Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-04-02
The Other Side.

El~lHl HI VI D., MdftH bj. lbji.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
Seeing the letter in your paper last
week signed "TaxpilerS" concerning
street paving, etc, | wish to say some
thing, too, and will contimc my remarks
to several statements made by these
"TaXpayerS.'
Some of the present Council, if | am
rightly informed. made public to some
ut least that the paving would cost so
much a yard and on the basis of the
figure given some owners of property
agreed to paving.
But shortly after it was learned that
the cost would be much more than
formerly understood. Then, | under
stand, there was Il counter petition
presented to Council by some property
owners revokinS their former agree
ment on account of the excessive cost
and before there was any contract made.
But, CZarllke, no attention WAS paid
to 1t.
Now. "TaxpayerS' claim il is il great
increase IN the value of properties front
ing on Union from Bowery to Water
street.
But let any fair-minded man make Il
casual survey, especially on the south
side from Bowery to the Hitchins prop
ertv, and he Will see, with a few
exceptions, instead of benefit, there is
positive damage to properties, owing
to grading and widening of pavements.
There are few, if any, of the pavements
that will shed water over the curb with
out raising the pavcments considerably
above the d00r-stepS.
Another NATTER would ask some of
Il 4 ri,,h,f
to widen the pavcmentS? If more space
was required, was it not more ON the
street than the pavement: Or if it was
to avoid Il clash, or show some favor to
the Pole company or companies is it
right or just that the proprriy-Owners
should pay for it
About our trolley company refusing
to pay for the regarding of their road,
etc. | think it is justified in doing so. as
it romn!ird with all the exactions of the
then sitting Council. Indeed, some of
them had claims from to 10 extra days
at 81 day, and suppose the most of
that time was given in directing the
grading of said road.
But here comes Il new set of Council
men and they make alterations. What
guarantee has owners of property. after
complying with all tie requirements of
one Council, that another Council, TO
crafty the whims or it may be the spite
of some or all of them, may not require
alterations again and at the expense of
the owners of property:
Referring to the north side of orr
street especially the east or the lower
cnd-if the property owners have to
comply with all the requirements of
''TaXpaycrS' it will cost some of them
hundreds of dollars in damage. No
surprise if they have property TO rent
that they increase the same in helping
pay expenses.
| consider the paving of the street no
more benefit to the owners of property
than to the people of PocnhOntas. In
the first place. they have to raise or
lower their payements, AS the case may
be. Then they have to pay for new
curbing 20 cents running foot. The
old curbiug was not pretty enough.
Then the widening of pavemcnts; then
IL certain portion Of the street-paving;
then, not satisfied with all these eX.
actions, here comes another whack-they
are included in the general list of
"TaXpayerS.'
In concluding this review | wish to
advert to the talk about oar trolley
company looping he town. If by so do
ing il will increase our Indebtedness
then | suggest we have looping enough
for the present. Lee Us try and loupour
debt, live within our income, maize pro-
vision for gradually paying the debt ""
are carrying, and feel easy once more.
CASUAL OBSERVER