The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-07
TOWN TALK.

readers 70 al article, published else
where by Fair Treatment" which
is we'll worthy Of serious thought.
While we have refrained heretofore
from making any criticism on the lax
manner in which the Town Commits
sioners of Bel Air have acted with the
Electric Railway Company, yet we
cannot now withhold the just crlti-
cisIn which must fall upon them as
public officers of the town. The posi-
tion of town Commissioner is OF Lecss-
sity an exactiDg aud thankless place
but when man will seek the job IN
the manner that some of the present
board fought for reelection the
natural sympathy, which is ordinarily
felt for any one in an office which hes
heretofore gone begging as a rule, is
not aroused in the hearts of the
average citizen.
AS our correspondent truly says,
Bel Air, while important no doubt to
the residents of the place, is a very
small spot on the map of the United
States, and there is no question but
what the action Of the present town
board has done more to retard it's
growth than many persons appreciate.
So long as our town fathers stand in
the way OF enterprise and progression
we cannot expect TO be anything more
than q little hamlat, There is moth
ing that will help tbs growth of q
town ike Increased railroad facilities.
The more we lave the better.
Another thing, man of our taxpayers
opposed the buildiuE of the road on
the Main street. This may have been
good policy or not Int it does seem
that when busy place like Balti-
more street allows . car running in
either direction eve, few seconds; CT
the aristocratic Ole portion of Balti-
more like Charles street is, is traversed
with rapid transit; we think that our
little town could well afford to allow
the right of way MICH would open
up one of the most progressive por-
lions of Hartford county and bring
daily among US much trade which is
row diverted to other points. How
ever, it may have been y small matter
which street was chosen, but we do
think that they should have offered
more liberal terms than what we
understand the ordinance contained.
A. = i ch
built any one who wishes to patronze
it will be compelled to walk a con-
siderable distance to reach it's tracks.
Speaking of progression, it is not an
inopportune time for our people 10
bestir themselves and become a little
more modernized. This town today
stands in an excellent position to be-
come one of the most important sub
urbs of Baltimore. We now have a
broad-gauge railroad aud there is
every prospect that the time is not
far distant before trains will be run
ming between the Metropolis and our
borders in less than an hour. Every
stranger who comes amongst us is
charmed with the hospitality of the
people and many of them would take
up their abode if we were only little
more progressive.
In the first place, the condition Of
our streets and sidewalks, is very bad.
We commend the Board for what re-
cent improvements they have made,
especially the sidewalks, for they
seem to have solved the difficult ques-
tion in the best manner. With the
present tax rate certain amount of
permanent turnpiking could be done
each year. What we mean by this, is
TO do whatever work they contem-
plate in a permanent manner, 1t does
not pay TO patch. The Commission
ers previous to this Board found this
out to their sorrow.
Ard now little talk on electric
lights. There has been some COM
plant recently, and not without cause,
about the condition of the current
which furnishes our illuminant. If
as it is charged, the dynamo is over
loaded, the corporation which has
the contract should be compelled to
remedy the difficulty as the agreement
with the town requires that the
lamps shall be kept at a certain stand
ard
AS TO the hours q service-that can
soon be remedied The present con-
tract expires next ear and the town
Board viii have certainly profitted by
their experience iB' he past not to
again make an agreement with any
one unless the lighting schedule is
radically changed Many persons
have favored the town owning it's
electric plant. This is a matter
worthy OF thong bt ful consideration.
And now in conclusion, we hope
that this article viii be received in as
friendly manner as it is given. We
are all neighbors hare together and
each is dependant on the welfare of
the other for his support. All we
wish TO do is to stir up our town
fathers little and get them to keep
abreast with the times. If they will
only go about the matter with the
same vim that they collected the
back taxes which we're left as a
precious legacy by the previous board,
and with the money thus realized
paid off the notes in bank--then we
will have a town that will be second
to none in the State.
THE MESSAGE IN BRIEF.