The Marietta Register, November 26, 1889:
Mr. Editor: In rambling over the pioneer city of The North West Territory (perhaps some of your readers may have heard that expression during the winter and summer of 1888) a casual observer may see many things worthy of comment. For instance, one cannot avoid seeing and coming in contact with the mud on our streets. It is simply disgraceful. Last summer our worthy solons, who turn the municipal crank for "all of us," expended many hundreds of dollars, nay, I am told it reaches into the thousands, in grading Putnam and other streets, and covering the slag used thereon with a black mask that seems a composition of all that is vile, either for the purposes of dust or mud. The result is that the streets present the appearance of the rolling waves of the sad, sad sea, while the black and red mud have united and are "deeper, darker, deadlier" than ever before.
I notice by the papers that our taxes have run up to 27.80 on each dollar of taxable property. What have we to show for it? Muddy streets, yes; rather poor light (on account of poor oil) yes, still it does seem that we are "paying dear for our whistle." Who is the "young Napoleon of finance" that controls the levy and expends our revenue?
The good news is wafted abroad that we are to have a real "Union Depot," and Dame Rumor has it that it will be erected on Second Street near Putnam. If that be so, some enterprising man, or woman either for that matter, should put up a fine hotel in that vicinity. Such an investment would no doubt prove remunerative.
For years past I have noticed a certain black oak tree located in this city that has held its leaves, apparently dry and dead, until the warmth of spring caused the expanding buds to push them off; this year the first few frosts entirely denuded the tree of its leaves. What conclusions do our weather prophets draw from this circumstance?
Other cities and towns use their electric lights in lighting stores, factories, and even private dwellings; why has it not been done here? If the city goes into the light business, why not do it thoroughly? Why not put in more dynamos and have light for private use?
The enjoyable (?) weather we have been having is another fruitful theme, but remembering the old proverb, "Change of weather is the discourse of fools," we subside.
Observer
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The Marietta Register, December 5, 1889:
The Council will hold an adjourned session Friday evening to consider the proposition of the T. & O. C. E. R. R. concerning the new Depot and fill. There should be liberality without jeopardizing the city's rights.
The section of the city under consideration might well be given over to the railroads, if they will redeem and utilize it. But unless thus reclaimed, it will be long years before anything can be expected.
Oh, the streets, the beautiful streets - with the cinder under the mud. The slag is uneven as the billowy sea, and the wagon wheels go cathud. The money we've spent on the rotten mill-ash would have graveled at least half a mile. We told the Dads, too, when the folly began, they'd soon wish all the stuff in a pile. But, "no," they protested the ash was half iron, would pack and resist lots of wear. They said, "talk is cheap," and, when we had passed, they muttered, "the City Dad swear." And now we must pay our full share of the tax, quite enough the richest will say, and tramp in the mud - the black, slimy mud - getting worse the more that we pay.
