Year: 1859

MR. EDrToR.-I dislike to trouble you with l this communication, but it really seems neces- sary for some one to take an interest in the welfare ot our town. Having paid to the collectors, few days since, over fifty dollars corporation taxes, I feel that have a right at least to enquire, what is all this money being collected for? I see no improvements of late except little at the steam boat land. ing-I am told about five hundred and fifty dollers worth--which amount, and great deal more, should have been expended on the land ing long since-it being warfage money col- lected from boats. This, with small plank culvert over Buena Vista and Woodruff streets, The hands that were at work for the corpo- ration have been discharged and suppose nothing more is to be done thIs year, although understand there is near S2.500 available means at the command of the board of Mayor and Aldermen. Why not haul brick-bats from the different yards, or top dirt, and raise the tow places in Buena Vista street, and otherwise improve 1t, to prevent the miserable mnd.hoes that will be before store doors the coming winter and spring The merchants have a right to demand it. They pay, think, more than half the taxes of the town. What in re- turn have they received? Other improve ments, in different parts of the town, ought to be made, in justice to the taxpayers. If they are not to be made, say refund portion of the money which has been collected this year, and reduce the taxes for the future to one-halt or one-third of the present rate. Justice de- mands that one or the other should be done, and # the powers that be will not act, we will have to be content for the present, with the hope that better day may come. Even the paving of the sidewalks has stopped. A few have complied with the law, (your humble servant for one,) while large majority seem to disregard it, having but one month to go OF after which time the corporation, according to existing laws, will have the paving done at the expense of the owners, and tan additional expense of fifty per cent. on the cost, together with the costs of selling the lots to pay for said paving, eff not otherwise paid) Several monied men are waiting to buy lots at such saies--say they will risk the title. So WE CO., We have elected men to make our corporation laws; and our town charter, as they suppose, bears them out in saying we must make pave- ments in front of our lots on both sides of Buena Vista street, by the 1st day of December next, at onr owu expense. Qaite number have complied with the law, and suppose think others should oso. ''Whcn you are in Rome do as Rome doesp It is of but little pse to make a szot of pavement here and there If lot-holders understood their own interest, they would not hesitate to make the. required pavements. If they fail to do so, the powers that rule the city must either back down, or go ahead WE WILL SEE Aud, Mir. Editor, hope I will not be considered otticious for remarking, that from the number houses in Des Arc, and the great number in prospect, particularly on Buena Vista St.. one would suppose the proper authority ought to send on for engine and hose forthwith, and a fire company ought immediately organise, also bucket, ard hook and ladder company, which will surely be very useful institutions in Des Arc soon, unless we have extraordinary good luck. The fact is, those owning build ings, on Buena Vista street, in the business part of town in which stoves are used, should be required to put up brick flues from the seal ing to sufficient distance above the roofs of such houses, that the sparks will in ordinary weather pass above the roofs of adjacent buildings. stoye-pipes put upin the ordinary and frequently careless manner are very dangerous, and causing great uneasiness to those notfeeliug that their business justifes the expense of insurance. It is to be hoped that the board of Aldermen will at ea ast look to the interestof large number of citizens in this matter, without delay

 TAXPAYER.