The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1914-02-10
A PROPITIOUS TIME FOR NUM-
CIPAL IMPROVEMENTS OF ALL
KINDS.


The recent strong improvement in
the market for municipal securities
should be taken advantage of prompt
ly by Southern communities which
are contemplating the issuing of
bonds for public work. A vast amount
OF county city and municipal improve
ments of every kind is needed in the
South, for which bonds must be is
sued. At the present time there is a
better market for such securities, and
coincident with this ability to get
money there is a surplus of labor
available, and manufactures of ma
chinery and equipment are in a posi-
ton to fill orders to better advantage
than would be possible if all business
interests were active. The condition
therefore, is exceptionally favorable
for the prosecution of public work.
Throughout all parts of the South
and Southwest roads are to be built,
new streets made and old streets i'm
proved, sewerage systems and water
works are to be constructed or enlarg-
ed, and public buildings erected.
While it is desirable and often impor-
tant, that public buildings should be
ornate and in keeping with the life of
the community, it is especially i'm
portant that they should be absolute
ly tireproof. Every courthouse and
every city hall ought to be so we'll
constructed as to make thoroughly
safe public records of all kinds. These
things are important. But the CON
struction of the most modern sewer
age systems, and of water-works to
guarantee an ample supply of pure
water, and the building of good roads
and the paving of streets and alleys
are even more important. These all
take hold Of the essential things-the
health Of the community. There is
no greater economic wastefulness
than that which by reason of false
economy prevents municipalities from
providing pure water, the most sani-
tary sewerage system and Well-paved
streets and alleys, which make pos
sible city cleanliness. Every illness
and every death brought about by
failure to do these things is an econo-
mic loss due to the laundering of in
considering the sorrow and suffering
brought by the illness and the deaths
which better sanitary conditions would
have prevented. The men in any COM
munity who, from narrow and mis-
erly point of view, delay the improve
ments of this kind, which are essen
tial to the health of a community as
well as to its progress, are responsible
| for sickness which other action on
their part might have prevented.
Every growing town and city in The
South needs to improve and keep on
improving every day and every year
| its provisions for sanitation and
health. These include such things as
water-works, sewerage systems and
paved streets. The field is almost
| limitleSs. No wiser investment can be
made by people than the money spent
when it is honestly eXpended,fo the
public works of this kind. These i'm
provements mean material progress,
| they mean better conditions of living
better environment for young and old,
and better health and longer lives for
the people. 1t is especially important
therefore, that the authorities of ev-
cry community in the South should
study the situation in the light of
present conditions when money for
such work is becoming more abundant
and when labor available for it is in
great supply. Moreover, the very do
ing of these things and the employ
ment of labor in works of this kind
would stimulate all business interests
and largely help in bringing about
that general prosperity for which all
are looking and hoping. This is the
South's day Of opportunity for work
of this kind If the authorities of
Southern communities are not alive
to the situation, the people whose in
terests are at stake ought to see that
A. c,,,o