Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-04-02

A number of individuals have at different
times urged the construction of bridge over
the feeder where Wayne street crosses it,
This work, if deemed necessary, could not be
done while the canal is filed with water, but
in the meantime committee might be ap-
pointed to examine it, report what filling 1t
would take on the northern side Of Wayne
street to make such bridge passable, and
whether it is needed. If feasible, and DEEM
ed expedient, the Council could then make
the necessary arrangements for erecting 1t at
the proper time.
Several squares in the business parts of
town will require considerable repairs during
the present year. East Market street espe-
cialy needs coating of stone, and in my
judgment a heavy one. Mere repairs IN the
/ first square will no longer answer, 1t being SO
! completely worn down that the gravel under
| lying the McAdamized part is perceptibie in
/ number of places. East and West Water
streets, Valley street, Wayne and several 9th
er cross streets are also worthy Of your at
tention, and | would recommend an early ex-
animation of them all. In connection with
| this subject, | would beg leave to draw your
attention to the propriety of making an ex-
pertinent with cinder from the furnace. 1t
is asserted that n covering of clnder from Is
inches to feet deep, well broken, beat down,
|
street at once dry and lasting, and equal to
one made of limestone from II to l5 inches.
Water street, from Main to Wayne, or from
Main to Brown, is favorable location for
making such an experiment at an early day,
and if found to answer, various streets might
be rendered dry and pleasant at compara-
lively small expense. On the street leading
to the Episcopal Cemetery, and on Main ST.
between the stone and feeder bridges, the
manager of the Lewistown Furnace offers to
deliver cinder free of charge, so that the
borough would be at no expense but break
ing and spreading, and covering with clay or
gravel The road to the cemetery is much
used during spring. summer and autumn by
pedestrians, and | think it will be no more
than common justice to see that 1t Is put IN
good condition 1t is also due to the people
residing across the creek that some measures
should be taken to put Main street in good
condition as far as the borough line extends.
The turnpike company is one now merely in
name, aud | believe it would be as well to
treat it as if no longer in existence.
The most important matter perhaps that
will be brought before you Is the proposition
TO light the borough with gas. Last year the
borough authorities proposed to put up
lamp posts provided the company would
agree to furnish gas ut discount OF % per
cent. on their present prices. To this that
company objected on the ground that they
could make no discrimination between con
sumers, but offered to furnish it 1t $3.50
per 1000 feet. The objection made. in my
opinion, is not good one SO far as the b0r-
ough is concerned, however good it may be
rs to individuals. Under cover of their char
ter they enter upon the streets and payements
for the purpose Of laying down pipe, and by
/ - M
ing cutters, create work for the borough au-
thori:ies. For this same privilege the Lew
istown Water Company is bound to furnish
he borough with water for extinguiShing
fres, washing engines, hese, Sc. lr'th0m
charge.
Besideo, wharever heavy repairs will be
made, this e?il sill increase. Take Market
street for example. Should heavy coating
of stone he put upon it, i presume no one
will for moment contend thai where dug up
it will be replaced in as good condition rs il
was before. While | am decideQ'y favorable
70 lighting the streets, not only wnHre gas
pipes are laid down. bat III all other parts an
indspositiOn to entail Il heavy and lasting
expense on the taxpayers will induce me TO
examine the matter in all its bearings before
embarking in it. As near as can ascertain,
the quantity of gas consumed by street lamps
is about six feet per hour. Allowing the
! lamps to be lit up three hours each evening
iii summer and five in winter, would make an
average Of four hours. Each lamp would
thus consume II feet of gas, for, say 200
nights making 1900 feet a year. The price
proposed by the company would make this
light cost SIC 80-and 20 posts 1886. Ad
ding 500 for lighting and extnguishing
which would be very low, will make an an-
nual expense Of S446 for Lighting about one
half the town. The cost of 20 posts and
lamps would be about $3.50 making the ex
pense for the first year for erecting, lighting
and gas for % posts about $500. Even TAX
ing minimum price, say s. per thousand
feet and four feet per hour, would make cost
of $2l6 per annum for gas alone, and when
once extended through the borough, d@uble
that sum, together with about $500 for light
ing and extinguishing. If with this expos-
ton before them the real taxpayers should
express themselves satisfied, shall be far
from laying any impediment against its con
summation. In the meantime | would advise
the Council to appoint a committee of confer
ence to meet a similar one to be appointed by
the gas company, should the managers see fit
to coincide, and cndearor to come to some
arrang cement, and if 4 satisfactory one can
not be effected to drop the matter finally.
The financial affairs of the borough are in
good condition, there being at this time,
there has been for more than a year, 5000 in
the treasury. Having debt, believe it is
not good policy to keep such a sum lying in
the treasury when there are so many places
at which it could be proftably expended
The people look to the council for keeping the
streets and alleys in good condition, and
when so kept, with here and there an ezcep-
ton, will not only cheerfully pay their por-
ton of taxation, but in addition give the need
OF praise for the simple performance of a
duty. With tax of p or mills in addi-
tion TO the sum now in the treasury, much
can be done, especially if, in the performance
of your duty you will not bound your vision