The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-02-02
OUR CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

A year ago, in muddy weather, our
city was an eyesore to all of its we'll
wishers. Commercial street, from end
to end, was at times impossible.
Empty wagons drawn by two horses
have stuck fast in the mud on this
theroughfare. Look at it now. With
pride can we point to it as one of the
handsomest if not the most beautiful
street in the entire West. This, if
nothing else, will always remain as a
monument to the wisdom of its pro-
jections, the members. of our City
Council. But they did not stop here.
Our people residing in other parts of
our city had claims upon them. Ladies
in particular, after every rain, were
compelled to remain indoors until it
dried up. Our churches and schools
were neglected, simply from the fact
that it was so difficult to get to them.
Immediately after the organization
of the present Council, petition after
petition came from all quarters pray
ing for sidewalks. The Council, recog-
nizing the necessity, adopted an ordi-
nance in accordance with the prayers
of the citizens. That a block or two
could have been dispensed with for an
other year, is probable. No body of
men are perfect. But that they strove
to do their duty, nobody will deny.
That the people generally are benefit
ted by these improvements needs no
proof. That the owners of property
are especially benefited by the en-
HANGED value and more ready sale of
their property is patent to all.
The contractors faithfully performed
their contracts. The work when fin
ished was accepted by the Council.
Orders upon the city treasury for the
payment of the same, out of the taxes
to be levied for that purpose, were is
1ued. Rumors of injunctions to pre-
vent payment for the work, were cur
rent upon the streets. But very few
believed that any one having respect
fer himself, would do such thing.
But in this they were mistaken. The
injunctions were issued, the ringlead-
ers of this crusade against the interests
of the city, by special pleading, by
stating that all who paid now, would
again have to pay their proportions of
a general assessment, and thus have tc
pay twice, succeeded in getting a few
others-mostly women who were
heightened at the thought of having tt
pay again-to join them in these in
functions And what is the result
The contractors arc unpaid. They
have performed their contract-tht
city is unable to comply with hers
The contractors cannot pay their men
or for the material furnished, and the
consequence is that to enable half {
dozen men to vent their spite or t.
speculate upon the deprecated scrip o
the city, the poor man has to suffer
And to cap the-climax to this miser
able state of affairs the court onTHesday
last week at the II was going to So,
dietatfon) request of one OF the injunc
tors, ruled out evidence that would
have established the fact beyond (;
. question that the spirit or intent o
the law was strictly complied with
You, Messrs. editors, and every on
else, must see that If this state Q
things is not frowned upon by the peo
pie, that improvements must stop. n
matter, If the law in letter or spirit
complied with, some individual,
) subserve his own pocket, or spite, wi
! sue out injunctiors- The contractor
: If any can be found, viii have to b
7 7 rich men, who by charging an enoI
I nous price for the work, can afford I
\ wait the slow process of the law, an
5 the final effect viii be additional an
Unnecessary burdens upon the publ
+ treasury. Respectfully yours,
Il. S. 7.