Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-05-02
For the News.
To the Editor Of the Nc,cS :

10 me EuttOf OF inc NCiCS:
With the views and feelings TINT I
have always entertained, since | be-
came u citizen OF GOudsOn, As Ia tile
! importance OF preserving the suuare
! on Cumberland street, | cannot now
| refrain from entering, in some public
way, my protest against the action of
the town council in laying Off this
! square into lots and Offering them for
sale.
regard this action, if carried out,
as n great calamity to our town. | DO
sincerely hope the purpose of the
Council will come to nOught. If sue
cessful II will give the future DrosDerI-
~ OF our town u stab from which it
Will never recover. | concede to the
| members of the Council q hight to
their opinions and judgment concern
ing this matter, They will, l know,
! allow me mine. have heard the plea
! of necessity offered for a sale of this
ground. No such necessity exists
There is not member of the Council,
nor single man in town, who owns
real estate, (town lots, who would
think of Offering them at this time ut
public sale, whether he favors the pro-
posed sale or whether he is against il.
~ "DNAA ~ ''AA9 anu AulllOuSs w nv
then offer this public property for
| sale? This plea of necessity must
override everything IareS-tdres-
is held up as scare-crow to frigbten
people into COnsenting to and appro-
wing the action of the council.
The beauty of the town must be
| sacrificed the health of the town
permanently and hopelessly endanger-
ed, If not ruined the comfort of the
! mothers and little children and the
invalid, who are unable to get far
! away from their homes, is to be sac
rlhced ; the pleasant retreat for the
stranger, sOJournlng for a day or two
in our midst, must be lost sight of, and
| all Tor little money. Oh, for shame,
VIII an enlightened people, for the
fear OF haYing their taxes "A little in.
| creased, sacrifice the beauty of the
town, the health of the town, the
| pleasure OF the poor, the sick, the
children, and the stranger? | do
hope and trust that we have not come
to that extremity. Our furture pros
! peTlty, our future health, which de-
pend so much upon the beauty and
| cleanliness OF the town, present strong
! reasons, in my Judgement, why the
Council should stay their hands. A
few years hence, should our town
grow, the very ones who are now aid
ing and ahetting this action of the
council will, with all the balance of
the town, curse you for it.
If had money enough to make the
purchase, and could spare it from the
support Cf my wife aud children,
would freely give it to save this piece
of ground TO this community as u
place OF public resort. No one indi-
vidual in our time is able TO do it
The community as whole are able to
preserve it, and will one day, and that
not far Off, be compelled to lament
over their folly if they do not rise up
and say now-nOw which they most
prefer money or hGdith. l prefer,
most for myself and family and my
neighbors, the latter. therefore, in
name Of the poor of the town, the
sick, its future beauty and prosperity,
its health, enter my protest against
the proposed action OF the Council on
the 10th Of this month.
L. l., YORK.