Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-15
8eIu1o1tt Gltrnuirlr.
THURSDAY. MARCH 10, 1855.

THE proposition to ask the Legislature
to authorize the people of st. Clairsville
TO vote upon the question of digging
wells and buying a mandrake FIRE en-
gine, is an attempt at dodging the ques-
tion. Three months ago, or more. a Pc
tition bearing the names of more than
ee-fOurths of the voters and tax payers
of the town was submitted to Council,
asking that steps be taken to construct
water-works. After some delay and
much monkeying, the sum Of $40 was
voted to defray the expenses of a com
mittee designated to investigate the sub
iect In due time the committee did
what? Investigate as to the PRACTICABLE
ity of doing what Council had been pc
titioned to do? Not bit of it; but ex-
pended the money travelling around look
ing at mandrake engines and other ap-
pliances for extinguishing fires, and then
subsided. Now that august body, after
three months deliberation, has deter
mined to ask the LegiSlature-which is
supposed to be always ready and willing
to assume the responsibilities of other
bOdies-to enact law authorizing our
people to vote upon something they have
not asked for, and it is believed do not
want.
Council has ample power under the
general law TO do what the people ask to
be done. Estimates of the approximate
cost can be obtained without serious diff
ficulty, and at little expense. Why not
to that extent satisfy the public? and
then if it is found the cost will be greater
than the town ought to assume, the pro-
ject will be abandoned, and cisterns and
mandrake engines, or something else,
will be in order. If, on the other hand
it is thought practical, and reasonably
within the abilities of the town, and
Council is unwilling to assume the re-
sponsibility thrown upon it by the law
an expression of opinion might be OBJ.
tanned after the manner of that adopted
on the question of the sale Of liquor a
year or two ago.
Until it is ascertained that st. Clairs,
vile can not construct and operate water,
works, all talk about cisternS, hand brake
engines, and the like. is out of order
If the present Council is unable or un
willing to treat this question in a straight
forward and business like way, Council
that can and will should be chosen tht
ensuing spring.
The Close dwelling the destruction OF
which involved a loss of $4,000, and great
inconvenience and suffering to the occu
pants, could easily have been saved BY q
hose and fire plug and the heroic appli
cation of axe and hooks to the structure
adjoining. Shall we wait until aroused
by another blazing block of buildings
then again talk few days about the ne,
cessity of better fire prOtection-aad then
again quietly subside?
TIE death of the Emperor Of Germany
is the most important political event ex
perienced in Europe in this generation
A great soldier and ruler, and the heaC
of the most powerful monarchy on tht
continent, he was emphatically the peace
maker of Europe. His successor is al
able man, but is afflicted with fatal NAL
ady, and can not survive many months
He will be succeeded, in turn, by young
man of no especial intellectual promise
and of marked physical infirmity. Bu
behind all stands the great Chancellor
the real ruler of Germany. With him a
the helm aud directing affairs the Empir,
is safe; but the present Empress (th'
Princess Royal of England) is said to b.
hostile TO BiSmarck's policy, and, wO
man of great force of character, it i
feared the relations with the Chancello
may be strained.
The course Of Germany under the new
reyims will be watched with keen inter
est by all Europe, especially by Russia
the old Emperor on his death-bed an
ticipated events. and with almost his las
breath pleaded for continued friendly re
latiOns with the Gar.