Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-05-20
THE MINING JOURNAL
rRosTBURG, MD, MAY 20, 1876.

Cue proprleuy Oh eAcaVdulHS tue stlee,o
for the purpose of exhuping the old
water pipes, we were not aware there
was no power to prevent the Water
Company from doing this work. From
information gained since we learn the
charter to that company permits such
work and imposes no restrictions save
that sufficient roadways must be left
and the streets forthwith restored to
the former condition.
The matter of complaint, however,
is, this work should have been done
last year when the new pipes were
laid-when the thoroughfares were
torn up for weeks and months to the
inconvenience, discomfort and danger
of locomotion, and to positive pecuni-
airy damage to the streets.
AS the matter stands, it seems the
Water Company has altogether its
own way. 1t tears up when it pleases,
and for the sake of old rust-eaten
pipes, it puts our principal highways
in conditions which discourage and
forbid travel.
1t is almost certain that the liber-
ties conferred by the charter are not
80 broad OF elastic as our experience
with the Water Company seems to
warrant. If it may excavate our
streets aUhen it pleases, it cannot ere
store the former condition" avhen it
pleases and Aoav it pleases. The
restoration must be done "torthwath,"
and the replacement of lot Of loose
earth and stones is not restoring the
streets to their former condition" The
truth is, work of this character re-
quires competent, skillful and muscu-
lar execution. The workman who re-
ally knows how to lay curb or water
course, must be accompanied by one
who is not afraid to handle pestle
with vigor in order to restore the
former condition as nearly as practi-
cable.
This brief reference to the matter
leads us to suggest to our authorities
that it requires their oversight. 1t is
their duty to see that the Water Com
pany does it's work quickly and eff
ciently-that the Inconvenience and
discomfort imposed upon the commun-
ity by their excavations be as brief
and light as possible and that the
streets suffer no injury. Failing in
which, it is clearly their duty to sue
the Water Company for damages.
That this view of the subject is cor
rect is manifest from the liability of
the Corporation for any accident that
might occur. Should these open
trenches cripple anybody, is not the
Water Company that will be sought
for the damages, but the Corporation,
and it may be made to pay roundly
for it. In any view of the matter,
therefore, and especially in the light
of self-protection, it behooves the May
or and Council to see that the Water
Company does its work strictly in &C
cordance with the terms of it's charter,
and, if necessary, seek the law for its
enforcement.
THE OLD CEMETERY-A correspon-
dent writes some nervous words with
regard to the condition of the old
Cemetery His statement is not too
strongly put; indeed, it might have
been made stronger. If our peoples
dead had been left to "bury their
dead the condition of things could be
not much worse. Unbecoming neg
lect is bad enough, but when we know
ingly permit dastardly Dissertation of
the graves of our dead, no English
term is scarcel y strong enough to char
acterize the enormity of the offence.
And this is saying nothing of those
who commit these depredations upon
graves, vaults and tombstones-who
invade the city of the dead with game
and carousal, and make its holy
ground a resort for worse than
thieves and money changers,
We learn this property belongs to
the Corporation Our Mayor and
Council are therefore expected to look
into this matter and provide effective
remedies for the existing disorder and
representatives. against further desecra-
ton.
MANY Frostburg parents had abund
ant reason to be ashamed of their