The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-27
The Grade.

1t will soon be necessary for the city council to
provide step ladders for the ups and downs in our
sidewalks. Everybody thought the walk in front of
Star Block was high enough, In all conscience
But now there lie to be another rise OF or inches
W. o. nah .oeD S.ve ssews n2oieenc
from second story windows Union.
There is, evidently, an erroneous i'm
preston among our people regarding the
city grade,-an impression that there has
been several established grades and
frequent changes. This is a mistake.
The only legally established grade we ever
had is the one established last summer,
and on which the sidewalk of Kellerstrass' s
building is placed. and exactly
placed by the city surveyor.
Some 20 to Is years ago, when the late
Amos Sullman was surveyor, he established
a city grade and it was approved by the
city council, but it was never recorded and
nothing can be found 10 the Office to show
what it was. During the lifetime of Mr..
Stillman, he often set stakes for buildings,
as he had his original notes, and because
of this people supposed that we had legal
grade and they had right to think SO,
because one was really established, but
never made legal by the proper record.
When the Harper House was erected
many thought the walk too high,-but nc
legal grade could be found and Mr.. Harper
placed it where he thought it should be.
Last summer, when Bengston, and
Spencer 4 Robinson erected their fine
blocks they placed their walks where they
thought was about right Search wal
again made for record Of city grade,
but none could be found. Star Block hat
been erected the previous year, and nearl.
on the grade Mr.. Harper thought abou
right. But when Bengston, and Spence
& Robinson went still above that Their
was good deal of complaint by those il
the vicinity who were below that standard
The result was that the city council order
ed grade, and it was established at tn
standard fixed by Bengston, and Spence
4 Robinson, and was properly recorde
and published, and this is really the frs
and only legal we ever had-as we under
it; and on this grade Mr.. Kellerstrass ha
built his sidewalk. When the space bt
tween him and Star Block shall be bull
up the difference will be so small as to b
no inconvenience. Ernest Woltman
building-occupied by the Peoples Natior
al Bank-can be changed to confirm t
Mr.. Kellerstrass' and the 60 feet betwee
that and sshington(2O feet belonging t
D Woltman and 30 to Mrs Holt will {
course be built on the established grade.
The changes required in good building
to conform to the grade, cost money, O
course,-but not as much as would be th
case if people were permitted to 60 on f
, 10 years more, building without any e
tablished grade, and where they please,
In the case of buildings that must be ton
, down it makes no difference.
Now that we have an established graz
o we hope all will conform to it as soon
q they can conveniently Of course the CT
:. has authority to compel all to conform
o the grade, but there is no disposition
crowd that matter. People are willing
d. little stepping up and down to accor
odate those who are so unfortunate as
Y be below grade. That is done in all ne
l. cities-the worst Of all being Chicag
Z, But the present legally established gra
l. the only one we ever had will be insist
l. on. and the people will expect that tho
oil who own buildings which are below gra
1t will fix their sidewalks so as to give t
o. public as little inconvenience as possb
y and that they will get up to the grade il
is reasonable time.