Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-11-30
$4,000 Surplus?
Tn THE Town COUNCIL:

Is IL not true that the statement
made by Mr.. Nj. w. Jones, and
nublished in the Battletown News,
tends. at least. TO mislead and TO
deceive the public mindl He foots
up over $4,000 and treats it as cash
in the treasury. Is this true as a
matter of factl Is it not true on
the contrary that in order to make
mn this statement and bring out the
result he has brought out. he took
into consideration all OF the back un-
maid taxes, and included likewise the
uncolected water rent for several
years. Isitnot likewise true that he
didn't take into consideration adebt
10 the Bank of Clarke County, due
bv the Town Council, of something
like $1,000 as we are informed, and
4 debt likewise due To the Berry
willie Fire Company of something
like 800 as we are informed.
Now. then, if it be true that you
have over two thousand dollars
in the Treasury, which we are in
formed is not true, where does the
town stand with an outstanding
Indebtedness of $4,000 of bonds
for the Water Works, about $1,000
10 the Bank of Clarke County and
800 to the Fire Company Is it
fair that the public shall be misled
and deceived by statements of this
character We are authorized to
refer anybody who wants to know
about these facts. TO Mr.. John
II. Shackleford, or Mr.. Chas. NJ.
Broun. or Mr.. Conrad Kowuslar,
or Mr.. III. w. Baker. or all four
of them, and they will inform them
aS To whether or not these inquiries
we now make are appropriate and
whether or not the public has not
been misled and deceived 10y the
statement made up by Mr.. Jones.
All one has to do is to look at
the crossing i'm front of Mr.. 4.
Moore. Jr.'s Office and see It's
wretched condition and then at the
crossing on the opposite side of the
street and see its condition. as we'll
rs other places. TO know that it is
impossible for the town To have
kept in its treasury $1,000 and not
have filled up the holes in these
crossings TO avoid injury to the
travellers along the streets and
damages against the town, in the
event of injury. 1t would be a sad
commentary upon the town cOun-
ell of Berryville, il we believed
that there was over two thous-
and dollars in the treasury, and
yet the condition of the town is
such a. we find it today. Its sani-
tary condition is bad enough and
there Is risk to any traveller who
walks along the streets at night of
being injured if he happens to
cross from one side of the street to
the other, because of the defective
character of the crossings.
We know the members of the
town council and we do not believe
that they could have been guilty
of such negligence in the perform
ance of their duty as not to have
the places repaired. nor can we
believe that they have left over
$1,000 in the treasury doing nothing
and earning no interest. when as
matter of fact they owe somewhere
IN the neighborhood of $40, 900. 1t
would be a reflection upon these
gentlemen, which we are not will
ing to make, and therefore we do
not believe the statement to be
correct, but we call upon the town
council to say if it is correct. and,
1t they have got $4,000 in the
treasury, to say why they haven't
done something with it, either in
the reduction of the debt or in the
Improvement of the town.
After the above article was
written, based on personal talks
with members of the Town Coun-
cll' the editor decided to refer it to
them for immediate answer. Their
answer is appended hereto. Ed.
COURIER.
EDITOR COURIER: