The news & observer., 1901-03-14
The ANTI-BoND FOLKS
They Say Money Has Been Wasted on
the Streets.
THEY GO FOR THE STREET DEPARTMENT
Committee Of Five in Each Division Are Ap-
Pointed, .,ho Are to Sound
Public Sentiment and
Report.

There was q meeting of citizens at
the mayors office last night to consider
the bond question. A number of speeches
were mad against the issuing OF an ad-
dltional 100000 for city Improvement.
and resolution passed to the effect that
1t is inexpedient to issue bonds at all for
street Improvement. Committees We're
appointed to canvass the situation in each
precinct and report the public sentiment
on the. matter to meeting to be held
next Monday night at the mayors office
The meeting was called to order by DR..
A. b. Hawkins
Mr.. Alf. Thompson was the first to
speak He stated that what he desired
to do is to find out the sentiment OF the
people on the question. He stated that
as far as he is individually concerned he
opposes the issue, but does not know
whether such feeling is general or not.
Mr.. Robbins said that he represented
five men-property holders-who oppose
the issuing of bonds.
The meeting seemed to drag, and Mr..
Thompson, to get something before
the body introduced a resolution that it
is the sense of the meeting that it is in
expedent to issue 500, 900 in bonds for
city Improvement purposes. This motion
was seconded by Mr.. Robbins.
Mr.. Carey Hunter said that he knew OF
many people who oppose issuing these
bonds. tive can see a decided lack of
wisdom in the work that has been done
In the last week they have strung out
lot of curbing into the negro part OF
town. "We have heard lot, he con-
tinued, ''about working men wanting
streets. As if We are not all working
men ard work three or four hours lon
ger than they do. The work done on
Newbern Avenue has made it well nigh
impassable in places. Why ! would drive
a mile around rather than try to pass it.
The work that has been done is not OF
character we can afford to push. | don't
Hesitate to say | disapprove of the course
they are taking. The reason is its too
near election to compel the people to
put down pavement"
Mr.. w. C. Douglas: 81 don't know Of
anybody that is in favor of more bonds. /
chose nv home where / did because, it
was shady and country like. We had a
good street there till they came along
with their dead level idea. and began
digging. They've nearly ruined the street,
and now they are thinking of tackling the
shade trees We will have rucus when
they do. If they had let my sidewalk
alone, Bwould have been perfectly salts
fed, anJI believe the people on my
street would This digging business has
ruined the best sidewalk in the city"
Dr. Hawkins said that he couldn't see
that any great benefit had come from the
money already expended on the streets.
''It cost me $500 around my house, and |
expect to have to pay 800 more
DR.. Hogg said that any street improve
ments to be made in the future would be
more expensive than those made hereto
lore. for the reason that the wages OF the
laborers has been raised. Another thing
we ought not to use up all the credit and
give posterity no show at all. Cities have
been enjoined by the courts issuing bonds,
when the proportion of bonds to their
wealth was much smaller than is the
case here in Raleigh.
Mr. Douglas offered as an amendment TO
the motion that it be declared the sense
of the meeting that it is inexpedient to
issue any bonds for street improvements.
This amendanent was accepted by Mr..
Thompson.
MIR. Barber said that Nevbern avenue