Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-04-08

Neither Ignorance Nor Spleen.

a certain individual under the nom
de plume Of g Taxpayer wrote lengthy
and labored article in the 8 Independ-
emit, . in which he calls you, Mr.. Editor,
to task for what he sty les YOUR IGNORANCE
of municipal affairs. The writer must
evidently have lately recovered from
serious attack of iEdisposition, and
mounted on that noble animal that can
never be ashamed of the length of its
ears attempts to ride rough-shod over
you, whilst you are striving to advance
the interests of this Corporation. We
had fondly hoped that Martinsburg did
not shelter a man who would descend so
low as to write such an uncalled for pro-
duction. nor thatit contained an editor
who would forget himself SO far as to
allow such venomous epistle to appear
in his paper.
Taxpayer calls for g facts" Now. I
ask what are the facts in this case? |
claim to have carefully read all the
articles written by you on the subject,
and I have failed to see that you have
ever accused our City Fathers with MIS-
MANAGEMENT, or of SPENDING the peoples
money for their own benefit. Your
course, Mr.. Editor, has been mild one
-one of suggestion, never of dictation !;
and as citizen you suggested what you
considered right you pointed out the
evil III ;t.a enornity, and proposed rem
edy. But as the suggestion did not come
from one Of the political CLIQUE who
have led the people of Martinsburg into
darkness, therefore the abuse. It is a
well known fact to every citizen that our
streets and alleys are in deplorable con
dition it is also well known that our
city ordinances are woefully neglected
and that the voice of our Chief City Mag
istrate is disregarded. But Taxpayers
eyes are closed and he will not be con-
WINGED of these facts. Listen to him =
The truth is. that Martinsburg, in the
beauty and excellence of its streets, in
cleanliness and healthfulness will COM
pare favorably with any of its neighbor-
ing cities OF towns, notwithstanding the
fact that their revenues and expenditures
are in many instances from four
to five times greater than ours. This
has been the general verdict of
strangers who have visited US, and es-
pecially of newspaper men who have
written favorable articles on the beauty
and attractiveness of our town. F"
A stranger reading the above would
Paris. Now, what will Taxpayer and
his followers (if he has any say to this
fact that only few weeks ago, dead
cat was permitted to remain for more
than twenty four hours on Queen Street,
(near the square scattering the rich
perfumes of his catship near and far. A
corporation that would allow such a
crushed rose to remain SO long on its
streets, requires investigation and any
amount of watching.
Again, Taxpayer protests against
your statement that Martinsburg is a
pasturing ground for hogs and cattle, and
a barnyard for geese and fowls" There
is nothing false in this statement it is
evident to every man who desires a re-
form. During the past month the writer
has had often to drive from his premises
HOGS that were running at large, and
PROFESSIONALLY enjoying the beauties of
this city. but perhaps SAID HOGS belong to
soioe taxpayer who has resided here
more THAI < s:x months +" and, therefore,
allowed to enjoy liserties against which
there is city ordinance. 1t is the duty
of every good citizen to take q Saep IN
terest in all things that pertain tc the
of his city. We, therefore.
hail the effort that THE HERALD and
!" Statesman are making to have our
streets lighted, so that our city may pre-
sent to her visitors the beauties which
nature has so lavishly donated, and more
over that her own citizens may be secure
when pleasure or bueiness calls them out
at night, that they may walk not in dark
ness but in light.
Permit me, Mr.. Editor, to offer sug-
gestion, viz that as the election for city