The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-08-19

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Gentlemen: In arranging the grades Of
the First Ward . surface drainage has been
secured without any extra cost.
BY adopting the general plan referred to
in our report Of July Goth, that il, leaving
condition, the cost Of grading the First
Ward will be kept within very reasonable
limits. Blondeau street being already partly
excavated, has been adapted TO steep grade,
and several streets are arranged to CORES
pond Herewith. II it had not been cut 1t
all, the grades might have been somewhat
modified and it may yet be worthy OF con-
sideration whether It could not be raised at
the corner Of First street, from the grade a.
returned ut present.
Blondeau cannot be cut down to the ordin.
ary business grade without . very material
change OF our proposed general arrangement.
To cut down all the streets and blocks OF
this ward 10 business grades would cost over
one and half millions OF dollars; and after
the expenditure Of that large amount Of
money tho lots would be OF less intrinsic
value than they are in their present shape.
To cut down Blondeau ct. to . business
grade as steep as the steepest part OF Main
st. requires the following depth Of cutting,
viz Blondeau and First 80 feet Blondesu
and Second 81 feet; average from First to
Second IS feet; average from Second to
Third % feet. 1t also involves cutting, a.
follows, viz: at Concert and First IS feet !;
Concert and Second 26 feet; and an average
cut on Second, between Concert and High, OF
10 feet; and on Concert, between SECOND
and Third, Of II feet; and on Third street.
from Blondeau to Concert, an average cut of
50 feet; and on Second, from Main 10
Blondeau, an average out Of ID feet and
from Blondeau to Concert 80 feet. Thus, to
cut down the streets and blocks on grades
that would necessarily follow the cutting
down of Blondeau would cost over $3.50, 900.
1t would seriously injure 80 or 40 lots, and
very few if any lots could be benefited TO
the extent OF the extra cost Of cutting them
down to the grades. 1t would establish steep
grades in place Of moderate grades in sever
al blocks, and would not help our other ste.
to reach the river. At the corner Of First
and Concert SITS. It would still be left 68 feet
above the Levee, and only $50 feet from it.
Finding so much labor and expense con-
nected with the suggestion Of grading the
streets to the Levss, after q careful examina-
ton Of the ground We arranged plan, here
with submitted, whereby easy approach to
the Levee can be had at two points; one,
midway between High and Morgan; the
other, midway between Fulton and Franklin.
On this plan, Fulton will be graded ~ far a.
the corner of Second, then making an angle,
it runs along the hill slope on descending
grade not over in 10, to an esplanadc or
terrace, where it is to meet First Ut. extend
ed. Two sts. branch from this terrace, de-
scending each way to the Leve, at the points
above named. This plan requires consider
able cutting along First st., from Blondeau
to beyond High st., as well as on Concert
st., the cost OF which will be about 4l2 900,
even with grade Of in Q from Blondeau
to Concert, but with no other grade exceed
ing in 10.
An alternate plan involving much less work
and securing very light grades on LIST street,
is to change the direction Of LIST street from
the corner OF Blondeau, obiiquely across the
half block to tho alley line between Bion-
deau and Concert, thence parallel With its
present course, 100 feet from it, to the alley
between Concert aud High, thence obliquely
arross the present street and onward to the
terrace or branching point already described.
This route is shown on the map BY dotted
lines. There 10 natural bench Abouv -
wide as the proposed street, nearly the entire
distance, and tho cost of such o street, ex.
S.-.o.sN ~ NeAAokCS3 WooAA NV CAOcoA VAVOUs
The new Atreet would run through Mr.. Har-
ris' house, and would occupy some private
lots. But If the city has authority TO make
such change Of streets, an amicstle agree
ment could probably be made with lot-own-
ers which would result in mutual benefit
Some lots would be materially enhsnoed in
value. 1t would cut across three, and occu-
Ply one lot in block No. 6, occupy one, and
cut across 4 in block No. g.
The new street would make valuable fronts
to number Of lots which are now inconve-
niently situated, and almost valueless owing
to the abruptness OF the hillside; and i |
would afford some double-front lots with one |
end on the Levse.
In case It should be deemed advisable, LIST
street extended can be continued obliquely
across block No. 81 to u junction with 80 |
and Franklin 1t their intersection.
Along the Levee, new lots numbered to
"a inclusive, may be made available by . |
mutual understanding between the owners OF |
lots and the city authorities.
The arrangement Of the terrace streets |
and lots, a. represented, interfsres with 3 |
lots in block Q, nine lots in block 81, two in
block Sc, one in block So, three in block "a, |
four in block SIS, and three in block e.
Many Of these - they now stand, would be |
Of little value, but under the proposed ar |
rangement could be made valuable.
We do not deem it necessary 70 30 moro
into detail. Your City Engineer, who has
had the most arduous part Of the duties Of
The board OF Engineers devolved him, and
On whom rests the responsibility Of carrying
out tho various details connected with any
general plan, is familiar with the views OF
The other members Of the commission, and
can present them on any questions that may
arise in considering the plans and pro6les.-
We recommend that the Lcvce line above
Blondeau, be established at % feet above the
plane Of reference; leaving for the present .
lew hundred feet in length 1T the extrems
upper portion Of the original city limits un-
determined, to be arranged hereafter in con-
aection with the plan Of the addition, rail-
.oad, &c.
Respectfully submitted.
w. MINOR ROBERTS.
JNO. ADAlR MCDOWELL.
Il. II. BLACKWELL.
L. HUTCHINSON. City Engineer.