The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-09-15
Proposed Change of Madison Street.

Our attention has been called to a modest
petition presented TO our city council, by
'Stephcn Rigcr and twenty Others" "to
take such steps as may be necessary to per-
mancntly establish Madison street from the
lateral canal westward to the rayinc. AMI
make it the same width Of the other streets.
that is 50 feet parallel with the north lime of
said street"
The facts, as we understand them from 4
councilman, arc these. In laying out the
States Addition to Ottawa the intention was
TO make the section line froin the side cut
westward, the south line Of Madison street.
and leaving the street 50 feet WIDE to run
the north line parallel with it, But in stalk
ing out the north line the surveyors dcvcrg
cd to the north, 50 as to make the street
200 fec. wide at its west end and 50 at the
cast end
Now some property holders on the south
side Of Madison strcct-probably these "Ste-
phcn iiigler and 20 others" have enclosed
this gore or wedge which properly belongs
to the north side, and added it to their lots
and new modcstly ask that the ground may
be given them the street narrowed Tor t.cir
benefit, and the south line Of Madison street,
iastcad Of running due west, and cores.
pending to the streets west Of its west end,
may run little northwest for half mile.
and then, making a jog 20 feet, cone back
again to the section line
Why these Stephen ri ylcr and twenty
othars' could not ask the twenty feet all
through is poser; or why they could not
afford 10 give the last two owners on the
south side Of thatstrcct, in Walkers addi-
ton the hcacGt o. ,hc twenty feet as well as
themselves, being every way as much emit
tied TO it, is another poser.
The entire city has al interest in maintain
ing the width Of the streets 1t is matter
that intimately concerns the ventilation and
health of the city, as well as its appearance.
!, street eighty feet wide planted with shade
trees on either side would soon DC shut ia
overhead by the branches. The narrower
the street the sooner, and Consequently the
sVS'.- - = . ..,,;I.,;,,, ,,,rIl
take place. No city ever suffered from the
inordinatc width Of its great thoroughhrcs
while many are converted into plague spots
by the density of the population, and the
shutting out Of sun and air.
Madison street will always be one Of the
most important, if not one of the pcasantest
avenues leading out Of the city. 1t is alrca-
dy iavoritc resort for those who like an af.
ternoons airing, or 4 short ride. To mar
the beauty of that thoroughfarc by twisting
1t awry, and then making it narrow, and then
leaving monStrous jog or shoulder of twcr-
ty feet at half its length, is a conception sa.
voring more o! selishness than Of public uti-
lily or ornament. Why not ask for ty
feet more, or even cloGc it all up for the be.
nciit Of "Stcphcn Riscr and twenty Others"
and let the thousands Of citizens that shall
inhabit Ottawa twenty years hence look out
FOR themselves,
We do not know what the common coun-
Gil will do in tie premises. We suppose
they have power thus TO disfgurc Ottawa,
and disregard the Interests of four thousand
six hundred, to crafty one md tHeaty. We
do not believe, however, that they u III do it.
We do not believe that these very indiyidu-
sls themselves on mature reflection, would
grant their own petition if they had the
power. This matter Of tampering with
boundary lines is dangerous business, and
originates troubles enough. What one
council does another can undo. Where
greed and craft gain to-day, they may smart
tomorrow,