Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-19
Seventh Street Improvement" Again.
To the Editor of the Globe:

| the people of Dayton's Bluff. AT this
meeting will be brought up again the
question of the much delayed Seventh
street Improvement matter, in the shape
of its preliminary step, the establishment
of permanent grade. This unfortunate
subject, though a product of special act
of the State legislature, seems to hasten
very slowly, so slowly indeed, that the in
habitauts of the region concerned may
we'll begin to feel indignant, of which
feeling this letter from one of them is
proof enough, and furnishes justification
too, for it.
Without troubling you with details
about this projected public work, l desire
to draw the attention of certain classes
of nv fellow citizens to few salient
points briefly stated--the attention OF
those interested as residents and way
| farers, and therefore physically con-
cerned: of those interested as property
holders, and therefore pecuniarily con-
cerned: of the thoughtful and qualified
citizens at large who, in lesser degree,
are affected like the two preceding class
es; and, lastly with all due respect,) Of
| the aldermen and executive officials OF
the city government, whom moral
and legal obligations to their fellows
and townsmen should press upon them.
The city engineer, as well as his pre-
decessor, has from time to time given
warning that the present wooden bridge
over Phalen's creek has nearly reached
the end of its usefulness, and that, at
least for vehicles, it will soon become
dangerous, with which opinion there is
general coincidence on the part of those
hnbitually passing over it. This fact
having become generally understood,
over year ago bill was prepared and
passed by the state legislature, which is
now known as the act approved March 4,
1881, entitled '.an act authorizing the
city of st. Paul to construct permanent
roadway over Phalen's Creek, on the line
of East Seventh street, and to issue bonds
| in aid thereof" See special laws 1851,
page 1851 The work contemplated by
this act is replacing the present "tem-
porary brldge'' over Phalen's Creek by
"a solid earth embankment across said
| valley of siXty-siX feet in width at the
| top thereof" with culvert for the creek
and archways for the railroad or rail-
roads crossing the street within the val
| ley-the latter to be built at the company's
expense. This is the work popularity
known as the Seventh street improve
ment AS / write now in reference to the
establishment of grade, l will quote
only certain portion of the act, viz:
''That it shall be the duty Of said COM
mon council within reasonable time
and without unnecessary delay from the
passage of this act, to change the present
grade of said street if deemed necessary
for the improvement named in the first
section of the act to establish the per-
manent grade of said East Seventh
street from some point on said street wes-
terly of said valley to the eastern limits
of said city,
The feeling of the council seems to
have been at first that the people most
concerned should have a chance to eX-
press their preference on the grade ques-
ton. This thew did, but hastily sug-
gested grade practically impossible
from lack of material derivable from it
adequate to so enormous filling, which
grade unfortunately was recommended
by the Board of Public Works. When
all parties discovered their mistake, how
ever, new grade was proposed, which,
while furnishing plenty of earth for fill
ing, was one that otherwise provided for
the ''greatest good of the greatest num-
ber,'' by reducing the elevation to be
overcome after entering the city from the
direction of the harvester works, on
Seventh street, at least fifteen feet-a
boon future teamsters will highly appre-
ciate. This second grade, prepared by
the city engineer after consultation with
citizens, was at once approved by the
board, and duly advertised, for consider
alton by the city council on Feb. 81.
Under these circumstances we thought
that there would be henceforward plain
sailing, but, alas! we reckoned without
our hostsl The council not rejecting
that the adoption of grade was the very
first thing to be done, then called for re-
leases on the part of the property holders
in respect to any damages that might be
done to their property by the new grade.
Now such releases of course are much
to be desired, but they should come after,
not before, the establishment of a perma-
nent grade. No sane man can be injured
by asline drawn on paper whether, blue,
red, green or dotted), but only by an
actual and considerable alteration of the
surface of the earth in the street by en-
bankment or cutting adjoining his lot.
The councillors therefore needed not to
fear in the matter of establishing the
grade, as they could refuse to order the
work begun till they considered suffi-
cient number of releases were furnished.
At the next meeting to the one above re-
ferred to the matter was Unexpectedly
deferred again to the next regular meet
ing on the Tuesday evening now ensuing.
What will be the result then none can
say, unless there be practical, straight
! forward business spirit manifested, and a
wish to get rid of this persistent first stage
of matter that at the very best cannot
help but be lengthy. The grade being
established, the council might the oery
| same eUelaing refer the matter to the board
for the necessary inquiries as to whether,
&C., &c. and we of Dayton's Bluff
| would breathe easier-and I even think
| the Council likewise
Truly, representation is the thief of
time; bus trust that he will be arrested
next Tuesday night, in which case we
will all forgive him his plundering from
our scanty store. E. A.
"A CENTER SHOT.