The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-01-26
Lagrange Items.

litSpofteu LOT the NlRGINtAN.l.
Rev. Willis preached at st. Paul Church
last Sunday afternoon. He had a large
crowd.
| Rev. Samuel Driver will preach at Mis-
sion Chapel next Sunday morning at Il
| O'Clock.
Mrs. VIM. Hawk fell some time ago and
hurt her foot and ankle very badly. She
is improving very fast,
The little son of Mr.. L. II. Plunkett,
OF Plunkettsville, fell from wagon few
days ago and was hurt very badly. He is
improving now.
Mr.. Benz Plunkett is very i'll at this
writing.
Mr.. Sylvester Huff, of Roanoke, and his
bride, are visiting in this neighborhood.
Masters Geo. Blakemore and Edward
Blackburn, who have a telegraph line from
opposite Thornrose Cemetery to Punk
ettsville, have put the third Office on the
line.
Miss Nellie Swink is recovering from
typhoid pneumonia.
Mr.. Geo. Miller was crossing branch
last Thursday and his horse got frightened
and threw him off, his foot hanging in
the stirrup. He held en- to the bride,
and despite the turning of the saddle, he
escaped unhurt. w. r. b.
TO THE CITIZENS OF WEST END;
1t is proposed to take you into the city of
stanton by an amendment to the City charter
DrOVi0pS that collected
city purposes. for the first five years, shall be
expended by the Council in improving the
tending water and light facilities, and III fur
nish1ng police and fire prote ttion, &C., in this
district.
AS a resident and taxpayer of this district
for fifteen years, | ask you to consider this
proposition calmly and dispassionately. / am
sure have no more money to throw away than
any of you have. have no desire to have my
self taxed or my neighbors taxed unneces-
tanned and will continue to sustain under the
present circumstances. We are taxed Az
cents on each 500 OF value-real and personal
estate-fOr county purposes-and each male
adult, over 18years of age, is required to do two
days labor or pay fine of not less than rs
cents for each day if he doesn't work on the
roads.
What do we get In return for this expendi-
ture? Nothing but one public school, located
in a very inaccessible place for q few months in
the year. That is absolutely everything that we
receive.
Now, by the terms of the bill under which we
are to be taken into the city, we get the advan-
tages of the very best of schools for children
nine months in the year; we get our streets
supply of water for domestic purposes, and in
the event Of fire, will have the use OF the city
fire department and fire plugs. Can aay per-
son doubt that with all these advantages added
to our present situation our property will soon
be greatly enhanced in value and i'll comfort to
ourselves?
But in regard to this matter Of water supply.
AS matters now stand we are completely at the
mercy of the City Council. Our use of the city
water is entirely at their option. They eau cut
it off from us at any time. One of the argu-
ments put forth by the opponents of this meas
ure and circulated among you is, that the
water supply of he city is already inadequate
to it's wants. If that be SO, with what propriety
ask the CITY to allow US to continue the use Of
waters And what would OUR property be
worth TO us without this water supply we
now have it? Is it not apparent that we are
standing upon very dangerous ground in re-
gard to this matter of our water supply, if the
opponents Of this measure have stated the
facts? But do not believe there is anysinad-
equacy of water supply if the present flow is
properly utilized, and am assured by those
whose opportunities for knowing are the best,
that there is nothing to he unprecedented ON thig
score But we have no assurance that the city
authorities Will continue the privilege we now
enjoy, of tapping it's pipes, day longer, if we
remain out of the corporate limits. There are
water assessment. What would become of us
without this supply of water ard what would
our property be worth without It, either to our
absolutely worthless. The whole question
narrowed down to fine point is simply this |
Will we continue to pay county taxes and road
fines for which we get nothing, OF shall we pay
little more and get dollar for dollar in return?
The proposition only needs to be stated, to be
answered in favor OF coming into the city
least two of the most desirable and eligible
houses in the West End have remained without
tenants at least one. half the time since they
were built by their present owners. When oc
cupied they bring 500 each per aHnum. They
have a supply of City water. If they had the
additional advantages which they would gain
by being taken into the corporate limits, and
made more accessible by good streets and
walks, and lights, they would never be without
a tenant at an increase over the present rental.
But already the owners have suffered logs Of
$500 in three years, by the want of tenants,
which would never have happened ifthiS prop
erty had had the facilities and conyeniences
which the proposed measure will give to them.
and $30U would pay the whole city tax on these
houses for the next Is years. What has hap
pened to them has happened to other property
in that section. and is liable, and indeed, cey-
tain to occur again. do not see how any one
can fail to see the vast advantage which Will
follow follow the bringing IN Of this section to the
1t cannot be expected that the growth of o
city is to be forever retarded by people who
voluntarily come and build right around it, and
VINO are enjoying many of its advantages with
out paying for them If the reasons urgeo by
the opponents of this scheme were to prevail
then all towns and cities would, for all time, be
confined to their original charter limits.
The only objection that can see which could
that the Council has been more liberal in its
terms than we could have expected but this
is an objection which we will not of course
urge. IT might with propriety be urged by q
terms are more than liberal to u.s.
would therefore urge my friends and neigh
bors to look ct ibis side of this question before
committing themselves finally on the subject.