San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
Residents Against Tax
Raise Years Ago Own
Valuable Property Now.
CITY NEEDS MONEY
Coming Bond Issue Not to
Be Feared-Would Be
Asset Says Dickinson.
BY II. f. DICKINSON,
RealtOr.

tax from Inc CITY TAX, pdNtS NV "A'
for the coming bond issue. We VIII
saw for the people opposed to the tax
separation and bond issue. that they
are honest in theii convictions but
short-sighted and mistaken in cCn-
sidering their city's welfare.
Let us take a peep into the future
but first let US go back into the past
and see from different point OF
view, whether or not taxation Is
~bugaboo' TO be afraid of or
benefiting necessity which brings
blessings and paves the way to prog
ress and prosperity.
We remember the quaint old town
of twenty years ago. a beautiful his
torical, romantic city with a glorl-
fled past. No automobiles, no street
paving. no curbs or sidewalks but
only old time residences and quaint
adobe buildings were on Houston
street. When the residential sections
built up within one block of Houston
and Commerce streets, the parks were
the beautiful plaZas, the river was
as often dry as it was full of water,
people went home at noon to their
dinners and siestas. the afternoon
saw regular evening shopping parades
on Alamo Plaza and Houston
street to Navarro street from 1
o'clock to Z o'clock. San Antonio
was a wonderful old town. Taxes
were low and property values were
low with slow moving market.
Want Modern City.
On account of the quaint atmos-
phere of the town, people were drawn
to San Antonio for the winter months
to battle in the sunshine and enjoy
a lazy, indolent winter vacation. Dur
ing this period there was an estimat-
ed floating population of $4,000 peo-
pie coming to San Antonio during
the winter months. The desire TO live
in this beautiful Spanish-American
city, brought an increasing population
. which made a demand for modern
improvements and in spite of the
protest of old residents and people
who had spent their lives here, the
vision of modern city with histori-
cal romantic atmosphere took hold of
tAC PCOQlC anu al luCos VI lnC BdcN
were swept aside for the modern
progressive ideas.
Wealth From Increased Taxes.
Under Clinton Browns admins
tration, the bond issue of S3,j00,000
was voted for the purpose of paving
the city and this was the beginning
of wonderful changes which are still
only in their infancy. The opposing
cry of increased taxes was raised at
that time, this old "scare" being used
TO put fear in the hearts of property
owners, which has since been forgot
ten. The money spent in paving the
city's streets has increased property
values since that time and the old
property owners who We're afraid of
taxes have been made wealthy by in
creasing values.
/ do not believe any property own
er in San Antonio will honestly say
that he would prefer the old San An
tonic TO the new and go back to low
property values and low taxes. Peo-
pie want to live in modern cities. but
to build a modern city does not mean
the destruction of old historical land
marks and the removal of quaint,
romantic atmosphere. These things
can be perpetuated with improved set
tings and their influences maintained.
"A live progressive city provides oc-
cupatlon for its people: business con-
ditions are always good and continued
changes in a progressive city stimu-
late business and keep alive the hopes
and ambitions Of its citizenship. To
have progressive city. the city must
spend money on Identification, sani-
tatlon, drainage, paved streets, boule-
wards and highways. 1t must also
spend money in lighting streets. Pub
lie service extensions should reach
out into every corner to serve the peo-
pie. The city must be well regulated
and safeguarded and it takes money
for these things. No city can meet
Its permanent improvement expenses
out OF its general fund. The general
fund raised through taxation should
maintain the citys expenses and pay
off its Indebtedness. The permanent
improvements of a city through bond
issues should reduce the necessity of A
large general fund and if the general
fund is duced the tax rate can be
reduced
Bond Issues Bring Profits.
A city's bond issue carries the same
relationship as increased capital to
business; the money spent adds to
the assets. To raise $6OOO.OOO by
bond issue means that much more
assets 10 the city in permanent i'm
provements and as business expansion
brings increased business with city
betterment and improvements bring
profit. 10 the TAX payers by increas-
ing the value of their real estate
holdings. The property owners of a
city are the real stock holders of
that incorporation and an increasing
business must be provided with in
creasing capital or il will stand still
and subsequently go dead.
III the coming bond issue is made
for S6,O00,O00 this amount of money
spent will stimulate business and pro.
vide work for the people. San An
tonic will add this much more 10 It's
prosperity and go forward this win.
ter by leaps and bounds. A bono
issue covering a long period of years
Will not be burden upon any prop
erty owners, as the turnover OF prop
erty will occur many times before
the bond issue natures. The small
amount Of increased taxation to cover
Che bond issue will not be felt by any
sne. San Antonio has a lower tar
rate and a lower realty valuation
than many cities of her class anC
there is nothing to fear in a bond is
kue.