Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-07-31
Let improvement be the Order of the Day.

EDITOR OF THE REGIsTER-Your sug-
gestion some time ago to organize a
Town Improvement Association has the
right ring. Every citizen ought to take
pride in the improvement OF the town
in which he lives. Surroundings have
much to do with life, and everywhere
at present the effort is being made to
improve and beautify the homes and the
surroundings of the people. The cities
provide parks with lawns and flowers
and fountains for the comfort and
pleasure and development of the rich
and the poor, and even the railroads
have Joined in the chorus, and they
have grass and flowers along their lines,
in some cases attracting much atten-
ticn by their beauty. In a town like
ours much must be left to the individ-
ual citizens, and they ought TO be en-
coura aged to make smooth pavements,
and paint and repair their building s
and plant flowers and in every way
strive to make the town beautiful and
attractive.
The writer is very sorry to know that
the citizen who has taken the lead in
such commendable things and has
beautified his place to the great i'm
provement of the town has been an
noyed and prosecuted no little, and
when it seemed that he could only be
reached with others, orders have been
issued to disfgure and in some cases to
practically destroy other marked i'm
provements in the town. 1t is almost
past belief that any of our citizens
should conduct themselves in such an
unjust and iniudicious way, but the
evidence is complete and the record is
made up, though it had TO be patched
up in lucid moments when the council
was not in session. The council, with
two exceptions, stands recorded as ia
voring the tearing down OF all the i'm
provements they can possibly reach,
and there is not word about trying to
improve the town, nor word of praise
for any faithful efforts in that direc-
ton, with the exceptions noted.
We have heard tar and feathers, !"
Winchester" and ''hot water" sug-
gested, but we are averSe to such un-
seemly methods, and we suggest that
the good citizens encourage the I'M
provement fever The writer has re-
joiced to see so many citizens take an
active interest in trying to better condl-
tions here, as shown by the Business
Mems Association. They have spent
time and money trying to induce facto-
ries to locate here and give the people
work, and we are sure they are interest
ed in having the town improve in every
way.
Some Of our council have expressed
contempt for the petition of citizens,
which is their constitutional right, and
it is very clear they are not caring for
public opinion, but it is certainly TO be
hoped that the ma jority of them are not
beyond the reach of appeal, and we
would urge all good citizens TO stand
firmly and kindly for the right and re-
quest those clothed with brief author
ity" to try to build up and not tear
down our village. If we had no porches
at all, some people would still have to
walk in the middle of the streets, and it
occurs to the writer that much better
way than tearing down any present i'm
provements would be 10 encourage 9TH
ers TO improve their property. Let US
all try to make our town attractive.
For weeks there has been practically
but one theme for conversation, and
many bitter things have been said.
Now move for a change OF subject,
and | trust you and your readers will
agree with me that we have had enough
of petty spite and it will be a good thing
now to awake to some method Of much
needed improvements. Let us forget
the unpleasant things OF the past few
weeks and resolve TO beautify and i'm
prove our town. We do not charge the
council anything for suggesting that
they repeal the half century ordinance
which has never been enforced, and
hereafter require porch builders to get
a permit from the council, so that they
can have entire control of the matter,
and no citizen can abuse his liberty in
that direction An apology and vote
of thanks would also seem TO be due to
Mr.. Beethoven, and then we might
shake hands all around and try to inn
prove our work in town and at the polls.
A VOTER.