Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-27
Is woodstock q Finished Town.

Just as we are emerging from the
mud and filth Of another winter season
it would seem quite the time for some
such inquiry az the caption. What is
the condition Of this town as Corpora
ton ?-the financial condition Are we
still paying interest on railroad bondsY
and il so, what progress is being made
toward liquidation? Nobody ques-
tons the integrity OF our councilmen,
but nevertheless little information,
like little fun, now and then, is relish
ed by the best of men. If the people
Of this town were well posted on the
condition Of the treasury, the indebted
ness, the revenue aud its disbursements
By full aud clear publication, some Oc-
caslonal citizen outside OF the council
might offer a suggestion, or ii number
might start movement, looking TO
some Improvement. But the rule
seems to be that the cOuncilmen At
the especial guardians OF all interests
and not representative OF constituency
at liberty to do and decide upon
ever, thing without conference OF dis
cussiou except when they meet as The
cardinals in some little corner.
Now Messrs Editors, this is no COM
plant against the city fathers. 1 have,
and the citizens have, the utmost con"
fidence in each and all of them; but
whether this is q finished town or not
depends entirely upon whether we are
to drift along in the future as IN the
past. Digging one well, and making a
piece OF road to the depot constitutes
the whole of our Improvements for live
years, tumbling a wheel barrow full OF
stoao into a mud hole now and then
excepted. The only real good side
walk is that paid for by the county in
front Of the Jail and court house and each
year the town in this respect is growing
worse. The county seat Is behind
every other incorporated town IN the
county in this regard. We are perfect
ly dead to everything like progress and
shamefully Indifferent to convenience.
There is no denying the fact that the
people of the county arc losing all re-
spect for Woodstock as a town, and
esteem it severe task instead Of pleas.
ure to come here on any business.
There is nothing attractive, no pride,
no life, but only the evidences of
wretched selishness. There is nothing
inviting in or about Woodstock. Are
we to go on in this way Are there no
live men in the council, or are they all
groove followers? Better that we had
a small-scale Tweed or Sheppard than
all dead men. One positive, live man
would long ago have pressed and pass
ed declaratory resolution that the old
Stephenson building is nuisance and
had it pulled down. Some general and
decided Improvement in our side walks
we must have, and some positive effort
to get out of the sickly route that we
have been running backwards in for
some years. The town has increased
in buildings and population siRce the
war in a ratio favorably comparing with
any other in the Valley aud yet we
have not one single perman0ntimprove-
ment. An occasional festival in the
court house 20 raise fifteen shillings is
all that we ever hear of, and even these
could moi be held if the town had to de-
pend upon a building or hall of its own
for the purpose.
The reply at once to every suggestion
implied in this communication is that
THE town cannot afford it, or 1--WE had
better pay our debts, or the town was
always good enough and ''let those
who don't like it leave" Now there
are few citizens here who are about
concluding that there is no such thing
as special privileges here, and who do
not intend to stop pressing this matter
during the coming Spring and Summer.
1t is the right Of taxpayers and voters
one and all to have information. lie!
US know our condition. and thea let us
have some voice in determining whether
we are going on living and trudging i'll
mud surrounded by grave yards and
rotten dens.
TOwNsMAN.