The Forrest City times., 1900-04-06
The Other Side.

presents a few reasons why there should not be Q Public Library. We do not care to enter into any particular discussion of this matter, preferriug that some other person, who may be better qualified to pre- sent the library side of the ques- tion, should do so; but we will no. ticc briefly tho points presented by "The Other Side."
 First. The cemetery. No amount of money could ever put the For rest City cemetery in respectable condition. It is unfortunately situ- atcd, IS cut up by great ugly ditches which could not now be filled, and the only public work that it re- quires IS substantial fence to keep the stock out. Other improvements are properly the private business of thosc who have loved ones buried there. The condition of the cemetery as an objection to the library IS not well taken.
 ~Second. The school debt. When the taxes now bcing collected are pald over to the several districts, and the Forrest City District re. ccives it's share, tho district will be entirely out of debt and have money to It's credit. The school debt as an objection to tho library is not well taken.
 Third. Increase of church sub- scriptions. It is not fact that we have five dilapidatcd church build- ings. There is not a dilapldated church building in Forrest City. On the contrary, with the excep- ton of tho need of paint, they are all in first-class condition. We ad. init the need of moro liberal church subscriptions, but this should not and will not interfere with tho h. brary. The small church subscrip- tions are greatly due to the inac- ton of the gentlemen who are ap- pointed to secure them, and tho fact that proper effort is not made to collect them. We mean by tbls that if men were appointed to se- cure them who had first sincere desire to raise q given amount, some influence, and the energy to collect it promptly and in n busi- ness way, the church subscriptions of Forrest City would not be below those ot any other God-fcaring town. The point is not well taken.
 Fourth. The street cleaning force. It is the business of the Board of Health to see that each citizen keeps the streets and alleys around and about his premises clean, and in addition to this the city has for one or two years had q Monday morning street cleaning, which answers tolerably we'll, and if supplemented by q dutiful en- forcement of strict orders from the aforesaid Board of Health, will an swer every purpose, and our streets will present the very cleanest and neatest appearance. The point is not we'll taken.
 We assert, without fear of sue. cossful co ntradiction, that no town m Arkansas, not larger than this, can show better system of gray. eled streets and well made side walks. We admit that moro are needed, but Rome wasn't built in . day, and neither can this work be accomplished at once. The wrecked City Hall, the result of unavoida bIe confagration, will soon be re. placed by a beautiful and credita- ole building, modern in all of it's appointments, by the city authori- ties, who are the proper persons to do it, and with the city's money. The repairs needed at Stuart's Springs are of such small magni- tade that it is unworthy of mention. They should be put in order. Fifty dollars will do it. and will not in- terfere with the library. 1.-The sewer system is under considcra- tion by the Commissioners of Im-