Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-03-25

aft IRIS during the past four years ? lie
has been here but xix months, and could
have no personal knowledge of it. But
il he shows as much ignorance in max
iHg the eX4ninat on as he has in COM
pairing the debts and rates of taxation
of neighhoring towns, he had better let
it alone, unless. presuming upon the
ignorance of our citizens he thinks he
can deceive aud mislead them.
But this caps the climax Hear him:
1.-The Indebtedness Of Martinsburg is
800. 900 the tax is rs cents on the
hundred, ana the people have a set Of
battered up lamp posts, break neck
pavements, the streets perfect pastnr-
ing ground Tor hogs and cattle and a
barn yard Tor geese and fowls. Besides
the above statements take Hagerstown
with light, water, clean streets and pro-
erosion and ony tax Of az cents
MartinshuIg rs Take York with a
population of 10. 90 and public debt
OF nearly 100000, but all the modern
conveni, uces and only tax Of 80 ceuts
But what need of further discussion "
No need at all A man who would
make such unqualified false statement
as The above. aud have it go out over
the country to the injury of his town, is
not the kind Of a man that those who
have real interests here would care to
have aLv discussion with Thi k Of it.
properly owners. you who are interested
in having your town appear in its true
hight abroad. What will strangers who
have never been here think. if they hap
pen to read in a paper published in Your
town. that MartinSburg is nothing but IA
"pasruring ground for hogs and cattle,
and a barny yard for geese and fowls. I"
That is a pleasant invitation for people
to come here. 1t is wonder that this
estheiic gentleman, v htn he came here
and discovered such dilapiiated state
Of affairs. did not seize his grip-sack H.
disgust, aud slide out on the first train.
The truth is. that Martnshure; in the
beauty and excellence Of its streets, in
cleanliness and healthiulness will com
pare tavorsbiy With any of It's neigh bor-
ing cities or towns. Notwithstanding the
fact that T. cir revenues and eXpendi-
lures are in many instances from four
~ FIVE times greater than ours This
ha> been the general verdict of stran.
gers " no have visited us. aud especially
of newspaper men who have been here
Al d on their re urn hume written fav"r-
able articles on The beauty and attrac-
uVen.SS of our town. But It has beep
left Tor home newspaper to send y
forth ito the extent OF ITS clrcllA'l0n.)
that aIar iushurg is a "barn-yard. p.
This esthetic young man ought to join
o car Wild9, and TT vel for his health
HIS sensitive olflctories can hardly en-
duie the ul,,rS OF a bpn.yard
As still further e.ilpuce of the e.
norance displayed iu the article, tn
writer sels forth the idea that the
.b4rn-yard' can be cleaned out, tn
'.hrpak-ueck p,vemeuto" made good
tie streets ll2htrl, dc on the salarle'
81 the Mayor AMI Council. This all told
amounts 10 500 With this amnun',
this prodigi"uS fl aucier proposes 10
light the streets. make pAvements, tn
d est seem to know that prop TT
0wnsrs make the p'vementS,l and Il"
addition have street supervisors WIZ
shall be paid salary. He also propo-
SIS to appoint a police justice, who I"
course mus, be paid, (aIihun@h that Ca
only be done by an act oi the Legislature
changing the chartcr,l all with the 500
saved by salaries The pay of the stree
commissioner aud pOire ju lge alone
would requiIe the 500, aud then be
small pay to any one who would give il
proper attention. But ] have only re-
ierred to this to slow the utter igno-
rance displayed by the writer in the at
tempt To discuss the matter | the
people were To olnw such lead, they
would nor be long in having the fnan-
ces OF the corporation as badly mixed a.
is the writer in h = attempted discussion
of matters he knows nothing about.
Now, Mr. Editor, the people want
facts, not mere assertions. If the affairs
of the corporation have not been faith :
iuly aud economically administered for
the best interests of the whole eople, it
can be easily shown. Now let some OF
these grumbIers point out the errors
Let them make specific charges, ii any
they have clam, and am prepared
t. prove it by facts aud figures, that the
pres mt admin stration has done more to
put the corporation in good sound finan-
cial condition than any that preceded
it; that it has worked for the best in
teresa, Of the people, and that the cor
purAtiou is in better condition to-day
than Tor eight years past.
TAX PAYER.