The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-05-19
NuiSances.

1t will be recollected that there was
an item in the Echo week or two ago,
stating that some waste paper had been
found in the street in front of our Office,
and the persons who swept it there were
requested to make better disposition
of their dirt in future. Now this same
stuff was the cause of considerable ex-
element among the neighboring mer-
chants, who proclaimed it a nuisance,
and called for an immediate abatement
of the same. For wonder, protesta-
ion has done some good for once, and we
have since neither seen nor heard of any
cause of complaint in that quarter. Now
as remonstrance has succeeded well in
this case, we will take the liberty of re-
monstrating against few more nuisances
which meet our eyes daily, and respect
fully suggest that " something should
be did" for the amelioration of the
condition of" our streets.
A nuisance, Webster says, is that
which annoys or gives trouble and vexa-
ton that which is offensive or noxious !;
something that produces inconvenience
or damage" In this view there are a
large number of things which might be
properly classed under that head, and
to few of them we would call attention
at present.
We have often spoken of hitching
teams in the path, but as there is nc
perceptible decrease of the inconvenience
we intend to hammer away until some
thing is accomplished The other day
We counted no less than eleven teams
directly in the most frequented path for
pedestrians, within the distance of thirty
rods this was no uncommon occur
rence--and for every one of them the
unlucky wight who was compelled to 90
on foot, was obliged to turn out into the
mud. In dry weather one part of the
road is as good as another to walk in e,
but in rainy and muddy times it is dif-
fcult to get along with dry feet anyway
especially for editors who have to
wear ventilating boots-but when what
dry walking there happens to be is
monopolized by horses and lumber
wagons, we pity the poor foot-pad.
The best--in fact the only sure
remedy for this nuisance is to build side
walks and make it fine to hitch team
upon them. The only way to bring
some folks manners into action is to
affect their pockets. Side walks are
needed. OF this there is but one
opinion, and as the Town Council are
beginning to think of improving the
highways, there is some reason to hope
that the want of sidewalks, which is
so much subject of remark by stran-
gers, will demand share of their atten.
ton.
While we are upon this subject, we
would suggest that our narrow, crooked
streets are made much more so by way
many persons have of either extending
their buildings into the street or placing
them close upon the line and then build
ing a door-yard in front. This gives &
very picturesque look to our village, bu,
the beauty and convenience of the prac.
tice are not very highly appreciated by
the masses.
Another nuisance demanding notice,
is the almost innumerable number OF
dogs which infest out streets day and
night, filling the air with " discords
; doleful din," and making night hideou,
= with their bowling. 1t is impossible t,
|, 90 amiss of them in the streets, SOM
representative of the canine race i
! always to be seen, from the large New
Foundland 10 the veriest cur that bark
lat your heels, 1t is fair estimate tina