Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-02-23
Our Side walks.

MINERAL PoINT, Wis.,, Feb. %, 's2
| Mr.. Editorial week or so age
there appeared an item in your paper
calling the attention of our citizens
land especially those in authority
to the condition of our sidewalks
and suggested plan for improve
ment. While | am not prepared, as
yet, TO adopt the plan for improve.
ment you proposed, yet Iagree with
you that it is important to look this
question square in the face, and find
out a remedy. Our City Charter d.
reefs that each property owner shall
put down, and keep in order, their
own side walk; and where one fails
to do so, after proper notice, the city
shall build or repair the same and
tax the cost of it up to the property.
1t is question in the minds of
many whether this is good law,
and will stand the test of the
courts; and in support of their
doubts they cite decisions of su.
preme courts in other states, where
it has been held that side walk
stands in the same relation as pub
lie street or highway, and must be
built and kept in order by the city,
town or village corporation. 1t is a
fact that our city authorities have
tried to enforce the present law;
they have notified supposed to-be law
abiding citizens, to repair their side
walks, but for some reason it has not
been performed, and to day our side
walks are nothing but line of traps
which only those of us who have q
daily acquaintance with, can pass ov-
er in safety. | am expecting daily to
hear of u serious injury to some one
who has fallen into one Of these
traps. There is one strong obiec
ton to controlling the side walk bus.
mess by general taxation, and that
is, that the moment it is adopted
everybody would want n sidewalk
and it would require an enormous
tax for two or three years to put
them upon all of our streets. On
the other hand it is argued that gem
eral taxation is the only way of fix
ing the matter; that many of our
laboring citizens, working at day
labor, are now compelled to put
down and maintai,. = sidewalk, while
others of our most wealthy, provide
little or none. There are strong ar
guments on both sides | have the
following plan to suggest, yi@: All
new side walks to be laid by those
owning property on the streets
where said walk is ordered; after
which it is to be kept in repair,
with all that is now laid) by gen
eral taxation. This would prevent
general demand for side walks;
for those wishing such must put
down the walk and the city would
then keep it in repair. If this rule
should be adopted the expense at
first would no doubt be somewhat
heavy, but ] believe that after our
walks were once put in good order
the general expense would be com.
paritively light. Surprising it should
cost $4,000 to put our walks in safe
condition, would it not be better to
expend that amount, than run the
risk of having two or three broken
limb law suits, resulting in $4,000 to
$4,000 Judgements for each. Burn
ed children dread the fire." Is it
not better to eXpend $4,000 to pre-
rent an accident, thar pay $4,000 or
$4,000 damages after it has occur
red? This plan is in successful OPP
Grafton in our neighboring village
of Dodgeville, and many other cit
les and towns in our state adopt the
same rule. | do not know that this
is the proper plan for our city to
adopt; | am open to conviction. But
this do k1o'c, that if this or some
other plan is not adopted, or our
present law is not tested in the
courts, (which will be done, as soon
as we undertake to enforce i'll we
will come down to our business
houses some morning and find a tel
egram from Dane County, or some
other court, announcing "judg
ment against the city of Mineral
Point for $1,000, and costs, for the
breaking of \. BIS limb. caused by
a defective side walk" Let us talk
this matter up, fellow citizens, and
come to some conclusion, and then
support our Common Council in
whatever action is considered best
Tor the interest of our city, and the
safety of its citizens.
Yours resp't,