Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-01-13
To the liberal and public spirited # the tose"
of .Mmtnsb,gg AID county Of Berkeley.

ana population 10 DC ioono any "heIe, ~uich
can boast fewer handsome, nay even respec-
table Public Buildings, than the ancient and
venerable town Of Martinsburg. OurCsurt
House, which might be made an ornament
10 the town, is permitted to remain a stand
ing monument Of its antiquity, exhibiting lit
lie of the improvement, which more tban
half century ought to have gathered around
it. Our Jail, Clerks Office, and Market
House would be disgrace to any berou.h
out of the limits Of Virginia. We have ne
public Town Hall for the Vulnerable occa-
sions, upon which such structure would be
desirable--we have none Of the common con
venience of Hydrants, Bath Houses, &c and
our Churches are small and rudely censtruc-
ted. An air Of ruin and decay, alike charac-
teristlc OF our public and private ediGces,
seems to pervade the whole village, diffuslns
al alarm among such capitalists of our own
place, as might otherwise feel disposed to IN
vest their money in buildns-and presenting
an insuperahle obstacle to foreign capitalists
to bringthcr wealth amongst us.
1t is time that those who are alive to the
prosperity Of this place, shsuld be aroused.
Our neighhourins villages are on the march
of Improvement-The race of competition
has begun, and unless with matricidal in
gratitude we are disposed to see this old and
venerable mother Of tae Valley, realise the
pathetic story of the deserted Yliags." we
should awake from the torpid inactivity, in
which we have dosed for near half a century.
1t is true, (and speak Of it with pride,) We
have recently had enc honorable exception TO
the general csnsure ef the above remarks
allude to the Lutheran Church lately erected
in this place That buidIns is an honor to
the town, and it is highly crcditablc to the
enterprise and public spirit of the individuals
Il, 4 "A Il Il
much. we'll directed efforts, perseverin Civ
employed, can accomplish.
Few persons who have not given their at
tention to the subject, can forsa an adequate
idea of the extensively beneficial and awak-
-enlng influences which handsome public edi-
hoes have upon the prosperity OF a town.
Take almost any given instance except those
Andeed, which have sprung up from some ad-
ventitious commercial locality, and you will
find that the first impulse given to the career
Of Improvement, has been caused by the e.
rectiSn of sone admired Public Building.
I'he advantages are mufilarious.
lst. Their construction employs variety
Of hands, and gives partial spur to the in
dustry OF the place. The Carpenter, the
Joiner, the Timer, the Brick maker, the
Brick, layer, the Stone-mason, Blacksmith,
Labeurer aud Farmer, all derive an adyan
tage from the work.
1t is fact some what paradoxical-an yet
nevertheless true as the experience Of every
intelligent traveller will have taught him, that
OF tive towns of equal advantages as TO stu
alton, &c. that will flourish most which is
most highly taxed, provided the amount thus
levied by taxation is judiciously expended "a
mong the tax payers in useful and judicious
improvements. There never vet was an in
stance TO the contrary. 1t is the rapid cireu-
latiCn of money among community, whe-
ther produced by taxation or commerce, that
gives life and activity to business, and im-
parts yigour and energy to trade.
Cd. When constructed, Public Build
ings are so much wealth added to the town
wealth not s,snepolised by single Individual
but free for all, who NAV become residents of
our town to them and their posterity forever
Sd They give INCREASED value 10 the town
property III their immediate vicinity conse
squently thereby further encrease the aggro-
gate capital Of the town, and thus remotely
Giffuse their beneficial results over the whole
community.
4th. Good Public Buildings give an ap-
pearance OF wealth and comfort to a village:
and the Importance of this consideration will
no, be denied by those who know the motives
and feelings by which men are influenced in
selecting place Of residence. For whether
1t be useful and enterprising mechanic who
is about to settle aBongst us, or a man Of
fortune to difuse the benefit Of his previous
ly acquired wealth, they will be greatly in
fuence1 by the promises Of comfort and en-
jaynent which the external appearance of
the place presents.
9th. Example is always contagious. and
more SO perhaps in the improvement Of pro-
perry than in any thing else. If my neigh
bour builds handsome OF comfortable house,
Mr. ambition is excited, and want one too,
End SO If the public erect one or two hand
some edifces, private individuals will most
generally fellow the example. This spirit
Communicates itself to others, and thus the
,sareer of Improvement is begun.
9th There is another consideration which
should not be lost sight Of in place as old
as this, and where the spirit OF speculation
has not been very high Of late. Men are wa
nv and cautious in the investment of their
capital in buildings. They want some assu-
rance that the money thus invested, will not
be sunk. Now nothing can tend to imnart
greater confidence to an individual than to
see the public engaged in erecting solid and
permanent Improvements. They are the
surest guarantee to him Of the sec urity of his
-swn Investments,
have been induced to call the public at
tentisn to the above considerations. in con
sequence Of proposition which understand