The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-29
kICKER'S COLUMN.
Observations on Town Improvements.

To the Editor Of The Herald and
News:-As you propose to open a
''kicker's Column in The Herald and
News it occurs to me to furnish you a
few observations for it. ! would, how
ever, not wish to be regarded as a kicker
against any improvement that the
town can reasonably afford. But we
have need of very many improvements,
and I think it the part Of wisdom to
undertake the most necessary first. 1t
will he time enough to undertake lux
uries, if g find that we can afford
them, after the works Of prime neces-
sity have been carried out. | need not
refer to past errors in this respect, but
those errors ought to serve as guide
for the future.
In the first place We are not yet done
with the graded school, and are called
upon in a few days to vote another
5000 for the building. We should of
course do all that is necessary TO make
these schools a success, for money spent
in the cause Of public education | al
wavs regard as wisely spent. But from
what I have heard Of the cost OF build
ings elsewhere, it does seem to ME
that the $4,000 already voted, together
with the S3,OQ0 to $1,000 that the
two lots belonging to the town are
said to be worth, ought to be suffl-
cient to erect a building ample for all
present purposes. merely make this
observation in passing; but would not
wish to be understood as opposed to
voting the additional sum asked for.
Then every one must admit that our
streets require far more work than
they get. They are a wilderness OF
grass and weeds in summer, ard a lob
lol!y of mud in winte-. Mr.. Jackson
should have larger force Of street
workers at his disposal, and perhaps
mightwork it little more eenergetically.
But our most pressing present want is
unouestionably good supply of water,
as was urged by DR.. Mcintosh and
and others at the meeting. This IS
urgently needed 10Th for the health of
the people and for the safety of the
town from fire. If a regular system OF
water works be found feasible, in the
language of the resolution adopted, so
much the better. That would answer
all purposes. But should this not be
the case, then it seems to me that we
should at least have two or three good
cister.ls constructed without day IN
the most exposed parts of the Town for
the use of the fire department. do
not at all agree with the idea have
heard expressed, that only the center
of the town has the right to protection
from fire. ! hold that all taxpayers
have such right, and for their resi-
dences as we'll as their stores and places
of business. Cisteras adequate for all
purposes, I am Informed by the eff
cient head of our fire department, can
be constructed for two or three hum
dred dollars each; that is, the license
for one Of the new barrooms to be
opened would about construct two good
cisterns. AS it seems to be the policy
of our conscript fathers, very wrongly
as I think, to increase instead of dimln-
ish the number Of these places for cor
rupting our youth, and reducing fami-
lies to poverty and shame, at least all
the advantage possible should be got
out OF them for the benefit of the town.
Instead Of raising the license only 500,
/ would have at least doubled it. The
license at Chesteris, believe, 81 900 and
at Spartanburg $1,000. lis true, either
sum would be very inadequate re-
turn for the harm done g town by
barroom; but it would at least be some
thing with which to do necessary
work.
After our town is properly supplied
with water aud other prime necessities,
I should not only have no objection,
but would be delighted to see our streets
lighted by electricity. This would be
not only highly ornamental but also
exceedingly useful in many ways: 1
have seen many smaller places than
Newberry with electric lights, and 1
see no good reason why we might not
have them. l freely admit that our
present pretense at illumination is a
miserable failure and little better than
nothing at all. only insist that we
should undertake what is most neces-
sary first.
If this be kicking, then | am
\ KICKER.