Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-24
Correspondence Ohio statssman.l

EDITOR ONO STATESMAN The citizens
of Columbus generally were no doubt sur
Iprised and mortified to read the card OF
Mr.. McClelland, stating that he had s.been
compelled to stop the work of laying the
Nicolson pavement on High street" for the
reason that he is ''unable to prosecute the
work further for the wantof funds" 1t is
certainly not very creditable to the citizens
OF columbus that this state of things should
exist; although it is we'll known that tn,
great body of those on High street inter
ested have paid their assessments, yet
very few men, disposed to be contrary and
give trouble, will reflect Giscredit on the
city. 1t is notorious fact that the chief
citizens in this movement are among ou,
most wealthy citizens, and men, too, who
have grown wealthy by the rapid increase
In the value of property, and most able t(
pay. The example set by these mel
gives reasonable grounds for others not
so able to pay, to refuse, and of courseHl
must be expected they will avail them
selves of the excuse.
It IS not to be supposed that the City
Council could ever agree upon any
kind of street that would sui
every property holder. If they had
adopted the Boulder, Belgian, Russ
or any other pavement, some persons
would have objected, and refused to pa,
for the Improvement. 1t was UNIVERSAL
y NOhNOuSo ehoO A1iSu oblCCG WAS d us
grace To the city, and must be improved, il
it was intended that the people should ust
it. No citizen denied this. In thisview
of the case, the City Council, after exam.
ming the streets of other cities, and OBJ
tanning all the information they could, de-
rermined they would put down the Nicol-
sou pavement, as being the very best thing
they could do; and in this, it is nolo con-
ceded, they acted wisely, as almost every
citizen Is satisfied and approves the act.
MIR. McClelland came here and bid fairly
tor the work; iG was awarded to him by
those having authority under the law to do
so; he has faithfully and vigorously prose-
cuted the work, and done it well, SO much
so that 1t is matter of general commen-
dation. Now if Mr.. McClelland, or any
other gentleman, had contracted to lay any
other pavement, these gentlemen could,
and most probably would have refused to
pay for il, and the contractor would be
compelled to stop the work or furnish all
the money to build it, and improve these
gentlemen's valuable property, on which
they are receiving large rents, without any
expense to them, or be compelled to 60 to
law with every person who was disposed
to refuse payment. If these facts were
known before the work was commenced,
the result would be that High street never
would be improved, while on other streets
the owners of property, would by summary
process, be compelled to pay for the i'm
provement of the streets, as ordered by the
Council.
am not posted as to the particular quib-
bes these gentlemen get up to avoid or de-
lay the payment; but certain it is, they
will, in the end, be compelled to pay, or
else the citizens of other streets have long
submitted to like payments for street i'm
provements illegally. No citizen knows
better than the gentlemen who refuse to-
pay their assessments. that, unless they, on
account of their wealth are made eXcep-
tions, they will be compelled to pay for
this Improvement, if at the end of law
suit. Then is it fair? is it honorable in
them, to factiously refuse to pay, as the
great body of the citizens have, for this
work, and compel the contractor to fur
nish the money to improve their property,
for which they receive the benefit, the
cost of which will in less than two years be
repaid by increased rents on their business
houses? Will the citizens of the Capital of
Ohio allow the fair fame of this city to be
furnished by this act of reputation, by a
few men of whom better things might be
tf-,r
Mr.. McClelland informs us that he is
carrying debt of $4,000, incurred under
a contract with the authorities of Column
bus, to improve our principal street. He,
so far, it is admitted on all hands, has faith
fully reformed his part, and is ready and
anxious to complete it to the satisfaction of
all concerned, and in the time specified in
the contract, but the citizens "a feao.) whose
is improved by his labor and
money, repudiate their part, and exhibit a
to accept the benefits of the
Improvement without paying for it. The
question arises, will those who are inter-
ested in this matter stand quietly and qn-
concernedly by and see this work stopped,
and the contractor compelled to carry this
debt, contracted by him for the benefit of
the property holders of the wealthiest
street in the capital of the State. 1t can
not be believed that the men whose names
are mentioned in connection with this act
Of reputation, will make it necessary to
stop this work, or compel the contractor
to collect his dues by process OF law. We
SHALL see. ***