Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-13
THE COUNCIL.

| business:
THE CONDITION OF OUR STREETS.
Mr.. F. R. Delano, president of the fire
commissioners, sent in the following COM
munication in regard to the condition of
the streets of tAe city of St. Paul, and the
danger that existed of breaking the fire
apparatus:
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
ST.. PAUL, June u, 1888.
To the City Council.
GENTLEMEN: Your attention is respect
fully called to the present very, and extra
ordinarily bad condition of many of the
street crossings over which the fire depart
ment apparatus should necessarily pass in
getting to fires in the shortest possible
time.
Notably among them and III the bust
ness part of the city personal inspec-
ton shows the following crossings to be
utterly impossible and the buildings
fronting on the streets named to be al
most inaccessible to said fire apparatus,
to wit:
On Seventh street, from jackson and
Seventh west to Fourth and Seventh
streets, a distance of nine blocks or
squares.
On Wabashaw street, from Sixth to
Eleventh streets, distance Of five squares.
On Jackson street, from Sixth to Ninth
streets, a distance Of three squares.
On Sibley street. from Fourth to Seventh
streets, distance three squares.
Making total of forty blocks Of bust
ness property made almost inaccessible
by the condition of the said crossings.
Many of the hydrants are also rendered
| inaccessible, completely, or in part, by the
| manner in which contractors and others
leave earth, stone, and lumber, causing in
| many cases unnecessary delay in procur-
ing water supply.
The unguarded and unsignaled condi-
ton of the dangerous crossings especially
at night is very liable to result in great
| damage to the fire apparatus of the city
and personal danger of in jury to the fire
men.
The principal standing order of the fire
| department is, "that the apparatus
| and men shall get to fire by the shortest
route, and in the shortest possible time
that the horses of the department can
make"
This board is fully aware of, and highly
commend the attention given by the chief
of police, and the officers and patrolmen
of the police department to prevent these
| distractions, but which in most cases and
| in the worst cases they are unable to pre-
vent.
After streets are paved many of the
| crossings are left, or very soon become
dangerous to the passage of steamers and
trucks by the manner in which the
guard curb is allowed
to remain unprotected by some
solid hard material, which will not give way
in wet weather, TINS allowing the 'guard
! curb to become first class obstruction 10
the fire apparatus when driven at full
| speed across the paved streets.
| Believing as we do that every alternate
street should be kept, and remain in pass
able condition by contractors or others at
work on the streets, and that it is entirely
unnecessary that they should be otherwise
| under any circumstances,
| The large area of property which is now
| exposed by the causes herein given, is the
reason that we call the special attention of
your honorable body to the condition of
affairs, and to the end that you will take
such action as you deem best to restore at
least some of the crossings to a safe condi-
ton for the running of the fire apparatus.
Respectfully submitted, f R. DE1ANo,
| COLuulsSlOuGrS.
| STANDING COMMITTEES.
The president announced the following
standing committees:
| Commissioners of Interest and Sinking Fund
Mayor, treasurer, comptroller, president of the
council and chairman ways and means.
Ways and Means-Ald. Smith, Dowlan and
Van Slyke.
Claims and Accounts-Ald. Cornish, ischer,
O'Connor, st. Peter, Smith Van Slyke.
Fire Department-Ald Otis, Cornish, Van
Slyke, Dowlan, st. Peter, Robert.
Streets, Sewers and Bridges-Johnson, Otis,
| DOwlan, Starkey, st. Peter, Robert.
Taxes-St. Peter Van Slyke and Smith.
Printing-Dowlan, Smith, Re bert.
Police-Fischer, Cornish, Robert, president
| of the council.
License-Dowlan. Smith and Or.
Public buildings, city properly, larkets-
Starkey, Otis, O'Connor.
Ordinances and public accounts-Cornish,
Otis and Fischer.
/ Gas and water-O'Connor, Otis, Van SIyke.
Parks-Fan Slyke, Johnson, Dowlan O'Con-
| nor.
wv orkhouse-Robert, O'Connor, johnson.
| Board of health-Dr. Hoyt, city and county
| physician, w. A. SOmers, city engineer. Aid
| Starkey, O'Connor, St. Peter and Cornish
| THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The board was directed to grade Wallace
| sGieSI 1TOLn maple avenue 10 Earl street:
to grade Garfield street from Goodrich
street to Ramsey street.
The same board is to investigate and
report as to grading Hudson aTenue from
Hoffman avenue to Cypress street; as to
opening and grading Hall avenue from
Prospect Terrace to the city limits; as to
opening, widening and extending Eaton
avenue; as to constructing a fence along
the bank of the Mississippi from the west
line of Dawson's addition to the east line
of Amb's addition; as to opening Hermann
street from the Mississippi river to
Eaton and Morrison's addition to West ST.
Paul; as to grading Minnehaha street from
Seventh street to Earl street and Forest
street from Seventh to Beach street; as to
grading Mendoza street from the right of
way of the Chicago, st. Paul, Milwaukee
d Omaha railroad, to Seventh street; as to
grading and surfacing Decatur street from
Bedford street to streets; as to a
change of grade on Third street from
Maria avenue to Maple street, Conway
street from Maria avenue to Maple street
| and Ravine street from Maria avenue to
Maple street; as to grading and surfacing