The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-06-03
THE WATER QUESTION
The Inconsistency of Some of the
Objections which are Urged
Against the Proposition.

On Thursday, June 10th, the voters of
Leon will vote on the question of issu-
ing bonds in the sum of $50, 1000 to install
system of waterworks in Leon. While
it is apparent that majority of the
citizens of Leon are in favor of the
proposition. it has of course, some op-
position, and we desire to say word
in regard to some of the objections
which the opponents are urging.
One of the principal objections urged
is that pond or reservoir water would
be used which would be unfit for drink
ing. In reply to this we call the at
tention of the voters to the signed
statement of five or six members of the
city council, who would have absolute
control over this question, in which
they say they are in favor of we'll or
wells being used. That should surely
answer this objection.
Another objection is that the bonds
would run for the full period of twenty
years, and the same majority of the city
council state that if the proposition
carries that they are in favor of issuing
the bonds, reserving the option of pay
ing them off after five years if ad-
vantageous to the city. The interest is
to be paid annually. That is sufficient
assurance that the city council will do
what is right in this matter is it not?
The members of the city council
pledge themselves that they will favor
the employment of local labor for the
work, and that they will employ CON-
petent engineer to plat the city and
locate the mains, pipes and hydrants,
so as to afford fire protection to all the
property owners and to allow all to use
the water on an equitable basis. That
replies in no unmeaning words to the
objection that water works would bene-
fit only few people in the business
section does it not?
Another objection is that it will in
crease taxes. That is true, but the
increase would be so small that you
never would know you were paying a
water tax unless some one told you.
The installation of waterworks means
more work for the laboring meu, pro-
lection from fire to the property owner,
the safety of health of yourself and
family and general increase of pros
perity, with corresponding increase
in property values.
1t has been reported that if water
works were installed that all parties
who have drinking wells would be COM
PEELED to fill them up. This is absolute
ly incorrect. There is no law to
compel any person to fill up their we'll
if the water is pure. The only way in
which wells can bo condemned is where
the board of health find we'll the wa
ter in which is impure and menace to
the health of the persons using it. And
in that case would you not want YOUR
we'll condemned if it was liable to cause
the death of members of your family?
And if you have an impure we'll you
will be forced to fill it up whether we
have waterworks or not.
The same is true in regard to forcing
citizens to use city water whether
they wanted it or not. This cannot be
done, any more than you could be fore
ed to burn electric lights in your
house instead of using an oil lamp.
Let us be fair in these matters. If you
will not accept our statement, 90 to any
| la wyer and ask him whether we are not
correct.
1t is also urged that waterworks
would increase the cost of rent to rent
ers from one to five dollars month.
The tax for waterworks on any rented
property in Leon would not amount to
50 cents per month. Would your land
lord be justified in raising your rent one
to five dollars because he pays less than
30 cents per month? Hardly.
Leon has arrived 1T a stage where
the city must either progress or 20
back, and one of the essential things
necessary for the city to continue to
grow and progress is the installation of
system Of water works. Can Won
show single city which has gone for
ward In the state of Iowa which has
not installed waterworks? We think
not.
We are in favor OF waterworks. Il
means much 10 our city. We believe
that every man and woman who is in