The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-22
WHAT ROANOKE NEEDS,
a Citizen Makes Number of Pertinent
Suggestions.

Suggestions.
To THE EDITOR OF The TINES: Not
long since read in your valued paper
some very timely suggestions from a
number of the citizens of Roanoke what
in their Judgment, was needed for the
growth, prosperity and good Of the city
Will you kindly allow me short
space in the columns of your paper to
say first that THE TIMES is doing fine
work for Roanoke and it should be held
up and supported by every citizen of the
town, as oar daily papers are, or should
be, the channels of information and cor
rection.
II any official neglects his duty, let
the people take it up through the press,
as every, officer is supposed to be the
servant of the people. 1t is right and
proper that they should be looked after
by the people, given credit and en-
sured and brought TO the post of duty IL
need be.
Now, 1t seems TO me that the dis
orderly proceedings, or mobs as thew
are sometimes called, are entirely
wrong, but there must be some cause
for IT, Is it not possible that OUT police
is not vigilant enough? Or that the
mayor is not as decided as he should be?
1t seems to me that it world be better
for ell of us 60 live in law-abiding
city, and not have 1t necessary every
time anything happens to sound the
alarm and call out the military, and by
SO doing call out and excite the whole
town, and the next day have it heralded
ehroughout the land that Roanoke has
had another lynchiug, OF that the
military was called out to disperse a
mob.
Our police should ne men who would
not allow these mobs to take possession
of the Headquarters of Justice. Some
thing Is very wrong, or tho people would
not see it necessary to turn out, and
take the law IN their own hands and
cause this disgrace to be put upon the
fair name of our city.
No good law abiding people want to
live in such n place and those who are
not here will not come. Let our mavor
issue a proclamati against such pro-
ceedsngs, and instruct the police force
and act them understand that it is their
business to put down crime AID protect
the people and their property. And.
furthermore, that 1T must be done even
at the peril of their lives, or let them
be put out and others put in who will
90 Shelr duty, and not every time that
dozen men are see2 moving at q hurried
gate, ring the alarm bell and call ont
the whole city.
The writer has noticed some other
things that does not seem right. For
several weeks Campbell street has been
closed, or at least q rope stretched from
one side to the other, and cusble stones
scattered along for many rods on what
IVES intended as q sidewalk. Now IL
seems to me that II. is hard enough for
the people to have to plod over the ir.
regular and muddy walks without hay
ing TO pitch and tumble ove- lot of
stones six or eight Inches in diameter.
A few nights since tho writer, at a
little after dark, was compelled to take
the middle OF the street. He had gone
but little ways before he brought up
against the rope that was stretched
across the street. If 1t has got to take
from six to eight weeks to maeadamize
little piece of street that ought to be
done in so many days, let tho men take
one side at time or short piece that
they can finish in day and leave it at
night SO that people can get by without
endangering their lives.
The people who are doing this work
do not seem to realize that piles of large
stones should not be left on the walks
for persons to tumble over. 1t is about
time that Roanoke began to put on the
appearance and air of city and throw
OIL that OF country village.
CITJzry