The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-02

The priacipsi streets ot Seattle are in q
shameful condition. They are more Ike
nagigsbls streams navigahle By mud
acows than public thoroughfares intended
for the accommodation OF teaEis and pedes-
TRANS
10 see poor laboring horses aEd nnles.
struggling t. the xtmost limits Of their
damb energies. pulling tos Gil that in ihem
les. every tendon tanght and every muscle
squiger. begged down and stalled with
What ordinarily would he but half a load,
h. al everyday and an hourly occurrence.
Ladies and children, at the crossings OF
leading shorouEhtares. picking their way,
no matter how carefully. over ahoetop in
stiff mud. eroping around for lost rubbers
OF shoes, Is familiar and a frequent
sight
This il tie intoisrsble and unbearabIe
condition Of affairs though We have but Just
entered npsn the rainy season. Every day
81 continued showery weather makes il
worse. Within month. unless something
h done 20 improve the situation, the CEN
trail streets xiii be practically bottomless
pits OF mire aud filth. Ii Is no idle q.
flguratiye expression to say that they will
be iTupaasahle. To haul an empty truck
will be cruel task for the best Of teams.
TO 50 shopping on principal street will
BE- alI . woInan's life Is worth. for they can
not travel saoh streets and keep tidy, and
untidinssa 10 well~organized American
female Is the next thing to death
OF course great allowance Is TO be- made
for the disorgaaixed condition Of affairs re-
snlting from the fire. 1t IL bat proper 20
say that superhuman exertions have been
made. both by individuals and by the city
authorities, TO repair the damage done By
that great calamity. But in spite Of ali
that, tie streets Of the principal business
quarter are In = condition that cannot he
tolerated. and they must be Fixed. Lum-
bsr, sueh as Is required to temporarily
meet this difficulty, is plentiful and cheap
II does not require skilled labor 10 do the
required work. and such labor a. Ia re-
aairea can be had At low figure The en-
tire eost of plankins the streets which are
most used and In worst condition would
BE hut mere bagAtelle compared with the
necessities 81 the situation.
II may be that the city finances are not
In such condition that the authorities can
afford Co uiest this emergency. Il nay be
that they have ali they can Handle IN
carrying out ether necessary improve.
ments. IL must he admitted that great
and unusual demands have been made npan
tbeir attention, their business capacity And
their devotion So the public service. nnt II
the authorities are not prepared to attend
to This matter. property holders and busl.
mess men cannot afford 10 let &, go auat-
tended 10. And there il no tiuae 20 lose.
IL must lie attended so at onee. 4 very
small contribution comparatively sneak
ing. fgon sach persons whose property and
business iateresis are affected hy ule pres
eat condition Of affairs, would put the
streets in good condition. AZ least far thi.
sessoa and nest year the city government
wIll probably initiate a system q psgna.
ueut paving, 10 IS not believed saat auy
further arslus wil be required on a matter
90 sueh imperative necessity. Those later,
estea know that the streets need fxins.
and shcY via IS ouee take Haeasures "a
have thesi hxed In seattle whatayes
nesis 81 he vii be