Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-09-14
MARTINS FERRY.
SEPTEMBER |. lS

| A0ASh AOdOs
EDITOR CHRONICLE-Permit US thro
the columns of your valuable pape
to state our grievances, or one, at least
and that is, that from rading tn,
CHRONICLE, no person could eve
know or learn that there was such
town, or city, as Martins Ferry; bu
1t Is a fact. This town is beautiful,
(at a distance) situated one and one
half miles above Bridgeport, BelmOn
county, OhiO-eUery6Ody knolos acher,
bridgeport as; and contains one OIL
three thousand inhabitants, it is mo-
known which, but We esuppose from the
enlargement of their corporate limits
I the authorities count on the town con
tanning three hundred thousand inhab
itants. Our population here consists
or is made up from various races. We
have African, American, Dutch, Irish
English, Democrats, and white people
We have six churches, and nearly as
many preachers. We have doctors
enough and to spare. We have one
lOck-up-too often empty. We have
four or five Democratic headquarters,
and two more being fitted up, 4. e.
grOg-shOps. But we are nevertheless
got rid of the slaughter-hOuse nuisance,
and we think it the determination to
keep clear of this nuisance; and we
heard men say to-day that if those
butchers came back and began slaugh
teriDg animals again, that they would
be returned before the sound Of the first
gun had died away-and they are men
who mean what they Say. So mote it
be.
We are making arrangements for a
Republican Mass Meeting here at no
distant day. We are considerably di-
vided in reference to the Judgeship.
We had rather elect Chambers than al
low Okey to be elected. We feel con-
fident that Chambers made as good a
Judge as it is possible for Democrat
to make; but no better than any good
Republican, or Democrat, whore war
record might have been better. We
should like to see Chambers and Okey's
war record compared. We have heard
that Okey was for prosecuting the war.
The flood of last Thursday night
week done great deal of damage
here, and in this vicinity. We heard
a man say-and an old man, too-that
he never saw as hard rain for the size
of the town; SO we thought.
We are having some fine buildings
erected in this place; some of them
have towers on them equal to the tow
er of State House.
We are people of leisure, as any
observer would suppose who might Wis.,
it our town. Some call it a city-for
frequently they can see whole fami-
lies (preachers) playing CrOquet, while
others may be seen on swings! An
other mark of ease is, so many people
sitting on store-boxes and steps. But
do not suppose for moment that none
of US work; we all work (that have toy,
except dozen or so doctors, three or
four lawyers, and a school teacher or
two, and Professor. Well, we don't
expect him to work.
We claim that we are in advance in
this town in several respects. First,
we have greater amount of Territory
according to the population than any
other town in the county. Second, we
have streets that will give employ yment
to more men, in grading, to make
them passable, than any other town we
know of. Third we have manufactu-
ring establishments, just ready and
waiting for some one to come along
with money to operate them, than any
other town. Fourth, we have more
places of business here, where they
charge SO high for merchandise as to
drive custom to Wheeling, than in any
town in the State. Fifth, we have
fewer number of men who will tell the
truth in every respect, when speaking
Of our advantages, than in any town
within one hundred miles of this place!
Sixth, we pay higher taxes here than |
anywhere else, and yet We are not
happy.
And now, Mr.. Editor, at any time
you wish to hear from this city, say so,
and am at your service.
Yours truly. OBSERVER.