Asheville daily citizen., 1891-06-09
SOME HINTS.
An ASlImiriMg visitor Writes of
AsheYIlIe.

An Ad1mirinG visitor "rteS Oi
AslleYiiIc.
Cant. Matt Atkinson has received u let
ter. of which what follows is apart from
Mr.. John Chambcrlin visitor here dur
inE last winter.
when leaving your beautiful town oi
Ashcvillc week since for my home IN
Massachusetts you asked my ideas relat'
ing to Ashcvillc improvements, | take
this opportunity to convey to you I'M
pressions derived from seven months
residence with you. First, lwcnt among
YOU to recover my health, which was ST.
riously impaired by a prolonged Illness.
Well, during winter of abnormal sever
ity for the locality, storms Of rain and
snow following each other very ire
qucntly. making the streets at times al
most impossible for the pedestrian, as
well as for vehicles, at times dismal
enough for the well, and doubly so for in
vaids; and yet, most remarkable, all,
YES all, improved. And in my own case
left your town calling myself a well
man, being made so by the climate OF
your beautiful mountain city; and | am
firmly convinced that a residence in Ashc-
vile for one affected with bronchial
troubles is far preferable to one i'll Cali
fornia or Colorado. Having resided i'll
both states. think can judge impair
italy. l do not think more healthy
spot of country, and for scenic beauty
well think that Bicrstadt would needed
only to have placed on canvas scenes
from Richmond Hill, Battery Park site,
Mr.. Vandcrbilt's place, and many other
points, and he would have relegated
some of his famous paintings to second
or third place.
"Whcn man like Mr.. Vanderbilt,
with his resources enabling him to obtain
the most correct climatic changes OF
very many localities, settles down in
Ashcvile, you may be sure that many
other will soon follow him.
"Thc one thing needed to show your
superiority and maintain your vantage,
is lust to improve your streets and side
walks. The next is to improve your
schools. These two attained, sewerage,
water, etc., will be attained easily.
In improving your streets you have one
material, and one alone, that is hard
burnt brick, which is Immediately at
hand, costing but little, but if laid prop
crly, would last n long time.
"As far as contracting for paving your
streets, think it would be inludlcious
and would bc more expensive. Iouhave
the material, und you have the labor,
and your town wants, if any profit is
to be made on paving, to be the one to
reap the benefit. No city, think, can al
ford to have paving done by contract,
and il by any manner the large appro-
priation which you have voted to raise
for the above purpose is not spent hon
estly and judiciously, capital, at all times
captious and critical, will in consldcra-
ton, of your liabiliticsas a municipality,
scan closely the methods you pursue in
this case of your city management. You
have men of ability and integrity, fully
as able to cxpend your money as any
contractor, and feel sure would give
you better work.
"During my sojourn in Ashevillc the
past winter, | attended as a spectator
your courts, and was an interested spec
tator of your two elections, at neither OF
which did see any need ef force bill ma
chinery to conduct them. Your people
down there are not any different from
our democrats at the north; yes, and as
many republicans would he if placed in
your position. john ChanIberllD,