Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-03-23
KIDDING DEMING CITIZENS

Our esteemed contemporary says that
paving is impossible under the present
conditions. Just what he means by
present conditions" he goes on to ex-
plain as follows:
"There Is not piece Of material or
labor that goes into making paving
that has not increased in price from oo
10 100 per cent over what II was three
years ago. The lowest bid on rein
forced concrete paving, made last week
AT Gallup, n. NJ, was S4.51 a square
ward and $1.54 lineal foot for curb
and cutters, on n contract for laying
10000 cubic yards Two years ago the
same work could have been contracted
for at SIS square yard, difference
Of S2.66 square yard.
IF it can be done and the property
owners desire TO pave, there are other
things to be considered and attended
TO before the paving could be laid.
The question as TO whether the water
mains in the business section OF the
city are to be left as they are, or who
Is to he responsible In later years
when the paving will have TO be torn
asunder To relay the water mains, that
are declared TO be too small even for
the present needs OF the city, is some
thing 10 be considered
All of which is true as gospel, but
absolutely no more reason why we
should not pave than that we should
quit eating because flour and bacon
have advanced from 30 TO 100 per cent
or that we should go naked because
"hand-me-down" suit that formerly
cost $50 now costs easily 100 per cent
more than il did three or four years
ago. The figures quoted certainly didn't
prevent Gallup from paving.
The reactionaries of Deming all ar
que just in the same fashion; not a
living soul but admits that Deming
ought to be paved, but all OF them
want TO put 1t off. When the camp
was here they argued that the traffic
on the streets was too heavy; heaven
knows it was not too heavy when the
camp departed. When the Graphic
preached the subject after the camp
had gone the property holders, most OF
them. argued that they did not have
the money. As matter OF fact you
can't, right now, get some OF these
fellows to admit that they made any
money ON the frightfully high rents
which were charged during the sojourn
of the soldiers. However. the renters
paid the unreasonable rents as a re-
ward for helping boost for the camp.
What became Of the money? Ii wasn't
all spent ON Liberty bonds.
As matter OF fact 1t doesn't matter
nj all whether or not they have the
money paid to them. We know they
got il and that the property made It.
Paving or any other public improve
ment is paid for by capital earned by
property which thus acquires n value
based on its possible future earnings
in any case paving would not be paid
for out OF present earnings. The prop
erty holders of the reactionary type are
just waiting for another boom when
they can easily make the renters pay
for paving. But will the renters like
It? Now is the time to make those who
have earned big rents spend a part Of
IL In paving The Graphic has con-
tended all along that the property Is
good for It and that anyone who tries
10 buy a business location will quickly
find out the fact.
To ask whether the old and made
quate mains under the business streets
should be replaced by larger and more
permanent ones is like asking whether
or not man should put foundation
under his house before the raises the
slperstructure. OF course the mains
must be replaced, whether or not the
streets are paved. They are leaky and
they are so small that the insurance
underwriters charge Deming n higher
rate Of insurance than would otherwise
be charged. We have outgrown them.
Anyway the bond issue which Is TO be
voted on next month viii settle the
matter. Almost half OF the 100000
water bonds is for betterments. But
the same old crowd is out trying TO
tell the city that IL can't afford II,
when they know that the present water
company is making more than $4,000
net year on their investment and is
drawing almost enough money from
the taxpayers for public water rents
20 carry the interest. Yet Deming
cries over the pitiful debts incurred in
the past With public water works
the entire city debt could be wiped off
the Sat. ln nl.a wear. hsszlsses giving