The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-08

cost. Now what would be the re
suit in the first place it would
add at least $50, 900 to the general
value of real estate in Canton.
Many II residence would be worth
from $500 to $500 more than at
present because one could go fro m
tho Courthouse to it in the mud
diest weather without soiIing their
shoes or wettIng their feet.
Ladies' suffer more from the
rough fragments of bricl<-bat5 al d
other debris that constitute the
sidewalk than the double soled brc-
gans worn by gentlemen ever al
low them to comprehend, and as
for that twin-sistcr of the sewing
machine the ."baby-carria.e"-it
now torments the lIttie occupant
no little to be joI.ed along over
such walks, but the plank walk
would delight them as one of the
paths to Paradise. Then good,
smooth, clean walks would add a
hundred per cent. to the frequency
and vitality Of special intercourse.
Months often pass away, and ladies
languish at home to sink into gloomy
moods and waning health because
the mud is ankle-deep, or the rain
lying on the path. Then what de-
lightful promenade it makes-what
n place for young folks. Then if
an exhibition is in town and the
seekers OF fun want to go, how il
would preserve their health and ia
cilitate their movements.
And then it would help to fill the
churches on Sabbath days. Who
likes to go to church through mud
and dirt and slush, spattered and
daubed and bedragglcd and wet
Then think of sweet childhood wad-
ing across foul streets, and Stun
bling over the rough. unsightly and
miserable walks all over town, tse-
ng to school day school and Sunday
school, six days in the week and
several times u day-do you won
der the little girl wanted to go away
from Canton and live in some town
that had good sidewalks?
AS tor shopping, it would then
be Il daily, constant movem .nt. If
an elderly matron needed only three
buttons she would prefer to go down
to the store and buy them rather
than send her grandson, just for the
exercise, and TO meet her neighb Dor,
and breath little outdoor air and
the gay aud beautiful, they could
walk with grace and dignity on the
new walks which no one can do
now, and shopping, SO painful a task
now, would then be, JOY forever.
But must stop, not because this
article is already ton long. but for
fear shall pursuade the city iath-
ers that sidewalk is so grand an
institution that they will despise
their elegant mansions and move
out on to the sidewalk and set up
lite upon new plar. | do not in
tend to say that IL sidewalk is bet
ter than house, but house is
rather a poor affair unless you can
reach it by at least passable side
walk, one that never suggests bad
adjectives.
"But we can't afford Sidewalks >
Why not ave have no money;
then the charter don't allow US to
do certain essential things" All
tina, may be so. But in view of all
the moral and fiscal wealth 10000
feet of walks would confer upon
the town, it would be worth while
if needtul To get an act passed by
the Legislature authorizing the city
fathers to issue twenty year bonds
to the amount Notwithstanding 8
per cent. interest and the money
will come. Then give the contract
to a reliable party With specitica
tons and bonds-rcal and genuine
with requirement. that he shall
keep the same in repair and good
condition for three years-and then
lights and Canton would be the
most delightful city to reside at in
| the state, ~