Smyrna times., 1858-02-25
Town Meeting.
A Project to Build ToWn HGll-The only
Feasible Plan 10 accomplish tt.

A PROJECT to Build ToWn Hal-The Onl
Feasible Plan 10 accomplish it.
BY handbils stuck up in various parts of tn
town, we see the residents are called on to as
semble in mass meeting at Wards Hall, mex
Friday night, Goth inst., at 81 o'clock, for IN
purpose of nominating seven Commissioners, u
Assessor and Treasurer, for the gOverHmeu
and improvement of the town; and also to as
certain the feeling of the townspeope in refer
ence to erecting building by taxation, arrang
ed IN such manner as that il can be used fol
manifold advantageous purposes. and at the
same time yield handsome revenue, as well AT
prove an essential acquisition aud decided orna
Hent to the tOwn,--an acquisition much need
ed, and an ornament no one, we are quite sure
will object to.
That Town Hall is much needed, no one,
we are confident, will deny. But how 10 con-
struct such hall or public room, and by what
means it shall be done, seems to be a question
all would be glad to solve, but no one individual
'ricaie question, but in truth so simple that to
few it is rendered difficult by lis simplicity
few will advocate the organization of a
stock company for the purpose of erecting a
Town Hall for the public benefit or rather the
benefit of the town. Who ever heard of such
ii thing! Others there are, we believe, who
are mean enough 10 advocate the idea that the
largest property holders should club together
design and erect the building, and ma ke it
present to the town, and the reason given bv
them for advocating such an idea, might be, il
asked, because they can gford it! Logical rea-
soning, very!
Would those gentlemen who advocate a stock
company for the purpose Of erecting public
building Of the kind so much needed, take an
interest in it sufficient to guarantee it's success!
Not bit of it. We happen to know few o!
those organizatiOn-idea, advocates, and unhes-
tatlngly give them the credit Of always oppos-
ing every project brought forward and adyoca.
ted by the masses for the general good They
will do nothing that the general public may Ee
benefited by. They never think of the pubic
IN fact, except when few deserving and Phil
anthroplc spirits start project by which the
public may derive some little advantage, ard
only then TO create an opposition to defeat the
pralseworhy and mucE-needcd Improvement
They may say, we are in favor ola Town Hall
but object to being taxed for it, while at same
time will extend no material aid in any other
shape. Do these few non progressive gentle.
men voluntarily pay their school tax, county
tax, poll tax or town tax! Do they not object
to them. one and all land would they payanv
one tax we have named if not ompelled TO do
SO We unhesitatlngly Say they would not
Is there Town Hall anywhere, we would ask,
built by subscription ! Are they not all bui
)y taxation! We rather think they are,-aud
N most instances produce a handsome revenue
whereby the taxes Of the town may b. materi-
ally decreased instead Of increased. o, that
IS an idea we had not thought Of say few
*uIIdlng Town Hall whereby our town NAV
De materially improved without increasing the
axes. We go in Tor it heart aud hand; but
Iow is IT to be done Why, let every reslden,
If the town meet en- mGsSe Friday night, at
he time and place dCsgr atcd in the posters, |
lnd then and there declare unanimously in favor
Of the Town Hall, then nominate by ballot or
otherwise seven energetic and coed, PROMPT
business men for commissioners, who shall be /
thoroughly competent in every respect to dis |
charge their duties faithfully and promptly to
he public. Then, at the next session Of our
Legislature, an act may be passed empowering
these same commissioners TO negotiate loan,
purchase a site, adopt plan, and in short to
make all necessary contracts and arrangements
or the construction Of just such building as
he demands and necessities of the town NAV
require.
We have thought of no definite plan or site
Tor s1ch building, but would throw few of
our IDEAS together for general consideration
As 10 site, we would suggest The property
owned by the Society of Friends, now occupied
as lumber yard. 1t is, we understand, for
sale, and perhaps could be had at fair price. |
The building brick, of course, and full three
stories in height, with handsome steepls. in
which bell and clock might be so arranged n.
10 denote the time by day or night, and in case
u PnoNc meeting or tire, the same bell I
might be toAed, calling the meeting together
DR. giving the alarm of fire. The first floor OF
the main building might be arranged for stores
Or other business purpose, the second for pub
lie hall, room adjoining for the town commits.
sloners to transact their business, and the third
floor could be fitted up for various purposes, or
the building might be SO arranged as TO CON-
blne market stalls and jail
We know majority of the largest property.
holders in town have expressed themselves de.
cldedly in favor of such building, and are
anxious to have it erected, as it would not only
tend to lessen their taxes eventually but en-,
nance the value of town-property generally,
TO say nothing of the many ether advantages j,
will confer to the town. We hope the Young