The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-03-11
Communication to the Property Hold
ers OF Superior, relative TO the areas
occupied by streets in said City.

The growth and welfare of a city
depends largely upon the facilities
which it offers for the transaction of
business upon its proper sanitation,
under which head are included all
devices for ventilation, drainage, sup
plying with water, heating and lighting
and upon the expenses incurred III the
proper maintenance of these necessary
public Improvements.
These expenses are to great extent
a function Of the ratio existing between
the public and private property of the
place, or III other words between the
street and building areas and it is
evident that the greater percentage of
street areas, so much the greater will
be the tax upon property owners for
their opening and maintenance. More
over, every additional foot of width,
beyond that required for business,
pleasure or health, is not only a source
Of expense but also of disease;
/ believe the wide streets Of most of
the western towns and cities to be the
chief cause for the. prevalence of
typhoid fever and diptheria, and that
their filthy condition in wet weather
renders them public nuisances rather
than benefits.
The present plan of Superior is, [
respectfully submit, defective in this
particular.
The streets, which are eighty feet
wide, lie in the direction Of greatest
traffic, viz parallel to the water front
whilst the avenues, one hundred feet
wide are perpendicular thereto, and,
having less travel, should therefore be
made narrow.
As laid out the street and avenues
Of Superior occupy thirty three per
cent. of the total area of the city, or in
other words, one-third of the entire
site is not onl y unproductive but is an
actual drain upon the remaining two
thirds. By reducing this ratio we take
from the loss and add to the profit
side Of the account.
In our busiest cities we seldom find
more than room for three lines of
vehicles, and two for pedestrians but
allowing for two lines of street cars
G.e double track, standing room for
wagons and draws on either side and
ample clearance the carriage way
need not be more than forty-six feet
wide which added to two twelve feet
sidewalks makes a total of seventy
feet
To reduce the streets to this as a
llaxium breadth would take off twenty
one per cent. of the now nonproductive
area and add it to that available for
revenues.
This could readily be accomplished
by adding five feet to the length Of
each lot facing on the street, making
them measure % Y 125 feet, which
would be eqitable distribution, but the
reduction Of thirty feet on the avenues,
fifteen feet on either side, would need
/ to be assessed as the owners Of corner
lots would alone be benefited.
would suggest that for each Of the
four corner lots on Second street, at
every intersection, fifty dollars be
assessed and that the ratio decrease by
ten per cent for each numbered street
lying on either side thus running out
at twelfth street to zero, and that the
revenues obtained from this source,
which would amount to about sixtY-six
thousand dollars, be devoted to sub
stantial stone pavements, and other
| improvements.
AS Superior appears to be OH the
eve of a rapid development it may not
! be amiss to add that as the grading
and opening of all streets, the supply
ing of the city with water and the
provision for drainage should precede
settlement it might be expedient to ap-
point committee Of non-residents to
! confer with a similar committee of
residents with a view of having the
tata collected and surveys made upon
which to base plans and estimates for
the necessary public improvements.
Respectfully Submitted,
LEWIS NJ. HAUPT,
Prof. of Civil Eng's.
! philadpInhia Oct 1881