Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-04
INSPECTION.
NJ ayor Smith andth board Of Aldermen
Inspecting Public Work.

Engineer Smoot, accompanied by
GAZETTE man, went through the cit,
on a tour of inspection yesterday. A
the meeting of the city council to-mor
row evening, the question of accepting
or rejecting the work of Messrs. Laint
d Ratican, as contractors for publ,
work on the streets, will come up, and
this tour was intended for the council
to inform themselves on the quality
and nature of the improvements
Shortly after o'clock p. m, Mayor
Smith and the party set out from The
| city hall in hacks, and proceeded down
| Houston street. The first thing which
! attracted the attention of the party
was large pool of water at the cor
ner of Fourth and Houston street,
which was unanimously declared a
nuisance.
Proceeding down the street the I'M
slightly awnings became the subject of
conversation, and the fact that new
signs are going up every d y was
| noted. This is in violation of a city
ordinance relating to the fire depart
ment and measures should be taken to
stop the building of low wooden avn
ings and the erection of signs over the
sidewalks.
The Investigators then conversed
upon the subject of sidewalks being
filled up. There is u general DISPOSE
ton among the property holders to fix
their sidewalks, but in some instances
il is very poorly done.
Tenth street, west from Houston,
was next the subject of conversation
and it was the unanimous opiniod that
1t should be graded and graveled to
the Baptist church, which is one bleck
west of Houston on Tenth street
AS the party travelled down Houston
street, the necessity of sprinkling the
street became the subject of conversa-
ton, but no method was discussed be-
yond agreeing that it was n public ne
cessity that Main and Houston streets
should be sprinkted rs frequently us
desired. When the party travelled
down Front street, the reporter learn
ed that the railroad company contem-
plated grading and graveling that
street from Houston street to the I'm
ion depot and that the work would
soon begin. 1t was noted that in some
places where gas or water
pipes had been put in
after the streets were finished, the
street was left in very bad condition.
This is violation of u city ordinance
which compels those who lay pipe
to leave the street in rs good condition
rs IL was when the work commenced.
The party then drove down Eff
teeDth street, which is being graded
and graveled to the Santa Fe depot,
and closely inspected the work. Turn
ing back, they proceeded up Main
street and examined the work on that
street, and it was noticed that those
who are filling in their sidewalks al
most invariably throw all the refuse
into the streets, in violation of city
ordinance. 1t was next noticed that
some of the cutters were stopped and
choked up with all kinds of dirt, so
that pools of water lay aboutin various
places in the streets.
Proceeding up Main street to the
court house, the duty of inspecting the
work of Messrs. Laing Il Ratican
was through with. There is no
doubt but that the work will be ac-
cepted, rs the party were well satisfied
with 1t, and all pronounced it splen.
did piece of work and n compliment to
the contractors and the city.
The next point visited was the new
school house on Belknap street at the
head of Lamar. This Is comuodi-
Gus building and its appointments are
very fine, but the painting met with
severe condemnation by all, and the
of the building will proba-
bly, be made with some restrictions.
The painting is very poor indeed on
this school and 1t Will have to be done
over in Il short time. Journeying
from the school house, the party next
visited the new iron bridge over the
Clear Fork, which was pronounced an
piece of work and the sub
ect of new road up to the bluff ut
he head of Houston street was dis
cussed.
Leaving the bridge theparty crossed
he Trinity and travelled over the road
% the new city cemetery. This will
De splendid road when the city does
is share of the work of grading and
graveling, the county having already |
finished its proportion of the work. AS |
.he party returned, the subject of re-
moving the dead from the colored |
ourying ground into which the gravel |
naulers have lately been digging was |
lroached and froL, the conversation |
hat ensued there is no doubt but that |
he city council will soon adopt means
or removing those inferred there, to
he place set apart for the colored dead
N the new city cemetery.
The school house i'm the First ward
vas next visited, but not entered.
Much fault was found with the water
closets of this school, and the council
will act in this matter. 1t was the
opinion that the sexes who attend the
'chool should be separated by a high
ence.
The work on the road leading from
East First street TO the bridge over the
Trinity AZ the Brick Yard crossing was
leXt inspected. This road is being
traded above the surrounding land and
he flats ON each side are to be drained
nto the Trinity river. The bridge
iere Is not near so good structure rs
hat over the Clear Fork, which had
'een previously inspected.
, Returning, the party next visited
he colored school house in the Third
yard, and pronounced it the best
lnished house of any that had been ,
Inspected. This house is better painted
nd better appointed than the school
ouse first visited on Belknap street.
After looking at this building the
arty returned home. The inspection
I the streets, which was the principal
York of the city fathers, was a sails. :
ictory one In every respect. except =