Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-04
CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
FILLING STREETS AND LOTS METHODS
OF DOING THE WORK.
Some Suggestions by a Correspondent
Who is Studying the
Matter.

apologize for offering my views on a sub
ect that is of public importance, and
would not, but for the frequency of their
appearance. offer them simply for what
they are worth.
A communication from the City Attor
ney says "that an ordinance could not be
passed that would be effectual inucausing
the filing of the low lots all over the city.
1t could only be done under new char
ter
That of course, is to be, if the City At
torney is to decide, one feature of the new
charter. a good many people, who have
no low lots, will say that this ia a good
thing. Low lots are a nuisance, an eye
sore, and must be filled up for the good of
the city. Then, if the good of the city
will be subserved it ought to be in the
mower OF the Board of Trustees to order
them filed" This is a question of great
magnitude, and the experience of the city
and low-lot property owners is varied and
full of interest.
1t is known that many lots have been ex-
cavated, the earth having been taken to fill
up other lots to make levees, grade streets,
manufacture bricks and even railroad
tracks. sually lots in the outskirts of the
city have been used to benefit lots further
within.
These low lots have often been ordered
to be filled, and l believe have sometimes
been coniscated, in effect. Very many of
them would cost nearly as much, and a
few more than they are worth to fill them
now.
Still many will say, make the owners
fill them, and remove the eye-sores and
nuisances." But how shall this be done
The owners do not Think it best to fill
them. Many will say Then let the
power TO have them filled oe placed in the
hands of the Trustees" 1t may possibly
be best to do this, but there is some doubt
in my mind about it. As far as possible
men should be allowed to control their own
lots and property. If it is best that they
should be filed the owners will fill them.
If the owners do not see that their interest
will be promoted by grading them, the first
thing to be done is kindly to convince
them. This can best be done by argument
aud right reason. Though the process be
slow, it is the best. The one who argues
and the one who hears will each be bene-
flied, and this labor is part of the labor that
constitutes the true worth of city. 1t is
the slow method, but in the end it is moi
the slowest
To put the matter in the hands of the
Trustees is the quick method, but it is
much like the proclamation by the Gar
who orders cityito be built by serfs, and al
once sends them as colonists to do the
work.
The moderate or middle course is the
best one. The uperintendency-the right
of promotion and stimulation Of the ends
in view, is properly in the hands of the
lit rxNfEa u, IL, j.. -
The present rule seems to be, that il
complaint is made these matters must be
looked into The officers must move in q
matter even if no higher end is subserved
than to enable some person to sell his place
for people do not like to live near low lots.
In this way the low lots and high ones
are set by the ears, and a. the expense oil
the low lots the high ones are benefited
Under this state of things high lots are
bought because, by a complaint lodged
with the proper officers, the buyer can
have the low lot filled up.
This rule holds in improving streets and
alleys. I own one-fourth of the lots on an
alley Of a block. The alley is high opposite
my lots, bat when the low part of the alley
must be filled | must pay one-fourth the
cost. But If low lot must be filed it is
all at my cost though a large part of the
benefit is to the owners of high lots.
Now, the power to order the raising OIL
low lots 10 the grade ought not to be con.
fined to an absolute form. know lot on
Tenth street, between J and K, that j:
nearly ten feet below the grade of Tenth
street. 1t is cleanly and in good condition
The water does not stand on it because,
suppose, it has pipes to carry it away Thi:
is, at least, an exception to be made to the
rule that the new charter is proposed tc
embody.
May it not be that there are 25O low lots
in the city, the filling of which TO the
grades of the streets would bankrupt the
owners, in which small pipe laid would
empty the water as fast as it falls?
Are there not 100 more lots that would
be dry if the cutters were put and kept in
order by the property facing them. The
cutters are 10 carry away the surface
waters, and are under the control of the
City Trustees. and should be so to the ex.
tent of seeing that they are in condition to
carry away the rainfall. The cutters Of
the new charter should be kept in order by
the properly facing them, and not by a tax:
or, IN other words, by mea hired at the
expense of the city.
When at the expense of the city, the gut.
tiers in the business and thickly- Inhabited
portions only receive any attention, and
hence their places only are veil drained
would serve the case, and q little official
notification would carry it into effect The
drainage then would be perfect and every.
where alike. 1t would be like the edict
that required everyone to clean UP in front
of his own door.
I will suggest here that cutters should by
the same new charter constitute a part OF
the sidewalk in some such proportions that
q Sidewalk would not Look to be clean that
had not clean gutter.
The idea will be more distinctly shad-
owed forth if say the rails inclosing side
walks should be outside the cutters and
these latter should be sloped at an obtuse
angle that they may be swept.
The application OF cutters to low lots is
the excuse for this DEPRESSION, for without
good cutters low lots become reservoirs.
aud are a nuisance, and with them low
lots are as good as high ones nearly.
What is the touchstone to regulate the
improvement OF property in low lots. Nv
word for it there is but one. 1t is to make
their ownership desirable. Every word
uttered-every ordinance passed-every
newspaper article published-should be in
the interest Of every species of property.
4 man would not buy a low lot If COM
PEELED TO fill it at 90 cents a wagon load,
that would be glad to buy it if he could
connect with sewer fifty feet away at the
middle of the street. He would bay again
if a tramway would fill his lot at 10 cents a
wagon load. (Let me here say that the
great usefulness of a tramway would be in
filIing low lots more than in grading
streets.
It is fact now that although the city
has an interest in filing low lots, it
would be difficult to get an expression of
the people in favor Of it-except to say,
"Lel the people who own them fill them
up"
But repeat here, for the sake of having
it always before the mind, that the true
touohstone of regulation is to make the
ownership desirable.
TIE city must not go so far as to do this
work by general taxation. 1t must not
contribute say one half the expense by