St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-04-22
Market for Municipal Bonds
Has Improved Materially
In Past Sixty Days.
PRESENT CONDITIONS
ARE UNBEATABLE
Without Modern Sanitation
Investment In Public
Roads Will Be Lost
CoV1ngton, La, April 21, 1922.

| Editor St. Tammany Farmer:
| through your columns l wish tt
address few thoughts to the people
OF CoVlnSton concerning the ap
proachlrs election for waterwork:
ana sewerage. l was opposed to tns
calilng OF an election at this time
Tor this purpose, not that | was on.
posed to these badly needed i'm
provements, but l thought it best tC
de1er the election to a later date
When possibly conditions would be
more favorable. One of my objec-
tons to call ng the election at this
time has already been removed
During the last sixty days the mark
ct for municipal bonds has improved
very materially and at the present
time, without further improvement,
the bonds probably could be sold al
a satisfactory price. Now that the
election has been called, 1 think the
people OF Covlngton would be very
unWse not to see that it carries.
The failure to carry this election
would cost the citizens of the town
a great deal more than they could
possibly save by postponement. A
defeat would mean that it would be
good many years before the ques-
tlon would De brought up again and
meanwhile our town would be fall
ing behind the other towns in the
Ozone Belt.
Cvv4ngton is essentially "a health
resort. There are some who think
1t Injuries the town to speak of it as
4 health resort, but the fact remains
just The same its fame is builded
on its reputation as such. This be-
ing true, makes it all the more nee
essary that Covington should have
sanitary and modern condlt. ons un-
der which its people can live. If
people can not md these conditions
III Covington they are going to live
where rney can DE found. The aver
age American is an independent be-
ing and he is gong to live where
conditions best suit him. 1t is up
to us to make the conditions in our
community meet the requirements of
the present day, which most certain
ly include an ample supply of water
and sewerage. The present condi-
tons are absolutely unbearable.
There are days when not enough
water passes through the pipes run
ming into our bank building to wet
d tooth brush. And yet ours is an
office bui. ding occupied by profess
sional and business men, including
and dentists. Other
places suHer in a like manner. The
tenants are held only by the knoWl-
edge ti1aG 1t is a common complaint.
When | lived in town and before l
bad my own supply of water, we
frequently had to resort to the pump
to wash our faces and hands, though
we had pipes to carry water all over
the house. Living conditions Of this
kind viii not attract and hold new
people. They don't have to live un-
der them and wont live under them,
Without modern, sanitary cOnven-
fences, Covington will fail to cash
in on our investment in roads. With
the roads we already have, which
cost something like d million and a
half dollars, plus 1.-The connections
soon to be had with the city of New
Orleans, there should be thousands
Of city people seeking homes in the
pine woods. When these outlets are
everything being equal,
believe Covington would attract
these people more than the other
towns But we cannot hope to at
tract them if we do not supply the
proper living conditions. They like
rs and our community, but they do
not like us well enough to sacrifice
heir comforts and health for us.
To the taxpayer living beyond the
area that will be reached by water
works and sewerage, | would say
hat it is also to their interests to
see that this election is carried.
What will build up the town will in
crease the value of their property.
The value of outlying property is
argely fixed by the values in the
business or closer-in sections. |
lon't suppose there has ever been
own or city which could give all OF
is property owners these improve
nents Just at the start, and 1t is
narrow policy to oppose an essential
because 1t does no'
each your property at hrst. IN
ime, these improvements should be
extended so as to reach all those
Who want them. You cannot I'M
prove Your neighbours condition with
,ut improving your own.
Mr.. Editor, l sincerely hope the
GOOD people of Covington, even tho
hey are already paying heavy taxes
will rally tn the support of the ap-
,roach,ng election and make II pos
;ible for us to invite outsiders 70
,ome to live in our midst.
E. G. DAVIS.