The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-08
SHOULD IT BEi

EDITOR NEWS: 1t Is popularity SNIP
posed by our citizens-however errone-
ously-that our town is incorporated /;
and, being such corporate body, has the
inestimable privilege of suing and be-
is q corporate body, are there not some
things which should be attended to at
once by our Town Loard?
The crossings on Commercial street,
from Fifth to Seventh avenue, inclusive,
are impossible, or nearly so; and, were
It not for flIe name of the thing, one
might as well step in the gutter as ON
any of the crossings on That street be-
tween the points named.
Taxes are-or may be-assessed for
"Public improvements" aud we GER
tainly should have suitable crossings on
our principal streets.
The crossing on Fifth avenue, on the
east side of Commercial street, is worse
than bad it is absolutely and unqual-
ifedly impossible, unless it be by some
one wearing the seven league boots of
the fairy tale, who might thereby be
enabled to compass the yawning gulf at
one stride.
Merchant street from the Methodist
Episcopal church to the Welsh Congre-
gational church is knee deep in mud,
and this on either side. 1t is HobsOn's
choice. If one takes either side he wilt
wish before. he has gone half dozen
steps that he had taken the other.
Along. this street and between the
two churches above named is among the
mOstpopulousp portions ofthe town. The
attendance and membership of these
churches is large; and, if for no other
reason, Merchants street should be side
walked on the west side to accOmmo-
date the attenders at these two churches.
! But, as we have said, between these
points is one of the most populous por-
tions of the town, and this furnishes an
additional reason why this street should
be sidewalked. Perhaps it would be
unadvisable, at the present time-thOugh
we express this opinion very doubtful
ly-to have both sides of Merchants
street sidewalked. II both are not to
be, we think the west side preferable,
because both the churches above named
are on that side of the street, and also
most of the residences, and a walk on
that side would accommodate more
than on the east side. We think Mer-
| chants street should be sidewalked on
both sides between the points above
named, and that without delay but,
as half a loaf is better than no bread,
we will rest content with one on the
west side-until we can get more.
From Commercial street to Constitu-
ton street, along Sixth avende, the way
is like that over Jordan-a very hard
road to travel. A sidewalk on the south
side of Sixth avenue from Commercial
street to Constitution street would &C.
cOmmodate the National Hotel, and
Hollis hotel. 1t may safely be said that
one half or more of the travel coming
to the town stops at these two hotels
This alone would be sufficient reason
for sidewalking Sixth avenue, on the
south side from Commercial street tc
Constitution street.
| We do claim, if we are to be taxed
for "Pubiic improvements" that the
above named are worthy the immediate
attention of our Town Board.
AS to the sidewalk-we all know, il
our town organization be good for any.
thing, that the owner of the iot-eVeI
though it should happen to be our hon.
ored Lieutenant Governor elect-can bt
compelled to construct the sidewalk in
front of the same, or in default the lot
or owner may be held liable. II this bs
not the case, what is our town organiza
tionworth2 1t is Dead Sea fruit-applei
of Sodom.
We repeat the query at the head o.
this: Should these things longer remain
unattended to? or