St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-09

three wears as a member of the board of
public works:
THE COMMUNICATIONS.
President Barrett says: The public i'm
provements inaugurated and carried on by
the city of St. Paul, under order of the COM
mon council, during the year 1855, with the
exception of those which may properly be
termed winter work, are now practically COM
pleted.
The number, character, extent and ex-
pense of these improvements will fully appear
in detail in the annual report of the city en-
gineer, which will soon be submitted to you
for your information and consideration.
That these improvements will largely sub
serve the public convenience and interest and
greatly enhance the value of property ac-
commodated and benefited thereby, cannot
for moment be doubted.
Every public improvement, such as street
grading, street paving, the construction of
sewers, permanent and other sidewalks,
street crossings, street grading, the opening,
widening and extending of streets and alleys,
the dedication and condemnation of land for
public parks, promotes the growth, healtn,
wealth and prosperity of our now great and
still rapidly growing city. We are no longer
the small and comparatively insignificant
town of ten or even five years ago.
We, with just and laudable pride, boast or
population of more than 112,0u0 people, an
asseSSable valuation of more than SSO,UUO,-
UUU, ana q commerce lnOfe lHdu
600 year, covering territory so vast in ex-
tent and so varied in its character and wants
as to demand the exercise of all the resources
of our merchants, bankers and manufactur-
ers, and to challenge not only the active COM
petition but the respect and admiration OF the
the older cities of the East.
Mr.. Barrett then speaks of the rapid
growth of st. Paul, and says it is the
opinion of many publlc-spirited citizens
+I,, i hot habind in, itS
TEN of public Improvements, and in this
connection he says:
The sagacious of our business men appear
to be unanimous in the opinion that the BUSH
ness prospects of 1886
ARE BRIGHTER AND BETTER
than at any time during the past three years.
This, properly interpl eced and forecast,
clearly means an imperative demand for
largely increased and better facilities for
communication with the different, and, in
many instances the more remote parts or
the city, more and better sewerage, not only
for the public convenience, but also as a
much needed sanitary measure, increased
water service by the water works OF the city
| land in this connection it is proper to sug-
gest that the water board invariably declines
! to lay pipe in any ungraded street.
He mentions as among the possible neces-
| sary improvements the paving of Summit,
| Dayton and Western avenues, and probably
Mississippi street, from Grove street to
! Acker street, the construction Of several miles
| of sewers, and of very conside rable amount
Of permanent sidewalk, together with miles
| of wood sidewalk and crosswalk.
He gives some suggestions as to the
methods of making public improvements,
and says that it is the opinion of the board
| that all street grading, paving, opening,
sewers and stone and wood walks that can
be anticipated as necessary the coming year
should be made now, or as soon as cOnven-
lent. To this end the board recommends
to the council that preliminary orders for
such improvements be made and sent to the
board of public works as soon as may be-.
| Such as the board deemed necessary would
at once receive necessary action. Two i'm
portant results will follow this action,
namely: ....'-''-..-
First-A very large proportion, probably
| more than three-fourthS, of the contract work
| for public improvements for 1885 could be
put under contract by the LIST Of March, GER
| tainly as early as the 1st of April 1885, and
| the work on such improvements could and
| would be commenced as soon as the frost is
| out of the ground, and be prosecuted and
| completed at d much earlier day than has
been put under contract in the year than in
| past years, under the present system OF Or
| dering improvements.
| Second-We should get better work, at a
very considerable less cost-from 10 to 25 per
cent-two very important considerations for
| the individual taxpayer and the public.
Improvements for which contracts have
been let since about the middle of July
| have cost more than those on contracts
prior to that date. This he believes to be
due to the better weather and cheaper labor,
which are then the rule.
! ANOTHER ADVANTAGE
would be that contractors could purchase
material at time when it is at mini
mum price. Longer notice could be given
in advertising for bids, and contractors
could take more time in making more favor
able contracts for material. On this point
he says:
There is scarcely street graded in this
| city on which there is not shortage or sur
| plus of material. If some other street in
reasonably near proximity to a street ordered
| TO be graded cannot be found, which can I'M
der the provisions of the municipal code be
! ordered to be graded with such street under
one contract, the contractor is either COM
| PEELED to buy or waste material as the case
may be. This means a very considerably
! larger expense to the property owners on the
| line of the improvement unless the contrac-
tor can buy or waste his material to good adj
vantage. Now if the contract should be let
! during the winter, giving twenty or thirty
| days notice, contractors could have and
would take the time necessary where they
could best and more cheaply buy or waste
material. Contractors for macadam streets
could contract for, get out and crush the
stone during the winter and be ready for the
work as soon as the condition of the ground
| would permit in the spring.
Another reason for the recommendation is
that the board couldtake more time and prob
ably better consideration to the making OF
the assessment for such Improvements.
The assessment could be made and when
the contractor is entitled to an estimate
there would be money enough on hand tC
meet it, thereby avoiding almost necessary
delay experienced at present.
IN WINTERS TOLLS.