Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-07
Farmers and Country PeO
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Who are the farmers and coun-
Try people of Berkeley county? What
position do they hold? Mercenaries,
who have or are tried to be forced to
bow at the shrine of a few bigoted Of
iicials of the Town Of Martinsburg
known as the Town Council. and as
suming as much authority as the
King OF some unciyilized country -
People who go to town to see Circus
es and other amuSements, and attend
to their avocations-who pay so cts.
for looking at selection Of animals
and gymnasts from all parts of the
worldwide have to pay from 81 to
So to let their horses stand hitch
ed on the streets an hour or two. as
the case may be- who pay 10 cents
(beforehand) for selling load of
wood and il you could sell load at
the edge of town you cannot do 50
without first driving up to the Mar
ket House and have it measured and
roll out your 10 cents; it matters not
from what can learn whether the
load consists Of cord and a half or
but a half cord, it's all the same
only dime-that won't break you;
but will the Corporation.
Oh, Consistency thou art a jew
ell! Where is the justice ? where is
the law for such actions A set of
men to hold a meeting one night and
issue an Ordinance to go into effect
next morning! how was the country
man to know of such an action? I
suppose they brought the old adage
into requisition, "Seeing is knowing,
and feeling is believing" Where
are we to put our horses when we
come to town? What right have we
to Inconvenience Mr.. Rutledge, DIR.
Johnson, or any other hotel keeper,
by putting or hitching our horses in
their yards !? They have as good if
not better right to charge us than
the Council has. Why don't they (if
they want to prevent our horses from
making cesspools along the streets)
purchase yards, and make stalls and
sheds for our horses in the principal
parts of the town ? If they do thisl
| will venture to say that every far
mer will hitch his horses therein.
Big fish can be seen in this display
or exhibition of justice, as well as all
other liking Rules" Only last Sa-
turday / heard a man say that they
had unhitched his horse and tied it
in yard three times, but did not
fine him once. The distinguished
Mayor even sent for him, and told
him that he would fine him if he did
not keep his horse off of the street.
He remarked in reply that he might
ego to - with his fine ~ and 50 it
ended right there. Could do that?
No, Sirl If / had said that, l would
have had to pay the fine, and, may
be, rested in Fort Blondel for the
night.
Mete it out evenly, and it won't
feel so badly. Suppose a woman, or
rather lady, would hitch her horse
somewhere on the street, would en-
ter store to make some purchases,
and while so doing a Policeman
would come along take her horse and
put it in one of those stable yards,
where mud is ankle deep these wet
times, how would she manage, / ask
What jury would not give her dam
ages for such outrageous and ungen-
tlemanly action? sa 9sas4
Patrons of Berkeley, can't you
take some action in the premises p
Can't you stay away from town one
month, and let them reap just re-
ward ? Are you going 10 quietly
submit !? Go to your Halls and talk
it over, and act accordingly. Let us
fence Martinsburg in, or, in other
words, "post" our lands, and prevent
the perfumed sportsmen with their
$3.50 br eech-loaders from trespassing
WITHIN our enclosures. The Mayor,
than whom no one likes the sport of
hunting greater, should be held to
his little heaven with its inmates, or
else pay for their fun and sport.
Talk about it-think over tact,
and let them (the Council) see that
we will not submit to such gross in
justice. If they are in need of more
money, let them levy a tax on us,and
it won't prick us to the quick quite
so readily. a,t A FARMER.
Augatst 2, 1875.