Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-15
INTERESTING Mun,c,ooI Rotte,s

toWH appear 10 De UNUSUALLY interest
ing just at present-so much so that
the REGISTER will endeavor to give a
faithful account of the situation, sure
that it will be news appreciated by its
readers. The street committee seems
to be the pain source of interest.
This committee has for its chairman
Mayor Ray. He appointed himself 10
the place. If all accounts are true.
he is chairman and committee too,
pretty nearly. Among the improve
ments made by the street committee
was the macadanizing of the street
in front Of the Mayors property on
River street. A large sum of money
was spent on this work, and there
has been considerable criticism of the
matter, as the street is one which
simply leads to the river bluff, and
has but four houses upon it beyond
the Mayors property and ends a
hundred yards the other side OF it.
Next, depression on High street, at
the old colored church, was set apart
for improvement" A simple ditch
OF few yards would have drained
the place, but the street committee
kindly paid Mr.. Arthur, contractor,
five cents load for hauling dirt there
from excavations he was making, and
it is said several hundred loads were
dumped there, making the place, ac
cording to the views of at least one
member Of the Council, worse that it
was before. But the street committee,
or it's chairman Mayor Ray, was just
getting warmed up to its work, and
was prepared to do still better. Town
Sergeant johnson, who is in high
favor with the committee, as it is
proper and right he should be, start
ed toI build house. Now, cellar
digging is somewhat expensive OPP
Grafton, but it was not going to be
made so to Sergeant Johnson. The
street committee, or Mayor Ray, &C
cording to information received by
the REGISTER from a member OF
Council, wanted more dirt and APP
parently wanted it very badly. They
put men to work digging the cellar,
and furnished teams to haul the dirt
and place it in that already costly
hole on High street-all at the cor
poration's expense. 1t was a mighty
fine thing for Mr.. Johnson, but it was
a trifle rough on the taxpayers.
We hardly think that the corpora
ton intended to complete Sergeant
Johnson's house for him, but the next
step of the Mayor looked little that
way. A part of the stone wall sur
rounding the old Episcopal grave
yard had fallen down. 1t contained
unusually good building stone, and
the Mayor, it is said, kindly presented
them to Mr.. Johnson for the construc-
ton OF the foundation of his new
house. The confiscation of these
stones became known, and the church
authorities stopped proceedings be-
fore they were hauled away. There
has been, we believe, no further dona-
lions to the new house by the street
committee up to the present time.
At the Council meeting on Monday
night last reference was made to the
subject of paying for the first hauling
of dirt, but the bill presented was or
dered paid. Mr.. Hartzell gave notice
that he would object hereafter to any
bills of a similar character, and the
bills for Mr.. Johnson's excavating and
hauling were not put in at that meet
ing. There will be a very vigorous
protest when they are presented.
Mayor Ray had little bill before
the council Monday night. 1t was
for a lot of stone that Mr.. Ray had
furnished Chairman Ray Of the street
committee. The price asked was 40
cents perch. An inquiry from Mr..
Hartzell developed the fact that the
street committee had heretofore paid
but IS cents a perch, whereupon Mr..
Ray changed his figures to the latter
price.
1t must be said in all frankness that
many OF the people Of this community
did not expect much from Mayor Rays
administration Of the town affairs.
We think, however, that his perform
ances are a surprise to even those who
thought they knew what to expect.
1t has been a long time since Shep-
herdstown has been the victim Of such
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