Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-24
IMPROVE THE STREETS.

If the streets OF a town are evidence OF
the degree of civilization of its people, as
is said stranger would be compelled to
say a very low degree of civilization pre-
walls at ST Cl2irsTille. And yet our peo-
pie are taxed for municipal purposes
About one year ago attention was call
ed in these columns to the fact that brick
paving which is so popular at Wheeling
and Bellaire-had reached the minimum
in price (85c per yard) and it was sug-
gested that its introduction here might
be practicable, as it certainly would be
very desirable. Main street is 10 feet in
width. from curb TO curb. Lot holders
would be taxed for the space in front of
their lots, to the middle of the street
ANY one can calculate about what the i'm
provement would cost him. The work is
contracted by the town, and municipal
bonds issued in payment, running five
years. Levies are certified to the County
Auditor each year, and lot holders pay, as
they do ordinary taxes, twice yearly. The
improvement is ordered by Council, upon
the petition of lot holders.
The absolute cleanliness and comfort
this improvement would insure are almost
beyond description. The saving to goods
in stores and to furniture and carpets in
dwellings, alone, would within ten years
almost pay the entire cost. No crossings
need be maintained, which, in muddy
weather, are generally covered ankle deep
with mud. In fact, the street would be
as clean as most of the sidewalks are now.
No mud in winter, nor dust in summer.
Leaving out of view the healthfulness
clean streets promote, and looking solely
to the public comfort, the freedom from
mud One-half the year and dust the other
half, would this improvement not pay?
Bellaire commenced with square or two,
and the result was the people were so
pleased with it that square after square,
and street after street were paved; and
now they would not agree to have their
money returned and go back to mud and
dust. 1t is by odds the greatest improve
ment that town has ever made, and has
done more than all else in the way of pub
lie improvement to give the town charac-
ter in the eyes of strangers. Such is the
experience of town of our own county.
As to durability, judging from the ex-
perience of Wheeling, such pavement here
would last twenty-five years, or more
Hauling here is lighter than at Wheeling,
where such pavements have already been
in use about ten years, with no perceptible
wear.
Men may say We can not afford such
an improvement-that we can get along
without it. 1t is our belief that, if made,
there would be few persons in town who
would then say we could not afford it
That was the experience at Bellaire.-
True, we can get along without it. So we
can without books and costly furniture
and carpets, and most of us with much
cheaper dwellings. Why have these, and
many other comforts? Why not content
yourselves in cheap dwellings, and do
without pictures and books and carpets,
and many other things which cost money !?
The truth is we can not afford to main
tain bad streets. They hurt us in the eyes
of ofstrangers, and are calculated to repel en-
terprising people who might otherwise be
disposed to seek homes here. We ought
not to tolerate the Inconvenience and dis
comfort they put us to, and can not afford
to thus advertise our niggardliness. .