The Newtown bee., 1890-01-10
STAMFORD.

STAMFORD.
 There are always two sides to be pre- sented on every question of public i'm provement. Take the matter of lighting the streets, for instance. No one car deny that it is a good thing, but tht question presents itself, who shall pay for it? Such an improvement will bene fit only those who live in the village anC whose business or habits call them out or the streets at night. A large portion oi the inhabitants of the town are seldom out of their own houses in the evening Whatever business they may have at the stores or post office is transacted in the day time and their evenings are spent in the bosom of their families. It is hardly fair to ask these people to put theil hands in their pockets and pay for pub lie improvements, by way of increasing taxes, for which they are not seemingly benefited. Would it not be well for 1 them to stop d moment and consider whether they will not be benefited by any improvement which will tend to ado to the population of the town and, there l fore, increase the value of their property Can any reasonable person deny that, il this village was well lighted, sidewalks laid and good system of sewerage in augurated, that there would be demand for houses and building lots? The de mand for an article largely regulates the price. If there is no call, there can be no sale. If call from several parties anxious to buy, then the party offering the highest price takes the article called for. Increased valuation lesSens the tax rate. It will probably take time to cdu- 1 cate our tOwnspeople up to the standard in this matter, but it has been done in other localities and will be here. If the partiss who are agitating these public Improvements will not lose courage by apparent defeat, they will some day find themselves victorious.
 Many of our townspeople who are fond of amusement arc availing themselves of the matinee performances at Proctor s opera house, Bridgeport. These mati- nees are given each Wednesday and Sat- urday afternoon, more especially for la- dies and children. The trains from our station run at d convenient hour and any extra good company is sure to find many Stratford faces among it's audience. The great variety of attractions offered by Manager Belknap iS sure to suit the tastes of all lovers of amusement and the
 
 pretty theatre are first class. What is greatly to the credit of the management is that the patrons of the matinee per formances will find the plays given en- tire. No cutting from the regular even- ing performance.
 Strawberry hills boom is still on, John w. Thompson having sold two lots there to Charles Iheis and another to Susannah Skidmore, James Vandcrbeck | is at work there on the foundation of his house and George F. Huunmiston builds cellar to which his double house is to be moved.
 The many friends ill town of Philip Conrad will regret to learn of his death, after an illness of some months, at his home on Gilbert street, Bridgeport, at the age of Sl years and 7 months. For some years after giving up his business in Bridgeport, he resided on Main street, near the up town green and made many friends by his quiet, unobtrusive manner and faithful devotion to the religious principles which, for so many years. had been the handspring of his business and social action. For many years, he has been d devoted member of the NJ. E. church, constant in his attendance at public worship and liberal in donations to church work. His first wife, who proved herself d loving partner i'll all his joys and sorrows, died a few years since and he married the widow of Mir Dibble, life long member of the Fairfield ave nue NJ. l.. church of Bridgeport, who survives him. MT Conrad was a native of Germany, cOmIng to this country in 1885 and to Bridgeport in 1910, where for many years he was engaged in the meat business.
 Rev E. E. Warmer and Mrs Warner received their numerous friends at Christ church rectory in Bridgeport, New Years day. Mir Warner was formerly rector or ,Jhrist church here and has many friends in town, who availed themselves of the opportunity to wish him happy New Year.