Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-07-31
The, Needs of a Town..

Mr.. Editor:-'The needs of a town
are something to be looked at from
different standPoints. In order to
ascertain the needs of any particular
town it is necessary first to determine
what kind of town the inhabitants
want. If 1T is desired to have real
mature town; q town that is of age
and against which it is an insult to
its dignity to suppose that there is
need for its further growth and
improvement, of course it is a
good thing of its kind to have
There are very few towns OF this
kind in the United States, the people
Of this country being imbued with
the spirit of the nineteenth century,
and adopt readily those improve
ments which science and discovery
from time TO time offer to better the
condition of mankind.
In order to have town of the kind
above referred to it is not necessary
to 90 to much expense. 1t is simply
necessary for the inhabitants to adopt
a sort of negative policy, that is to do
nothing themselves and oppose every
thing generally in the way of improve
ment, and soateracorks esPectdtty.-
There is nothing more calculated to
stir up the industrial energy of a
place than to haye a sufficient water
supply, consequently the inhabitants
desiring a town of this kind should
set their faces like flint against the
first effort in this direction.
As outside enterprise will some
times try to force itself upon place
like this, it will be necessary for the
inhabitants to take up.a smdA contri-
button to defray the few necessary
expenses to prevent it, as no tax is
ever levied in a town of this kind.
Cheap signs, painted on rough
boards on the outside only, should be
placed at conspicuous points on all
the highways leading to the town as
follows: "No admission on business.
This town is finished. 1t is an Ar
cacian resort for persons of means
who have retired to the shades of pri-
vate life. Merchants, manufacture
ers, mechanics, and all persons of
that character known as business peo-
pile will he fined pro-rata according to
the magnitude of their undertakings,
and persons contemplating water
works are forbidden admission to this
town whatsoever.
An advertisement or two could be
placed iii the newspapers of some en-,
tNNv
{" The advantages of Blanktown.-
There being no manufactures or
other industries of Importance in this
place, and the mercantile interests
of this section being monopolized by
towns. there is none of
that business noise and hustle so dis
tasteful to persons in search of quiet
and seclusion. The Sabbath-likequ quiet
ness of this place is well known in
all parts of this country and Europe.
In fact every day is like Sunday. 1t
is favorite resort of Archacologists,
Psychologists, and that class of per-
sons whose interest centres mostly
upon the past. 1t is pleasant also
for Hypochondriacs, Dyspeptics, very
aged and 'infirm persons and all that
class of persons who desire nothing
in this world but grave. To all
such we extend a hearty welcome.
Signed-The Town Council of
n. B. We have ample cemeteries,
and stonccutter at a neighboring
town furnishes head and foot stones
at moderate prices. The great diff
Guilty in maintaining Il town of this
kind is to know what to do with the nat
ural increase of its population, nat
ural increase being a law of nature
difficult to control. The general ten
dency of the town policy however
would be to destroy the germs of
enterprise by educating the young
in ancient history and dead Ian
Those incorrigible youths
who will read newspapers and mani
fest symptoms of progressive ten
dency should be encouraged in
every way to q" go west.''
1 should like, if space allows, in
your next Issue to describe the needs
of different kind of town. w