Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-03-06
Is Woodstock a Finished Town :
Mr.. HERALD:
Since the hint of

Mr.. HERALD:
Since the hint of
last week to our city fathers l have
heard great deal of sensible talk on the
question whether Woodstock is fin
shed town." II has been week Of
qualification to me. Every one seemed
to think that something ought to be
done to negative the popular belief that
our town IS finished and its population
so many ghosts walking each in mar
row sphere, not allowed to reflect upon
the general welfare. Especially was |
gratified to hear our mayor and some
of our council asserting TO the sugges
tons thrown out. know these gentle
men to be all right as cdstodans Of our
pecuniary interests, but really was
afraid they had resolved themselves INTO
''penny-wise and.pouud foolish club"
However it is necessary to have it well
understood If Woodstock is to have any
permanent improvements. The coun-
cilmen will always find it easier to do
nothing than to work, and there is moth
ing truer than the maxim that "what
Is everybody's business is nobody's bus.
mess" unless everybody takes small
hand in it.
Mr.. Editor, just let every man in town
walk down to the lower end on one side
and back on the other, and then take a
tramp through the very middle of he
street, and say which is the better walk
the street or the pavement so-called.
The rougher the weather, the more the
mud. the greater the difference in favor
of the street. And so it is at alternate
places all through the town On all the
streets. A stranger who sees the place
in day time never ventures out after
night. 1t is fact that Woodstock is
spoken OF as the most ragged, dirty and
uninviting county-seat in the Valley.
| submit that this should not be, but |
confess it is so nevertheless.
And more than this, tits behind the
other incorporated towns Of the county.
Mt. Jackson is the last 10 fall into col
umn, but few more days will complete
the work Of graded sidewalks com
mencsd there last week.
Where is the money to come from ?
Let us know what the condition OF the
town is IN respect to finances, and sug-
gestions will be in order. 1t Is first
proper to determine whether we need
improvements. In this connection
wound call attention again to the two
prominent corners Of the town. That
wretched old den ought to be removed.
Public policy and public decency and
public business demand its removal
Progress ir business or improvements
necessary to the responsibility and ap-
pearance Of q community should not be
stayed by considerations OF property
rights in an individual. The law has
always recognized the right of society
to protect itself agaist imposition and
nuisance.
That graveyard on the other corner
belongs to the Episcopal Parish. a
proper respect for the ashes Of the dead
would require that a public cemetery
should be first lmprovised and these all
removed, before even discussing the dis
position to be made Of that lot; but
graveyard on the most prominent corn
err ofthe main street of the town sDeaks
volumes to the visitor against the enter
prise and thrift Of our people. First.
then. cemetery. After that the church
congregation should either use or dis
pose of that lot. Christianity would
forbid dog.in-the-manger policy. But,
this failing, then try the virtue of al
escheat or an act of assembly authOriz-
ing sale, as has been done in two other
cases with similar land in this county
within the last three years.
think, too, Mr.. Editor, that as a
yery efficient member of the council has
gotten himself out Of the corporation,
without getting out Of town, that we
should send the corporation after him.
The C'?arter gives the council the right
to f.. the limits. Inasmuch as we run
out to Col. Albert's on the West, would
it not be well to throw our protecting
arms around friends Ramey, OFT, Supin-
ger and Magruder. A man must laugh
at the Stiffness Of calling it Woodstock
from Col. Albert's, distance of mile
and a-half west, down to Ramey's shop.
and the balance Of the town proper in
the country.
If we would start to improve upon
these or any other suggestions, we must
resolve to act. We cannot stop to
consult the wishes Of citizen here and
there. no matter how much we may es-
TEEN him. To do anything, the peO-
pie should take the matter in hand and
coerce the council to do the work. Talk
it without ceasing if necessary hold a
town meeting and get at the sense of
the people and then if that does not
do. vote it. TowNsMAN.
| A BENEDICT.-Our Office has been
hereayed. A sense ofyacancy peryades