The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-09-22

ined and feet soaked. At night they can go to
the lecture hall or social, IN comfort and safe
ty. On the Sabbath they can regularly at
tend church, in decent condition. They can
feel as IL in settling in Emporia they really had
n0tsleft the ordinary advantages Of city life
Ave hundred or . thousand miles TO the east.
And as strangers come 10 see us, they can
feel as they walk along those streets that there
Is solid basis for the claims we ali hold forth
in behalf OF our city as = desirable, comfort
able, and progressive place Of residence.
Now why should the Council hesitate to go
on with this good work. Why should mot
= good system OF sidewalks be granted to the
whole city. Why should any number Of its
inhabitants be compelled to drag through mud
and mire portion OF every yeari
This is the sireason'' why: The owners of
vacant lots object to meeting their part of the
expense. With characteristic short-sighted-
ness, they object to all public improvements
which do moi, in their opinion, directly bene-
1T their own pockets.
| The Council has to decide, for the public
interests, between two classes Of property
holders, on this sidewalk question. They can
not satisfy both, or half satisfy both. One
party must so to the wall, or the other stay in
the mud.
Here are two men. One buys lot, plows,
fences, plants it; erects q house, improves it
and the neighborhood, and consequently the
city, to the full extent of his resources. But
no matter how attractive and comfortable he
makes his home, he finds by experience that
the health and comfort Of himself and family
absolutely require D sidewalk along the
streets to the center Of the city. He goes to
ro,3
street. He says-I have done all 1 can, all
that is expected Of any one, to improve my
land and neighborhood. And desire to do
still more, 1 wish to build 3 public sidewalk
in front Of my property, for the use Of all who
would pass that way. ask only that all 9TH
er property owners on the route be required
to do likewise. do ali can for the city and
as a taxpayer; now let the city do in return
what all cities arc expected to do, and ordain
sidewalk for my own and the public use.
But now comes the vacant lot man. He OBJ
jects to the sidewalk. Can't afford it. Don't
want to use 1t himself. Isn't afraid of having
other people walk in the mud. May be he
lives on 4 sidewalked street, and really don't
see why people need to walk in the mud.
Wish they would not muddy his walk when
they get to it. Haif ruined now by taxes on
walks would have to sell some of his lots to
pay the bill. Too many sidewalks this year,
anyhow. Wait few years. Don't push this
thing so fast. Wait till he gets his price for
those lots, and some one else must pay for the
walk, then he won't object. Hard up just
now. Sidewalks are well enough in their
place; well enough if he needed to walk on
'em-but he don't need to use this proposed
walk See how MANY vacant lots il masses
Not enough people on the street to wear it out.
Cows will run over it. Looks ridiculous to
see a walk where there amt houses all along.
Opposed TO too much enterprise, anyhow.
Guess this sidewalk business has gone far
enough for one year. Ought to wait and see
how it works. Dry weather now, and don't
need any more wet this fall. just hold on till
Its his interest to go for walk, and then drive
ahead.
We say the Council has to decide which of
these two kind of property owners shall in
fuence the conduct of public affairs-whieh
shall have their interests deferred to. Be-
cause a man spends nothing to improve pro-
perty, shall he therefore be required to do
nothing in the way Of public improvements!
Shall the willing steed bear all the burden!
Shall the enterprising, liberal. industrious
citizen be denied fit sidewalk for his daily
use, because the vacant lot owner is unwil-
ling to spend even $I5 upon his property.
Shall the city of Emporia have a thorough
system of sidewalks without regard to nom
resident and vacant lot owners, or shall It
not? 1t is for the Council to decide, regard
less Of all objections, and undismayed by any
number of vacant lots where houses ought to
be. PROGRESS.