The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-05
Vital Interest
OF City Is
AT Stake
Continued from Page ~


that ill the available output was re-
quired at periods of maximum load,
l said to the commissioner, "Mr.
-, have you any candles in your
house?" NO." he said; "why?" l
replied: you will need them soon if
this is all the electric lighting ap-
paratus you have" My prophecy
has come true, and Will come true
again before the electric light plant
can be put in proper shape, even if
the bond trustees act as quickly as
they can.
Citrus Industry to Be Hampered
A letter which l wrote to you in
my official capacity several days ago,
and which was approved of by the
chairman of the city commission,
shows that one of this city's leading
resources, the citrus packing indus
try, will be hampered for lack of
power on account of the overloaded
condition of the electric light plant.
Surely this alone should be enough
to demand the quickest action pos
sible to relieve the situation.
Bond Trustees to Handle Funds
In regard to the city commission
your readers should realize: That
their delay in the matter of improv-
ing the electric light plant was to
try to get the views of the people
before taking action; that the peo-
pie Of the city in order to keep faith
must vote favorably on the questions
which they themselves asked to be
brought up; that the commission
has met the wishes of the people as
expressed in the mass meeting by
turning over to the bond trustees
nominated by the mass meeting the
entire expenditure of the money to
be spent in improvements, absolutely
uncontrolled by the commission in
any way whatever.
Entirely Apart from Commission
The question of improving tho
electric light plant is therefore d.
vorced from the commission, from
the late board Of bond trustees, from
the floating debt. and from any other
issue.
A vote in favor of issuing bonds
to improve the electric light and wa
ter plant is vote for the quickest
and most feasible way of helping the
community in general vote for
the welfare of the city of Lakeland.
Insurance Lower if Fire Bonds
Are Voted
The other issues of the bonding
election are also meritorious. The
fire department badly needs fire
pump for parts of the city where
the mains are of small diameter and
the pressure too low for fire protec-
tion, in consequence. Mr.. Mathews,
chief of the Tampa fire department,
expresses it as his opinion that If
the proposed improvements are
made the insurance underwriters
will lower the insurance rates.
There will result net gain to the
city on account of the lowering of
the insurance rates, even if the ev-
penditure causes slight increase in
taxation
Hospital Can Only Be Secured by
Bonding
believe that the third issue
should also be voted upon favorably.
is a city of sufficient i'm !
portance to afford a first class gen.
eral hospital. Erecting a new build
ing is better than remodel]ing the +,
dwelling house now occupying the
site donated for a hospital. Besides,
there is no money available for the
of the building and for
the necessary equipment. Immediate
action is necessary in order that the |
donation may be taken advantage of. /,
The quickest and surest way of get /,
ting q hospital which will be credit |