The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the PRINTERS.

WHILST Frugality and Industry are strongly recommended at this Juncture of Time, I think Cleanliness in our public Ways or Streets may not be an Object unworthy of particular Attention.

It has been generally thought and believed that the repairing the Streets has cost this Town as much as would have paved them all, only estimating the Labour at a moderate Rate, that has been laid out upon them—and it has been the Observation of many judicious Strangers, that Nature hath not only provided us with Materials near at hand, but as tho' she seem'd to court us to do our Duty, she has so disposed of our Streets in a regular and easy Descent, as by paving, to make this as clean as any Town or City in America, and with much less Expence than common.

The Office of Surveyors of High-Ways has now become disagreeable; their Conduct is canvassed, and their Judgement disputed: sometimes they are charged with a neglect of those Ways or Streets that most want their Assistance, and a manifest Partiality to those of their own Neighbourhood: at other times they are taxed with an improper Disposal of public Moneys for repairing those Streets which least need it, so that in short they know not how to please—it has been remarked, that what one Surveyor does one Year, another is sure to undo the next; and I am not alone, when I think that some procure the Office purely to Answer their own Views, which being once accomplished, they would despise a Re-election.

As some of the objections against a Lottery are now removed, and the expediency of repairing or paving some Streets daily appears, we doubt not by a proper Application, a more favourable Answer will be given to our Petition, provided we can give such Encouragement to procure a speedy Sale of the Tickets as shall not cause any long stagnation of the Money, which may constitute a Lottery Fund,—from the present Disposition of the People towards so necessary a Service, there is no Room to doubt, but a Lottery which is calculated within a proper Compass will soon be completed.—In the Year 1762 many Lotteries were countenanced for public Uses in Philadelphia, among which was one for paving their Streets, which was limited to six Weeks, and so quick was the Sale that numbers were excluded, and were obliged to secure an Interest in the second Class: the shortness of the Time will naturally induce Adventurers to purchase, and we may reasonably suppose that many will send from other Provinces and Towns for Tickets; some out of principle of Assistance to the Design, and others of Success to their Chance.—Should we still be refused Redress of so great a Grievance, we must consult some salutary Measures to mend the Streets in another Method than we have hitherto used; for which purpose I would recommend the Consideration of an Estimate, which may be made by some able Person, of the Expence of paving any particular Street; and the annual Charge of repairing such Street heretofore,—by comparing the present with future Charges, we shall soon reap an incredible Advantage.

I can't but think the Article of SHOES alone, will pave a Street every Year, only by allowing that every Inhabitant expends one pair of Shoes the more for the badness of the Streets in their present miry condition, than when they are properly paved. If the Town would come to a Determination to pave only one Street, I am positive, Ways and Means would be found to pave another, from the apparent Beauty and Cleanliness of it—The Inhabitants will very readily contribute more who live in the Street that may be paved, and will encourage others, and I would further advise that that Street should be first whose Inhabitants wou'd contribute most—But I hope that Branch of the Legislature with which the Fate of a Lottery still remains for consent, will take this Affair under a second Reflection, and grant such Relief as may serve the internal Policy of the Town, and reflect an Honour on its Prerogative.

Portsmouth, March 20, 1766. A FREEHOLDER.