The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-25
A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
The Board of Health Should See
That it is Ahated.

:.
The great trouble and pains taken to
3 avoid doing anything toward abating the
sewer nuisance at the corner ofsJelferson
Il street and Seventh avenue s. w. is, co say
{ the least, very conlmendable. When one
is really entirely blind he does not get
b much credit for not seeing, but when u
+ person who can see goes around with his
eyes kept persistently closed he is apt to
be applauded for d ing something diff
cult. Therefore, the blindness of these
3 whose duty it is to fix that sewer open
s ing is to be commended If something
is not done very soon an appeal will be
made to the board of health, for the con-
dition of the atmosphere in that vicinity
y is such that there is danger of disease, to
i say nothing of how disagreeable it is to
4 passers-by
Ways and means Of getting ont of the
heat and dust of the city are being dis
cussed on all Sides Some are going to
send their families out into the country
I or to some convenient springs, not too
far away for reunions once week or as
often as those whose business keeps them
in town can get away. But TT ere are n
great many people in Roanoke who can
not afford this and who are therefore
compelled to keep their families cooped
up here all through the long hot summer
months. 1t is true that our city is so
situated that u few minutes ride or walk
will take any one to shade and quiet, but
that does not amount to much. Some
one has spoken of getting up excursion
parties each Saturday afternoon and sew
eral plans have presented themselves.
There are no places offering much amuse-
ment within easy reach of the city, but
for those who want rest and fresh air for
few hours and a chance to fish or roam
about in the woods there are lots of
A t,o I've II
responsible people for rates for parties of
eXcursionists on any of the trains out of
Roanoke, or for little more n cur could
be chartered and held exclusively. Leav-
ing Roanoke going west, on SATURDAY. af-
ternoons at little after O'Clock people
could go to Big Spring or some such place
and returning reach home at 1880 that
night, thus having about five hours in
the country Going east, while there is
no regular train coming back, it is posi-
BILE that arrangements to that effect could
be made and u longer time in the country
would be given. The cost of these little
trips would not be much and the benefits
great. There are many people here who
work hard all the week, and who would
be glad to avail them of such an
opportunity, if properly con Quoted. This
is done in other cities. Why cannot we
have something OF the sort here? 1t
enterprising person.
We are waiting with interest to see the
effect the recent cut the Bell Company
has made in the price of its phones will
have upon the new company. So far
there have been no further developments
aud the work of raising poles and string
ing wires by the new company goes stead
lily on. The question now is whether
either company is going to cut more and
be able to remain in the field. 1t is sup.
posed that the matter of greater or less
use of either phone will depend upon it's
merit alone, now that the rates are with
in the reach Of almost every one.
The mounted police in the bicycle pa.
rade on Saturday afternoon looked very
we'll, indeed. They are learning to ride,
but, naturally being n little excited ut
this their first public appearance, two Of
them ran into each other in making the
start near the corner of Jefferson street
and Campbell avenue. AS is usual with
beginners, each of them got mad and
blamed the other.
Agitation is sometimes the cause of
rather curious action on. the part of many
of us. Yesterday the policeman on the
Salem avenue beat, who is about the larg
est and ordinarily the most composed
member of the force, was seen to rush
frantically up to letter box, dive down