The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-16
CHI A r i e TON.
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 1e, 1867
CmYmpRoYEMENTs.

F
been able to ascertain. But so it is, and not
here only. On the contrary, we find views
more contracted, and streets more strait, the
further east we trace our steps, and the deeper
down we look into the vista of the ages. In
Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy, we find the
beau ideaBf tall houses and narrow thorough
fares. In truth they scarcely merit that name'
for they were almost exclusively made for the
use Of the pedestrian, and afforded ample
room and verge enough for the "hampered'
donkey. Those ancient burghers doubtless
were good men and true, and very well in their
way, but they knew, nothing Of business. They
had no street cars, express wagons, omnibuses,
hacks or drays.. In fact, we do not believe they
had SO much even as "one-horse shay" The
consequence of this old fogyism, this highly re-
prehenissible want Of; foresight, is that nearly
every city in ghristendom has been compelled,
since the opening Of the present century, to
the no small annoyance of taxpayers, to reno
vate and reconstruct on an expensive scale. In
Paris as is well known, this work is continually
progressing. M. HAUssMAN's name Will de-
scend to the latest generations as the great
iconoolast Of the present; earning :odium only
for what he destroys, and mo credit for what
he is constructing: In New York also, and
other. of the older and larger cities Of the
North, we find this same course Of improve
ment continually going on. - -
Charleston, our venerable old city, like her
sisters, has hernarrow streets. Ours are not
generally very crooked. They were not pro-
jected upon cow-paths, as the: late EDWARD
EvEREr4 said was the origin Of tho streets of
Boston; and ss has been said also OF Pearl
street in New York. improvements have
been necessary, and were entered upon,
from time to time, as permission was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature. But it was
not until general Act was passed for this
purpose, appointing ssas: Board Of Commission
ers, with power and authority Il, declare in
what cases, the streets, lanes, and alleys Of the
city shall be .widened; and to provide for carry
ing intervention the objects ofthe said Board;
and for other purposes therein mentioned.
This Act provides for nine Commissioners, to
be appointed by the Legislature; whose appro-
val and sanction was necessary before City
Council could take any steps in carrying out
the other provisions:of this Act. - stti !ttitr5
Section VIII Of this Act (of 1917 says:
esAnd, whereas, narrow and confined streets,
lanes and alleys, are disadv geous TO every
city, exposing buildings go ,sitqsted to great
danger from fire, and the inhabitants thereof
by close and confined air, to malignant dis
eases: Be it further enacted BY the authority
aforesaid, that from and Immediately after the
passing of this: Act, no street, lane, alley, or
court shall be opened, laid out, extended or.
established within any part Of the City Of
Charleston less than sixty. feet, and until the
same shall be previously approved by the Conn
missioners of the Streets of said city.
There has been no opportunity in Charles
ton during the past thirty yeas Of entering on
such improvements on an extensive scale, and
at so little cost to tax payers, as we have at
present. The FIRE Of 1861, laid waste o large
part Of the heart of the city; and while it is
true that business has not increased within that
period, and it cannot, therefore, be said that
any extensive alterations in the topography Of
the city are absolutely necessary, yetwe are
glad to know that liberal ideas have made great
progress here within the last few years, and
there are now but few freeholders opposed to
any reasonable scheme having in, view the i'm
provement of the city. We expect, within
few years, not only to do the business we had
in 1860, but largely to increaseit. and now
is the time to make the necessary preparation,
especially in the burnt district, where streets
can be widened at very small cost.
Accordingly soon after the present Council
was organized various plans we're proposed, all
having for their object the widening and
Strengthening Of streets, most Of them within
the burnt District; and as the old plan-of a
Board Of Commissioners, appointed from
time to time by the Legislature" whose sane
ton had to be first obtained for carrying out
any such mprovement,-was too slow and cir
cumlocutory, laid the way open continual
complaints in short, did not work well,-Coun-
Gil petitioned the Legislature for repeal that
part of the Act of 1917; and on December ID,
1866, the Legislature passed an Act amendatory
to that of 1917, which says that thereafter it
shall be left to the Mayor and Aldermen Of
Charleston in City Council assembled to deter
mino what streets, lanes, alleys, or courts shall
be laid out opened, widened, or extended with
in the limits Of the city, and to carry the said
improvements into execution in the manner
provided by law, without the Intervention Of
commissioners The Act also authorizes City
Council to close any street, lane, or alley if
they deem it necessary for the benefit of the
city.
The City Council, after having determined
on an improvement of this character, appoints
Board of Commissioners to assess the private
property needed for the purpose; and we 40
not think such Board will have much diff
Guilty in ascertaining the proper value Of the
lots in question, and in giving satisfaction
to lot-holders, as we may take it for granted
that practical business men, of character and
standing, will be selected for a discharge of
this delicate duty.
Council has determined to widen King street,
a move which has the hearty endorsement of
the whole city. We hope they will continue
their efforts, and do the same for Queen street,
if not from East Bay, at least from Meeting
street to the Roper Hospital. There is but one
house, on the north side of the street, in those
three squares that would have to be recessed,
and the proprietor of it, we learn, is quite will
ling to have it done. All the remainder within
those limits is part of the |burnt district," and
will cost but little. A sufficient widening OF
Oueep OF 4rnat will enhance, the yalue of proper