The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-12-25
Water Works.

I1o sSeins I'D De Drumming lull OF ~ wa.
ter Works." If you have read his sift- |
ings through the Republican, it
will not be necessary for me to say that
he is dreadful sharp. He pounces upon
bis victim with the agility of a half
grown Thomas cat, and fills the suffer
er's mind with ideas about as numer-
Gus. His dash upon me was accnm-
pal i.d by the cry: "Mr. D.! l am
informed that you are opposed to tax
ing the people of Ravenna Village for
Water Works purposes. Do You moi
know that in doing so you are bucking
against the opinion of many business
men Of Rsvenna? Do you not know
that We need Water Works 10 squsich
the PROBABLE fires that otherwise may
sweep out our fair town: Do You NOT
know that hundreds of people are anx-
iOus to come to Ravenna with some
little capital, and are only kept back
by our lack of Water Works? Doyou
not know that the water Obtainable
in Rasenna from wells and cisterns is
very injurious To st cam boilers, caus.
ing them to gum, mud up or clogg in some
way: DO you not know that the
stores and groceries, and hotels and
saloons on Main street would be won-
dsrfully accommodated by having
hydrants in front of their establish
msnts, from which they could sprinkle
their sidewalks and wash their front
windows? The few little cisterns we
have scattered through the town can
not be regarded As adequate fire pro
lection for such n Gensely built town,
and besides some of them leak, and a
long dry spell, accompanied with q
large demand for water, has once
emptied the town pump in trent of the
Court House." Now, sir, it is the
opinion of many business men who have
Factories and Shops, and others that
| have mentioned that the people
living within the bounds of this village
corporation should he taxed S75, 900 or
$50, 900 for some pond mater that might
be brought into town, even though
very few of them may be personally
interested in Main Street, and although
Ravenna, as village, is bountifully
supplied with most excellent well
water and with cisterns of ample Ca
pacity at every dwelling, yet they be-
ing of q private character give no eeldt
to the town. What we want is to
boom high, and make a big show. AL
though we are a small village of prob
ably less than 4, 900 people and without
wealth, yet we can make big bulge by
piling on the taxes and making an
"efort." 1t is true that Canton had
| IL, 900 inhabitants before she had the
sand to erect Water Works, and Akron
about the same way, and it is also true
that nearly all their factories were es-
tablished and in blast before it was
thought proper to tax the people for
Water Works. Now, Mr.. Editor,
Some are born great, some achieve
greatness, some have greatness thrust
upon them" We will leave the read
er to judge and place "the Man about
Town" in whichever category he
chooses. In my meekness l scarcely
dared to question the assertions Of this
Walking Wisdom. 1 barely asked him
the question: Should the many be
taxed for the benefit of the few? And
if he thought it just and right that
noH-taxpayers and those who pay a
mere nominal amount should vote TO
tax those who are already oppressed
by bearing the brunt of corporation
improvements and of educational and
municipal outlays? And if those who
are not voters, but at the same time
heavy taxpayers ought not TO have =
voice equal st least to the non taxed
voter?
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, beg
leave to say. am in favor of Water
| Works for Ravenna, under conditions,
the first Of which il that the popula-
ti"n shall he at least doubled, thereby
giving us he right tO \ municipal or
ganization of city of the s.con,iclass,
with wealth aud power adequate 10 All
Undertaking of such great magnitude,
au not, hUweved, in favor OF taxing
this little village even In sum sug-
gested by the wise Mayor and Co, n Il,
$50 900 for the purpose of introducing
] some pond Watsr, which, II available AT
all. has the taint of standing upon de-
cayed vegetation aud Iaud which are
| 81 1..f. -
years, even though 1t may carry
with IL the fugitive hope that some
body may be induced thereby to put
up within the Corporate limits an ad-
ditional Sm0kestack, to fill our homes
with smoke and SCOT and dust. Ra-
VIENNA ls one Of the cleanest, neatest
sweetest towns in Ohio, aud among
the most desirable as dwelling place.
And it can remain such, IL the people
thereof will meet in deserved spirit
this foolish crsZe to be buried deeply
In debt, for u consideration that will in
no way benefit very large majority
of it's Taxpayers. We know that the
cry of" Old Fogy" and "Old Miser. )"
and no public spirit, will be banded
about, and hurled at those who are
prudent, but they are cheap words.
Ravsnna cannot be made a Sea Port
Town, and we do not think, with
Pittsburgh and Cleveland in easy
range, and Akron within q stones
throw on the West, and Warren and
Youngstown within competing dis
tance on the East, that it can be con-
sidered by the judicious capitalist as a
very inviting field for manufacturing,
even if we had pond water coursing
through every street and alley.
DREW.
| Terms Of the New Judges.
On the 11th inst. Governor Hoadly
and Secretary of State Newman deci-
ded by lot the terms of the newly
elected Circuit Judges. The result
| was as follows;