Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-11
. srRKxr GRADEs AGAIN.

Once more do 70 sound the note Of
warning. Street grading is going too
far. The work completed during the
past two years has been all paid for,
and that the work now in hand will also
be promptly and properly paid for We
do mot question. This IL right and "a il
should be. And we nsy further add,
that the people have ~ far not been
taxed or burdened beyond their ability
to bear. How long. though, this condi-
ton of affairs will continue We cannot
say. The loads are constantly being
made heavier. The work done six
months and yea. age was done much
cheaper than the work is being done
now. Wages then were lower, lumber
cost lees, etc. The constant advance in
the price Of these commodities has di-
rectIy added to the expenses Of the
grades, which amount now TO one third
moro than they did . year ago. Not
withstanding the advanced cost of the
work, oontractsrs have % far made
nothing out Of Il, and at least four Of
than have failed outright. This shows
that the improvements, costly a. they
have been 70 property owners, have been
made with a. little outlay Of money a.
possibie-less, in fact, than there Was
reason 10 expect, and less than should
have bsen for the good Of contractors.
Not only are the burdens in this way
growing heavier every month, bot they
are individually growing heavier in the
multiplicity Of improvements. A man
owns six lots in six different places. aud
perhaps catches different street assess
ment on every lot. One assessment he
could pay without particular discom-
fort, or two perhaps, but the six may
occasion him great Inconvenience, and
possibly cause his pecuniary ruin. In
owning four-lot half blocks several per-
sons have been caught on three differ
emit street assessments, aud have been
pretty badly pinchcd, too. 1t is not
only the expense Of the street work that
tells on the pr0perty-owner. but Il n
also the expense of the subsequent and
consequent fixing Of his lots and build
ings. The houses have 20 be raised or
lowered. the grounds cut down or filed,
wallis built and terraces made. while no
small item 10 the loas oecasioned by the
destruction Of gardens. IL Ia enough in
. city like this 10 grade i've or six
streets . year. instead of more than
twenty, N attempted In 1883. The
single item Of surveying or engineering
alone ID coating over $1,000 Per
month"; m0ss extraordinary tax for
such Q purpose upon q town OF ten
thousand inhAbitaRta. The building Ut
sidewalks In the furthest outskirts Of
the town II an extravaganee Of the
ErOsseet character. Double lines Of
sidewalks are built three or four blocks
beyond the furthest house on the
streets, while on one street-Madison--
e 10 proposed 70 carry q sidewalk fif.
teen blocks beyond the furthest house
that can consistently be CALLED within
the city. The Improvements Of 1882 and
1883 will cost several individuals r.. m
$OOO 10 $1,000 apiece. Il Ii too late,
maybe. 70 call halt on work already
contracted for and nov under vey, but
u 10 certainly moat fitting tune 70 stop
making new contracts. II not stopped
reefs will sooner or later b eucoan-
tered, upon which will b piled the
wrecks OF many property owners.