The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-29
A sALUTATION.
How to Keep the Streets Clean Until
They Gan be Paved,

A DAILY NEWS reporter had most
interesting conversation with Mayor
Greene yesterday on the subject of the
condition of our streets in bad weather.
His Honor was In contemplative and
beatific state of mind, having just passed
sentence on several bad lots of D. and ID.
in the police court, and was therefore
peculiarly susceptible to the wiles of
the newspaper man.
.sWhat can we do, your Honor, to
keep the streets measurably decent UNI
til some reasonable arrangement can be
effected for the sewerage of the city,
which 1 understand must positively pre-
cede any permanent work in the direc-
ton of pavements? r
s'You are right, sir" was the prompt
reply. Much as the City Council may be
condemned and abused for the present
condition of our streets, it is not their
fault, save so far as they have neglected
or failed to take some definite steps to-
wards securing a permanent and salts
factory system of sewerage. No plan of
paving can s.fely be adopted until the
question of sewerage is disposed of.
Meantime, if You will go with me few
steps down Charlotte street 1 will dem
'onstrate how our people, our merchants,
who are more directly and pecuniarly
interested in having good streets than
any other class of citizens, can solve the
problem for themselves.
II know" resumed the chief magis-
trate of the Ancient City, as the
two strolled leisurely along Charlotte
street south of the police headquarters.
Il know that it is the habit for our peo-
pie to do nothing themselves, but to ex-
pect all to be done, and done instantly,
as required by the city government; in
fact, so strong is this habit, that when
there is mentioned anything the peo-
pie or the city government really ought
to do, many persons at once exclaim
Well, let's go and see what Mr. Flagler
will do as if there were no duties for
citizens, as citizens, to perform for the
general and public welfare"
Now -leokt' exclaimed his Honor, as
the pair approached the front of Middle
ton q divers extensive family grocery
store on Charlotte street, those gentle.
men have not been to the Council te
complain of the street in front of then
premises. They have not e ne about
suggesting that Mr.. Flagler should be in
vited to pave the streets, or con
tribute largely toward that object
They have, as you see, quietly
solved this vexed question TO
themselves, by having the entire
street in front of their store cleaned III
daily and made as neat as any privat
premises. Ladies desiring to visit thei
store are not obliged to wade through
mud and water every rainy day to ge
there. The neighbors, in every direct e
are loud in their appreciation of the pull
lie spirit and business-like energy g
these gentlemen, and as a consequence
they are not only deserving of prais,
but are naturally reaping rich rewar
in increased trade
But, remarked the reporter. s.wh
do not the city authorities oblige a
householders and tenants along the pril
c'pal streets to do the same thing?'
Simply because, was the prompt r
ply, IF the existing ordinances on IL
subject should be rigidlyn eforced, pu
nc sentiment would condemn the a
thorltles for unnecessary harshness.
Is diiflcult enough to oblige citizens
Keep their private premises clean wit
out requiring them-although there
law enough for ito keep the streets
Iront OF their premises clean. Besid.
there - sort of tradition exfant to t
eHecs that the citizen pays tax for /
especial purpose of keeping the streets