San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-26
A QUESTION.
To The Editor /:

A QUESTION.
To The Editor:
While l do not live in San Anto-
MO, / have resided in her vicinity all
my life, and learned to love her when
only q child; love her yet regardless
Ofthe fact that cheap-johns, grafters
and money-changers have almost taken
her in recent years. l love her for
what she has done in the past and for
what the real citizenship composing
herry stands for if they will stand
up and assert themselves. l have seen
political tricisters and loud-mouthed
demagogues try to upset her, turn
her wrong-side out and upside-down ;
but she has usually continued along
her way and remained the Texas
stronghold for individuality, personal
liberty and human rights. believe
that Notwithstanding the knocks she is
just now receiving atsthe hands of out
siders and q few of her own citi-
zens, she is by far the cleanest, strong
est and best city in Texas and that
she will live down and survive the
smut they are trying to cover her
with, but there is question ], an
outsider, myself, would like to ask.
And there can be no question but that
it is of permanent and far-reaching
Importance to your city, and that ques-
ton is this: What is best to do about
your flood-water troubles?
The valley of the San Antonio river
is the natural outlet for the water
that falls in its confines and water
shed has been so for probably q mil
lion years since this section of the
world last rose above sea-level; and
those people who built houses down
under the banks of the river there in
San Antonio, knew this as well when
they built there as they know it now
but Mr.. Smith, or Mr.. Jones or Mr..
Someone else. thought he saw a chance
to get stand at a good business cen.
ter and in a good front, and that they
would take the risk of floods in the
future in order that they might have
better business stands than would Mr.
Brown and Mr.. Everybody who
built out away from the river and
in less freqnented places.
- So they kept it up till the beautiful
river is all but closed and destroyed
right where your city most needs it
The g-asping, reaching greed Of few
individuals has thus gradually turned
into shops, joints and business places
that a strip of river beauty that should
have been kept in its natural state for
central park and playground for the
city and for the passing millions OF
people. and ut the same time left that
natural outlet for its waters in time
of floods.
If you are building for the future
greatness and safety of your city. open
up that river to width Of one hun
dred, or two hundred yards. make of il
the enhancing beauty-spot of your
wonderful little city, so that all that
pass that way may tell, it to their
grandchildren as the one memory OF
what they saw as they stayed in the
city of the Alamo. at the head of the
beautiful San Antonio river. and as
the years roll by, your city will grow
and prosper, free from the eternal
dread of wall of flood-waters sweep.
ing down upon her as she sleeps. Build
a dam above your town and you estab-
lish a never-ending dread of what
could happen should it go out some
night during n flood. just as such
dams are going out every year in some
place in our country. If you listen to
those fellows who want your money
and the millions that you will leave
for your children and grandchildren to
pay, il you build that dam, while they
are building that dam they are put
ting into the heart and soul of every
man. woman and child,> a lifelong.
sickening, deadly dread of its eternal
90 @hn,- md ltuao Gf
course those people who want your
money will claim that their work Will
be perfect. They all do. But what will
that buy you after the work is done !
Another feature of it is this. Is it
Eight? Is it just? Is it fair; to tax
Mr.. Brown, his children and grand
children, to pay Mr.. Jones, his chill
dren and grandchildren for damage
to them by flood. because they built
down in the river? Is it right, just.
fair, to thus punish the hundreds Of
thousands of people who bought land
and built above highwater mark. sim
ply to protect the fellowNwho risked
the water in order to get the best
business location? Is it right, just. fair
to thus take the money of thousands
of widows and orphans who live above
high-water line, and give it TO the
man who plunged below it to plant his
business? Your city is over-taxed
now; so why add to the burden to
protect the few who have thus dam.
aged the city by building in the river?
If l dam up a stream and turn water
from its natural course and upon you.
you can make me pay you damages
for having done so. Is the city of San
Antonio going to reverse the order and
make the many who have thus beer
damaged, nay me damages when I am
the one who caused it all. by closing
up the river? Make me move out and
let that water go where it should and
will If let alone. and future genera
tions viii rise up. to call you blessed.
Am l right, or am / wrong?
G. l.. PATTERSON.
Floresville, Texas.