Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-01-14
CosnIUSIcATED.
TO CITY F.fTEEERS.
LENGTHEN THE CORDS
and sPaENGFHEN THE STAKES.

Some fifteen wears have elapsed since the,
present charter of Charlestown was granted.
In that time the population of tie town has
increased fully sixty per cent. The busl-
ness has increased in proportion and con-
siderable sums of money have been invest
ed in new buildings, repairing and modern
ling old ones, and in other substantial i'm
provements by individuals. 1t is fair to
assume that the taxable basis has increased
in proportion or nearly so.
In all these years nothing has been done
by the Corporation toward opening new
thoroughfares or extending old ones, and
with the exception of George and Samuel
Streets extended the former being the en-
trance of the Bloomery pike the town IS as
completely shut in on the North and South
as it was when it was village OF 1900 or
1900 people. Along the lines of existing
highways leading from the town the popu
lation has overfowed the boundaries to a
considerable extent and it may be in order
at no distant day to extend the corporate
limits. Meanwhile, however, it is of the
utmost Importance that ready access to the
newer portion of the town and its suburbs
should be secured. And it is high time the
municipal authorities were taking steps to
condemn or otherwise acquire lands neces-
sary for the opening Of new sire Is or the
extension of the existing ones to the north
and south Of the town especially The &C
tive work being done by the Charlestown
/ NJ, NJ and Improvement Company in inn
proving and developing its lands, makes
this necessity the more imperative. We lind
George street the most important of the tho
roughfares running north and south, OBJ
structed Just before it reaches the Il. d o..
r. r. by Il dwelling standing in the centre
of what should I've the bed of the street.
Charles street, another important street ana
becoming more so by the location of bust
ness houses on it on both sides of Main ST., is
practically no thoroughiare, extending
as it does from a 20 foot alley at the south to
the VI. Z. Church, South, on the north, "a
distance of only five blocks. We under
stand the removal of both these buildings on
y. George and n. Charles streets can be Sc
cured on reasonable terms; and while the
Improvement Company is interested to Il
greater or less degree in the opening and
extension of these streets, the town of
Charlestown and the owners Of property Il
long their lines are much more so. The de-
veopment of the Improvement Company's
property is not dependent wholly or TO a
great degree upon the opening of either Of
these streets Though, as already stated, it IS
inter sted in the natter for the reason that
access to its property from the old town is
easy through Mildred, Samuel and Law
renee streets. But it would be serious
matter to the town, and to property owners
and tax payers to have its present bust
ness centre removed OF the value OF property
diminished for want of ready access to the
growing new town with its diversified indus
tries and increasing population. The ex-
tension Of existing streets toward the south
is scarcely less important.
We earnestly invite the attention of our
Council to this matter Don't allow i'm
proyement and progress to be longer con-
fined to individual eiiors.