Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1897 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 [ADVERTISEMENT]

Is Mr. Bryan going to sit quietly by and perhaps allow the statesmen of Mexico, through the direction of the London ‘‘gold power,” to commit another crime? After a series of regular Democratic rows, the Pennsylvania Democratic Convention endorsed the Chicago free-silver platform, cheered wildly for Bryan, nominated a ticket, and then adjourned. What fools these mortals be. Four hundred and fifty thousand British guineas from Australia have been received in San Francisco, in payment for exportations of American wheat. This is another case where the Western farmer is being tramped upon by the gold ppwer of Great Britain, “Blessed is the country whose soldiers fight for it and are willing to give the best they have, the best that any man has, their own lives, to preserve it, because they love it. Such an army the United States has always commanded in all her history.”—President McKinley at Buffalo. It seems as though everything had turned against the calamity shriekers, whether of the free-sil-ver or free-trade type. Their latest misfortune comes in the way of a recent announcement showing the individual deposits in the national banks of the country to be the largest on record.

The Republican can not give credit to the rumor that our city council is about to rush through a waterworks contract without having taken proper measures to secure it at the lowest available prices.' People who are circulating this report, say that some of our councilmen take the view that we must pay some $5,000 or $6,000 more than a plant is worth, including a reasonable profit for putting it in, because our security is not “gilt edged.” It is incredible that any of our city officials can seriously think of acting upon any such assumption as this. Our city IS “gilt edged” security’ and there is no reason on earth why we should pay more for a waterworks plant than it is worth. The town of Remington, with not more than one quarter the assessed wealth of Rensselaer, and in proportion much more deeply in debt, was able to buy a $11,200 waterworks system without paying anything extra for lack of “gilt edged” security, and so can Rensselaer. The Remington town board went to work in a business like way and found out just what they wanted in the line of waterworks. Then had their plans and specifications prepared, and then, still in a business like way, they advertised for bids and got the work done at a fair price. If Remington with a quarter million assessment could get an SII,OOO plant without extra profits for “gilt edged” security, then surely Rensselaer, with over a million assessment can get a $20,000 or $25,000 plant, also, without extra profits on account of security. And all that is needed to secure such a plant, without such improper profits is to have the proper plans and specifications made and then thoroughly advertise the work and let it to the lowest responsible bidder.

Bay Lime, Hair, Plaster Paris Mad, gravel and cement side walks of Rinehart. —wtf,—