The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-12-08
OUR TICKET IN 1912
TIE BOND ISSUE

Next TUESDAY, )eceHiDeT iElh, 'he
people of Fort Pierce will be called
upon to vote on the question OF bond
ing the city in the sum of 500, 600 for
the purpose of equipng a water works
and electric light plant and building a
system of sewers.
There is scarcely citizen of the
town who will openly oppose these much
needed improvements, but information
was brought to The TRIBUNE office
Yesterday that there exists a quiet and
systematic effort to defeat the bond
issue at the polls next Tuesday, and it
is even whispered that citizens who
are apparently favorable to the prop
osition are leaders h the effort to de-
feat it.
1t certainly behooves every loyal
citizen of the town who believes in pro-
gre IS and the future advancement OF
Fort Pierce to rally to the polls next
Tue sday and see that every qualified
yot err is brought out to cast his ballot.
Why any one should oppose this
NOV ement to provide Fort Pierce with
these three improvements which are
absolr tely essential to the future growth
of the city is difficult to understand.
No city has installed electric light
and water systems that has not found
it to be the best possible investment,
and absolutely necessary.
The electric light system is the least
expensive Of three improvements,
and when operated in connection with
the water works plant has returned
profit on the investment of from Is to
50 per cent every year, in many Of our
smaller cities, while in the larger cit
les it has proven to be the backbone Of
the municipality and lowered the city
tax to very small figure.
The water works is also a crying
necessity for our city. It is not only
self supporting and a profit maker for
the city, but is demanded for fire pro-
lection, for without It our city will
sooner or later be reduced to ashes.
Fire insurance rates are now almost
prohbltiye for many Of our business
houses, and the equipping Of an adequate
water works plant will reduce the pre-
sent IRE insurance rates by such II
figure that our present business men
and property owners viii save more
money m insurance premiums in the
next ten years that the cost of the en-
tire water works plant. This has been
the actual experience of Kissimmee for
the past year, the first year Of their
munic ipai water plant.
The sewers are equally necessity.
The health Of the city must be protect
cd for it is for the protection Of the
health, life and property Of the citizens
that all governments exist. And The
sew ers will not be an added expense,
for our city is now paying a sum equal
to the interest on the bonds for a Who'll.
ly unsatisfactory and incomplete scav.
eneer service.
What reason can be advanced fol
the defeat of the proposed bond issue !
None have been publicly stated.
These improvements should be made
at this time. Not another foot of paw.
ing should be laid until sewers and
water pipes have been placed in the
ground for these must he placed in
the center of the streets.
The future of Fort Pierce will be
determined next Tuesday. If the bond:
are defeated it will be done by the
stay-at- home vote. Ii is the duty of
every citizen to see that every qualified
ote is brought to thc polls next Tues.