Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-11-07
Have We a Village Government.

Mr.. EDITOR ALLOW me, through the me-
dium OF your excellent paper, to ask the above
question, giving the reasons why do SO.
Our village has population numbering about
two thousand. Its citizens are equal in point
of intelligence, cultivation and wealth to any
town of its size on the Western Reserve. Our
people are Industrious aud enterprsing, and
nothing is more pleasing to them than to hear
their town well spoken of by the citizens Of
other towns who may happen among them for
business or other purposes.
A well regulated town manifests itself in the
appearance OF the public grounds, buildings
walks, &c. Citizens may do ever so much 10
the cultivation and improvement of their private
grounds and residences, yet if the public inter-
ests are not properly attended to by those in
whose hands the people put their trusts the
reputation of our village will necessarily suffer.
We are, to great extent, initiative creatures.
We follow, more or less in the footsteps OF
| those to whom we look as leaders iu matters OF
taste, refinement and cultivation. Wherever
you find town that possesses no correct stand
ard OF taste, as manifested in the cultivation of
its public property you will fnd au undevel.
oped condition OF society, selfish aud grasping
men, with perhaps here aud there an exception.
This rule may seem to be severe and not true,
to many OF the readers of your paper, but if
they will look moment at the very nature Of
my proposition, they will see at opce that al
true refinement within and possessed by cult
waited aud we'll bred people, will find an out
ward expression. They will fud it 10 the mar
illness and upightness of the men, and in the
lady-like department, refoed manners aud well
dressed persons Of the women. This rule, as
applied TO individuals, applies with equal forcs
to all communities of people. A we'll regulated
and cultivated community or town will 6ud it
expression and development 10 the appearance
of its public buildings, walks aud parks.
l did not design in the commencement oil
this article, entering into this subject by refer
| ing to the principles that lie at the foundato
OF the tastes aud habits of people, but rather %
ook at the present condition of our own, and
ought TO be, beautiful village.
The law makes ample provisions for the or.
gauization aud government of our village. Ii
gives to those in Office all needed powers to reg
ulate aud control the public conduct of the
citizen, foibidding his trespassiug upon the
rights of the public. II gives them power to
compel q citizen TO abate a nuisance on hi,
premises, that exists to the injury Of the public
health. Also to improve the public grounds
streets and walks of our village
Iu view of the above facts. wish to ask you
again. whether we have Village Government
Look at our public parks. They have becom,
common pasture grounds for horses and catt'
that run at large through our streets and int
ouI gardens. il we are so unfortunate as Il
leave our gates unlatched through the night
ask you to look again at the walks along ou
streets, and see the condition they are 10. Ash
of the ladies of our village their opinion of thes
walks--ask the stranger who enters our tow
in the hours of night, and attempts to walk NJ
from the depot, aud get his opinion of the enter
prise aud energy of our people. 1t is too plai
for comment, what his opinion will be. 1t is
disgrace to any people to have their public in
terest attended to 10 the shiftless manner i
which ours have been for the past eightee
months.
have no personal feelings agains. any on
whost duty il is to attend to the public in,eres