The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-12-19

Tuesday, December 10.
THE LAKE AND RIVER ROADS.

THE LAKE AND RIVER ROADS.
Whilst our citizens have raised some
thing over twenty five thousand dollars
within the year, in extra taxation for
the construction Of Jail and embAnk-
ment Of street ON the water front -
both desirable Improvements In their
way.--she rear approach to our city
from the lake and river settlements. since
the rains set in, have been closed against
loaded wagons, and barely practicable
for adventurous mustangs to pick their
way along by paths over the heights in
the south Of town.
Last simmer an ordinance was passed
ordering cut and fill on Mill street.
which would give = somewhat com
portable grade through to the forks Of
the Lake and Renton roads; but it was
abandoned midstaiion after being car
ried far enough 10 cause the hill side
10 slide down into the unfinished cut.
breaking up the old road and Ell
tirely closing the street against travel.
II was also ordained that Washington
street shonld be opened through to the
Renton road. so rs to afford an
easier gradient than Mill street.
When this job had progressed so far
~ the swapping out, and part Of the
logs and brush piles had been burnt.
the street was declared Opened" and
WAS left with the springy spots I'M
guttsred aud the bumps and ridges
unsmoothed- -;a word impossible for
winter traffic. aud hence stands an
utterly unproductive investment Of the
public expenditure. In this state of
things the public have been obliged to
GALL back upon the old telegraph trail,
which runs straight up Main Street,
rcate that was swamped out some years
ago for the telegraph. and has never
been graded ditched or corduroyed.
Only few thousand dollars would
need to be raised, whether by special
tax or regular appropriation. i" order
10 make good road by which produce
can be hauled into town and freight
taken out. Its Withholding is a kind
Of economy that does not pay. Since
the freshet, this route has been the only
land access TO the city for nearly the
entire outside population Of the county,
numbering several thousand people,
Peculiarly interest demands that such
obstructions to trade should not con
t,rsa
The building Of the railroad will re-
licye tho strain on the long suffering
aud inadequate beach road, but there
orc . large number Of settlers in the vi
cimity of the lake who cannot reach
the railroad. and for whom the city
should keep its end of their wagon road
open.
This ridge road. in the first place, has
never been rightly located. Last sum
mer. Jackson street wac opened east
ward rs far as Eighth street. If it had
been carried on few blocks farther TO
the county road it would have afforded
. more convenient, alignment than any
Of the more northern ones that have
been worked hitherto. The Mill street
route carries the traveller up high,
steer and quilted hill, and then directly
down again to "a level xith the world in
general. The SAME IS true. though III a
loss degree, Of the other streets men.
toned. The true route is by way IL
the level drift to which the other streets
come-that is to follow up Lane street,
which starts from the bay. between the
gas works and the brick yard. two
blocks south Of Jackson street. This
would avoid any difficult grade. and at
the same time afford . great saving in
distance. 1t is nothing more than JUS
tice-it Is policy that the next public
improve nent should be gooi plank
road across the most difficult par! of the
route through the skirts of the city. TO
be paid fer partly by an apportioned
TAX on the property owners along the
streets improved. and partly by gen
crai tax ON the county, for it would
he a county benefit.