The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-05-18

EIllIOi ia W son -NN '''' 49, -
said to be 1.-TWO sides" to all ques-
tions. Certainly is this true when we
are as tax payers called upon to bear
the expense Of any public project,
We are all accustomed to coming to
our fixed decisions when we have
been given both sides for considera-
ton. This is as it should be. There
should be no jumping at conclu-
sions." Let's have a reason for the
faith which is in us. The city coun-
Gil. as will be seen by an examination
of the advertising columns OF Inc
News. is asking the voters OF DaW-
son to allow an issue of not less than
$4,000 of additional bonds Tor the
DurpOse Of increasing the hreh9htmS
possibilities of the town and for the
further purpose of extending Jhe
city's water mains. Your council mas
not asked this privilege without hrst
considering the matter from every
angle. and without having investigat-
ed the reasons which have lmpeIled
il to make this request at time
when every one is crying hard
times" and demanding smaller taxa
ton. Now, let's consider some OF the
reasons which have brought your city
fathers to the conclusion reached.
There have been constructed within
the city limits during the last 20
years which have elapsed since the
building of the present waterWorks
scores of residences and many thou-
sands of dollars worth of property In
districts beyond the reach Of the pres
ent water mains and consequent tlre
protection. There was in the earlier
history of this great country a GER
tain great revolutionary war which
had it's origin in taxation without
representation. The cause of our
forefathers in that memorable strug-
gle was great, but not more so, eX-
cept in the extent of country inVolV-
ed, than is a situation which now
confronts Dawson. Here we have
many property holders who are being
taxed to pay the expense of the city's
various departments, especially of the
fire and water departments, but who
are without fire protection or water
supply. Is this a just situation? Is
it Just to force tax payer who lives
just a little beyond, it may be, the
terminus of the water main to either
do without the conven'ences and pro-
lection of the City's WaterWorks or
go to the individual expense OF eX-
tending those things to himself" VINO
would like to admit that our town
has stood still for a quarter of cent
ury and has not built up sufficiently
thickly in outlying districts to au-
thOrize the extension of these things
at the hands of the entire body poll
tic? There are several districts which
have needed and should have had
these things long since. AS a matter
of course only districts which have
become fairly thickly settled or which
have every reason to expect soon to
become we'll populated can expect an
extention yet of the advantages un-
der consideration. Prepare for war
in time Of peace" is an adage which
may we'll be perverted into prepare
for fire before it comes" Fire is just
as apt to come to him first who is
contemplating opposition to every
move here intended for the protection
and good of the town as to him who
is urging this progressive step with
all the ardor which is in him. What
will that fire mean? 1t comes like
a thief in the night" or, maybe, while
you enjoy your monday meal. 1t
may come, as it often has, to your
neighbors whose property is now
without the protection yours are en-
joying. Can you bring your con-
science to believing that such situa-
ton is fair, is making of you a fol
lower Of the Golden Rule? You say,
Eyes, l believe we should extend the
water mains, but haven't we plenty
of fire apparatus? Have We not fire
horses, fire trucks, both motor and
horse-drawn, and fire engine; why
ask for mCre?" Yes, we have all
these. Almost all these we had SO
years ago. Do you believe that now
when we have well on towards 5000
people within the. corporate limits
many larger and more pretentious
homes recurring more water and
greater effort to eXtinguish fires