Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-12-04
"Those Sidewalks. "

- THE EDITOR OF TIE INDEPENDENT.
My communication in the ARGUS
of the 21st. lust, has called forth an
article in your last issue from "Wesr
huntington" 10 which be says that
Citizen (the author of the cOmmu
nication referred toy "censures our
city fathers for some regard to the
interests Of those who live IN the
suburbs of this city, / think that
if "West Huntington" had read my
article with any care be would have
noticed that [ made no complaint Of
the Council for adopting an ordinance
providing for additional sidewalks
10 fact, have ever been in favor of
any improvement which would add
to the comfort of the people of the
city, but what l do contend for is
that the city Council has no right TO
tax the citizens of one part of the
city for laying sidewalks in another
part. If the policy which they seem
to have adopted in this last ordinance,
bad been pursued from the begin ming
then /, nor any other citizen would
have had any right to complain, bu'
it has not been so. Every lot hold
er has been required to lay he side
walk 10 front of his own lot, and just
such & walk as the Council chose to
have laid, the f66t aaolder paving he
whole e1peu Sc, and | believe there
was no complaint made to the"9Eal-
nance requiring them to do so, be-
cause it improved the property to
that amount, but | do claim that |
and every other citizen of the city
have just grounds Of complaint be
cause of the action Of the Council in
requicing US, after having laid our
own sidewalks to pay half the ex-
pense of the new sidewalks which are
propos to be put down. Because the
Central Lsud Company happened to
be the owners of the lots contiguous
to the walks required by Council, 1T
is DO argument to Justify our city faith
ers in pursuing different course, of
actioo from that which has heretofore
been the rule, ct The expense Of the
city. That corporation should be
considered as Any other lot owner,
and it is mauiies'ly species Of class
legislation, which is unjust to the
tax payers of the city.
When West Huntington says that
the city Council cannot compel the
Land Company to lay walk in front
of an unimproved lot, be eithers
forgets or does not know that the
| Council has required owners Of un-
improved lots to lay walks in front
of them. If he will take tn pains to
walk over the city, he will find that
the same rule has applied to unim-
proved lots. as to improved ones.
West Huntington complains oil
their misfortune in being within the
corporate limits Of Huntington, that
there are no streets in their prrt Of
the town to be taken care Of and
that they have no police officer &c
The whole city has but one police
offcer now, and he is resident oI
West Huntington, aud | believe
boards there. A. for Improvements
| think that If "West Huntington
wants any, and is willing to pay FOL
them as we have done, they cau be Sc
cured without any trouble. am afrait
that he did not understand when he
wrote his communication, the man
ner in which the prnvemen!s Of
the city were paid for. He says tina
he is taxpayer and cannot see any
reasonable cause why any one should
object to the ordinance, | expect i
be had been repaired to do what th'
citizens 10 the central portion of tn
town have been required to do, b
would look at the matter III yer
different light.
don't wish TO be misunderstood
am in favor Of the ordinance, re
quiring the sldewalks to be laid ju.
as much so as West Huntington is
if it is a public convenience, and
don't for moment dispute the fac
but | hold that the Council shout
have required the owners Of the prop
cry alpugside of which the walk
TO be laid, to pay for the same, jus
in the same manner as has been rh
custom heretofore whoever the own
ers may be. aud then there could ha'
been 20 compl,int. True the ia
= would not be very heavy on an
sing individual, aud | hope thr
West Huntingdon will understand
that it is not the amount Of tax thu
| complain Of, but the iojustic whic
has been done by the Council. i
making such discriuin atoms Will
legislating for the city.
Asa citizen of Huntington, I n