The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-13
THE LOCAL NEWS RECORD
MAYOR BROWN TO THE PEOPLE.
An Appropriate and Rea sonabIe Ad-
dress on Internal Municipal At
fairs-Death of John Toole-A
Fatal Fall-Other Items.
10 the Property noIderp of palIas

To the Property Holders Of Dallas
a candid appeal to your Judgment
and interest is the object OF this card.
Every citizen is interested in the i'm
provemeut Of the city. 1t requires the
combined action of the citizens and
the town government TO carry for
ward such improvements as affect, TO
a great extent, all alike; such as con-
Yerting our streets and sidewalks into
pleasant highways. All know that at
present system Of street pavement is
beyond reach-only a few localities,
outside of the busiCess streets, being
so populated as 10 allow such improve
ment. We must, IN the other portions
Of the city, for the time being, rely up
on 30 grading and draining the streets
az to place them in the best possible
condition az "Glrt roads, This is be
ing done as rapidly Ss the very small
force employed can do; but from April
TO this period in July their labors have
been greatly retarded by such a sue
cession Of rains as is rarely seen in
this section.
The financial condition OF the city
the burthens ass umed last year and
tho payment from the treasury de-
manded by the pavement now in
rogresS-imperiousl require for the
season an almost parsimonioUs econ
omy, forbidding, up to this time, an
increase in tho street force. IL is
hoped, however, that this may soon be
partially overcome.
Every section OF the city-some
more, some less-is suffering for grad
ing and draining. There are about 100
miles of streets, and the most that can
be done Ia, with the means at COM
mand, to industrously perseYere, Civ
ing first attention to the most needed
woik, fairly distributed in the differ
ent sections, avoiding every Just
ground for local jealousy. Each sec
tion pays taxes, and each ought and
shall have its fair share of benefits.
In regard to sidewalks, the present
administration proposes policy differ
emit from that hitherto pursued. The
plan Of periodically issuing sidewalk
notices in this or atlocality aud thea
leaving the matter will no longer be
pursued. II has long been a.
failure. and in many cases operated
unjustly by some building costly sido-
walks and others adjoining or near by
falling. This is manifest injustice. IT.
is proposed now, in the matter Of side
walks, TO have them continuous on
each street as far as they go. On those
streets leading out from the business
portions Of the city, like Ross, San ia,
cintO, Bryan, Live Oak, Commerce,
Jackson, Wood and others, sidewalks
must DO continuous from tho begin
ming Of tho street On the wet so far as
they 60, One viii not DO required TO
build and others overlooked. On
other Streets as deemed necessary,
the same rule will be applied, end
whenever sidewalks may DO britt on
opposite sides, street crossings, under
the existing law, will b0 laid. it isnot
expected, IN the sparsoly settled sub
urbsi 70 ontoCe this rule; but where lt
is otherwise the interest Of the prop.
erty.holder as well rs the public con.
vonienCe and comfort, viii be directly
subseryed by good sidewalks.
Property are appealed to -
cheerfully cooperate in this work. IL
is their interest and 10 ia believed il
will be their pleasure, wherever they
see that the effect on each particular
street will be continuous aideWalks,
and good street crossings. on every
street repaired and drained by the
street force, where there is no side
walk, each owner, without notice Or
legal citation, is earnestly requested ID
contribute his mite towards his own
and the general good by constructing
one. The engineer will promptly give
the grade and any other information
when requested. Mono will depressed
where 10 Is unnecessary and any Incl
dental aid in tho power Of the author
tiles will be cheerlully gwen.
Each property folder must fully I'M
derstHnd that it devOlves upon him
and not tho city TO build both side =.
walks and cutters ana keep thom both
clean and Ia repair. General compli-
ance with this obligation, combined
with the best efforts q the city 10 keep
the streets and drainage in order, will
in single year demonstrate such
marked improvements II tho beauty,
convenience, comfort and health OF
tho city, as to win the favor OF all, For
the reasons first given and others that
are selEevideut, tho work cannot all
be done 20 once, nor In q single season.
Hardships will arise. Some are posi-
lively unable, though willing, and
other obstacles will occasionally inter-
vene.
In many cases fences project farther
into the uniform line OF tho street than
those adjoining. Generally, however,
the great majority nave c0niormed 10
a common line. In tho exceptional
cases, while recognizing the property
right of the owner and claiming no le-
gal right to effect q change except
through lawful condemnation and pay
ment therefor, il 10 earnestly hoped
and confidently believed that tho great
majority Of such owners will Join In q
movement so desirable. These pro-
jections are generally very slight, run
ming from two TO three or four feet,
but they greatly dishgure the streets
and leave sidewalks too narrow TO sub
serve public convenience, and unques-
tiongbly depreciate tho value OF the
property itself. Numerous owners
but recently applied 20 have already
willingly made the change and many
others have promised 10 do so soon.
Every owner or occupant Of prem.
Uses on which weeds have become
rank during the protraoted wet sea-
son, Is earnestly requested TO have
them ut once cleaned away, and, when
sufficiently dried, burnt. This Is nee.
essary sanitary precaution, aside from
It's dosirabloness as q matter OF taste.
Fellow citizens, lot us all, each IN
his sphere, cooperate in this good
work. Do not blindly complain Of
those for tho time being In authority
for their inability to do more, but give
them your approving smiles when
they assiduously strive, with the lin.
tied means at their command, IN do all
tho good In their power. Those direct.
ing the work, as well as tho street COM
mlttoc, Messrs. Carter, Keller aud
Doughcrty, and every member OF tho
council, arc jealous IN their desires 10
encourage these achievements.
Your fellow citizen,
JouN HENRY BROWN.