Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-06-05
borough Affairs.

thought unnecessary ana cxtfdrdguU CdSs oI
he peoples naoaey.-MANY-Lew May 20, 1857
ES-A meeting is called u. Ammons Hail. thisevening,
taxpayers of LewisburI opposed to the destruction q
prre property and rd, c Puolic money lHrolred IA
I taia so called "improremsnts"
The above are copies of a posted bill, and
of notice in the last Chronicle, which brought
together large crowd at the time and place
appointed. JAMES KELLY was appointed
Chairman. The following preamble and res
oluiions were offered by o. N. Worden:
Whereas, the beauty and prosperity of our
Borough is and should be matter of interest
to all lis citizens and whereas there has been
: In force for some years past a system of gra-
ding streets which has elected much contro-
yerSy and displeasure, and seems now to
threaten our peace as well as 10 impose here
I after, unnecessary burdens; therefore We, Cit
lzenS of Lewisburg, in Town Meeting assem-.
/ bled, do
( ResOire, That the cutting down Of ordinary
/ elevations in the profile of a street-where il
I leaves houses high in air, inconvenient, and
unSIghty, and makes deep gorges, or where
low places are filled up, burying houses and
| gardens so that proper drainage is costly or
impossible-iS destructive alike to The beauty,
healthfulness, and progress of the town.
! Resoired, That the imposition of expenses
#
up, after improvements have been built on
established grades in good faith, trees planted,
and sidewalks constructed, at great expense,
IS an outrage on private rights that may be
resisted by injured property holders 10 the ex-
tremtv of the law.
ResUircd, That common sense and common
interest dictate that our Council should ex-
pend such sums as may be deemed right and
not oppressive 10 tire taxpayers, annually, in
making convenient, by graveling and other
wise improving, the streets in common use
and not leave those in bad condition while
less travelled portions of the Borough are con-
Suming our revenues.
ResOired, That in strict justice property
has a right 10 be represented on all questions
of domestic expenditure, and as there are ma
ny widows and other property holders in this
Borough not voters, who pay taxes, but are
not usually conSulted,w protest against taxing
them without their assent
Resoired, That we are opposed to being tax
ed for opening any streets IN this Borough in
anv direction merely TO advance the pecuniary
interests OF any individuals.
Resoired, That we request the Council to
reScind all action made for altering North
Second street, which was improved at heavy
expense less than year ago. and that we pro-
test against any further cutting down ofSouth
Second street.
RssOired, That the attempt TO make and i'm
prove third opening from the south into
South Third street, is unnecessary, and if car
ricd on must result in a squandering of the
public money upon third Bridge.
ReSoired, Tha, the refusal of Council to
throw bridge over Browns millrace so as to
open the University avenue, and their neglect
TO improve said Avenue, do not manifest a de-
sire for the good of the public.
Rssolred, That any person desiring 10 i'm
prove lot, and applying for the grade of its
street or sidewalk, should have il given him,
and any alteration OF the same after being i'm
proved should be a: the expense of the Boro'.
and any damage caused by such alteration
should be paid by special tax, levied 10 pay
such damages, and not from the general fund.
Resoiued That sidewalks should be proper
toned uniformly to the width of streets, and
that ten feet on each side Of fifty feet stree,
Market 10 the Court House, Where me slsaIel
travel may demand more room. Lots not
built upon, four feet pavements. We there
fore ask the Council to repeal the regulation
fixing eleven feet as the width of pavemen:s
on North Second street, and establish the
same at ten feet as prayed for by the great
majority of its property holders.
Resoired, That in view of the existing Court
House, University and Church debts resting
upon our citizens-many of whom have con
tribuied literally and 10 the utmost extent of
their ability TO all public improvements-we
advise our Council to abstain from any further
heavy expenditures until all such indebted
ness is discharged.
Resoired, That committee Of be ap-
pointed TO circulate these resolutions among
H. hi Nd oft Ror-
oush, and 10 lay the same, with all the sigma
tures appended, before the Burgess ard
Council.
The question then arose whether the meet
ing was for those on both sides of the ques-
tions involved, or for one side only. Some
con,ended that the Handbill invited all Of ev
cry shade of opinion. We had told the gen.
,leman who wrote and had the bill printed,
that II was not so specific as to avoid possi-
bic understanding; still, we believed the
portions of the Handbill we have put in itai-
ics {as well as the notice. clearly indicated
that the meeting was for expressing the
views" of those who thought the so-called
improvements" were unnecessary, and an
extravagant expenditure Of the peoples mo-
ney." Those who called it, however, agreed
to waive any advantage of the kind, and
avowed themselves for " free fight" in
which we chose 10 be counted out long,
acrimonious, rambling Misunderstanding to
New York, Philadelphia, and Allentown-fol
lowed. Col. Slifer offered an amendment to
the first resolution, to the effect that We
have entire confidence in our Town Council, !
and recommend them to practice a wise and
economical expenditure of the borough funds"
A vote was taken on this "amendment,' when
about a quarter of the crowd said" Yes" and
ano,he- quarter No"-probably not half of
those present voting either way. The Chair
man though, the Yeas had ii, but the Nays de-
manded division OF the house, which the
Yeas batiled Off and lin some confusion) the
meeting was declared adjourned until Monday
evening.
Monday evening, the Hall was pre-occu-
pied, and we are not aware that any meeting
was held-borh parties, we doubt not being
now SATISFIED that Oh such question (where
citizens feel so warmly and decidedly gla-
diatorial combat or "yelling match" is as use
less as to try to mingle oil and water. The
best plan is for each side TO meet, give their
views and argue their cause, in their own
4 II, -