names of 3G6 voters,
more than hundred more than was re-
quired by law, and under the law the
council ordered the special election,
and now the question is up to the voters
of the city of Leon whether the city
shall progress and continue to grow or
whether it shall remain in the old rut
and allow the other cities and towns of
Iowa to outstrip her.
The proposition which will be voted
on is whether or not bonds shall be
issued in sum of not to exceed $35, 900
for the purpose of procuring and
erecting system of waterworks. The
bond issue was placed at S35,0O0 so as
to be ample for the required system,
but only the amount necessary for the
system has to be issued. The bonds are
to run for twenty years, but will prob
ably have an option in paying them off
in installments, this question to be de-
cided by the council when they issue
the bonds.
The ladies of the city will be per-
mitted to vote on the question as we'll
as the male voters, and all voters can
vote, whether they are property owners
or not, the same as at any other cleo
tion. Nearly every county seat in Iowa
has already installed waterworks, and
they are surely needed as badly in Leon
as elsewhere. With good system of
waterworks insurance rates in Leon
would be very materially lowered
and the saving along this line would
equal the amount Of tax paid for water
works. The town of Corning which is
no larger than Leon has had system
Of waterworks for years which not only
furnishes the city free water for fire
protection, but the revenue received
pays the city neat revenue each year.
1t is not proposed to lay mains just in
the business section of the city, but a
plan has been mapped out whereby
there would be a main on practically
every other street in the city, so that
nearly every residence could secure
water within distance of one block,
and only a small pipe would have to be
laid to connect with the principal
mains, and this can be done with con-
siderable less than six miles Of mains.
Another question which has been dis
cnssed is the source of the water supply,
which will probably have to be reser-
voir, and some have been talking that a
reservoir would be erected below the
cemetery and the cemetery would drain
into it. We wish to correct this report.
There never has been thought that
this would be done, and there are sew
eral locations available for reservoir
where an absolute pure supply of water
could be obtained. So let your mind
rest easy on this question. The reser-
volr will not receive water drained
from the cemetery.
We want to see Leon take her place
in the front ranks as one of the pro-
gressive cities of Iowa, full of push and
energy. That is what makes a city
grow, and as city grows the value of
all the property increases correspond
ingly. A system of waterworks would
increase the value of every piece of
real estate in Leon. We want boosters
to bring this about, and an invitation
is extended to everyone to
Join the Boosters band and boost,
Don't stay home and 20 TO roost,
Keep awake and make spiel!
Put your shoulder to the wheel!
Try to help your town alcng
Boost it loud and boost 1t strong
Everybody lend hand!
Come and join the Boosters Band!