Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-08-23
Our Merchant Friends Are
Asked
TO CLEAN UP THE SIDEWALK
AND KEEP CLEAN.


ANi'ct i'diiN l.edueF.
The writer sees with pleasure the
article in your issue OF the 18th call
ing attention TO Bluefield Avenue In
this city and the unclean condition In
which the average grocery store on
that street is kept--particularly the
side walk In front OF these stores.
The owners of these stores seem in
difrereE' To the ordinary rules of
cleanliness and decency. The half
has not yet been told In the article
In your issue referred To. IL is said
In political circles that PUBLICITY
is "A cure for DISHONESTY. VIII Il
can it also cure and remove filth
and dirt? VIII calling the public's
attention TO the vile condition OF the
sidewalks on Bluefield Avenue have
even slight tendency to make the
dealers on that street clean up their
front doors and walks? II so. those
who are instrumental i'm inviting such
public attention are indeed benefac-
tors Csnnot-will not-the public
authorities-the Street Committee
the Scavenger-do something to
ameliorate the present condition. >
The owners of grocery stores should
keep the sidewalks in front OF their
stores clean because IL Is becoming
-- because IL is Next to Godliness. ="
because health requires 1t. But n
they will not do so, Il behooves the
people who buy groceries-and this
means all the people--to buy them
from dealers who have some regard
for the laws of cleanliness and health
The buyers should use some discre-
ton. They should purchase their
supplies from dealers who maintain
clean surroundings for many rea-
sons--not least among which Is that
such only are worthy OF their pat
ronage who are public spirited
enough To keep decent premises
and-largely and chiehy-because
vegetables and groceries are only fit
or safe for use when they are prom
erly kept They absorb the impure
and noxious elements from the air
as a sponge absorbs the water i'm n
basin. And yet we eat vegetables and
groceries which are kept and sold
under conditions that we would not
permit in our kitchen back yards.
These things will not much longer
he tolerated II the dealers will not
themselves relieve the situation
the City Authorities will not pro-
tect the people-then those who buy
can and may do so by patronizing
only those grocerymen and provision
dealers who keep clean houses clean
sidewalks and healthful provisions.
There Is no desire to iniure any
man in his business-such q purpose
IS unmanly and improper-there is
only hope OF correcting manifest
abuses prompting this article. But
these abuses are intolerable-
are stigma and n shame-No stran-
ger or public spirited citizen can view
snch conditions as prevail along the
sidewalks on the South side OF BIue-
field Avenue. without Indignation and
disgust. WIN these dealers preserve
the respect Of the people-wiH they
retain the patronage Of the people by
doing what so plainly they ought To
do? Tf not. will the public authorities
give the people the relief they ask
aid 10 preserve the health OF the com
munity. by giving decent surround
ings. pure air? or must the people
protect themselves by the use OF their
patronage? This last will be an nm.
answerable demonstration.
This subject will not be allowed IL
rest until these reforms come Come
they must because they are right
the welfare OF the people require,
them. and THAT is the first. greai
law.
POPULUS.