The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-09
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 0, 1890.
OUR STREETS.


In an interesting interview with the
prcsident Of the Board Of Health OF this
CITY. reported in yesterdays issue OF
Tx TINES, very considerable light was
thrown, for the public benefit. upon the
reasons that 90 to explain the foul con
diuon OF 30 many Of our streets The
principal reason for this condition Is
generally known. namely that the aP'
preparation made to keep the streets In
order isnot sufficient for the purpose !;
so little 90. indeed. that Dr.. Oppenhi-
mer estimates that the Appropriation
averages about thirty csnts per man TO
the population, which IS tsntsmount to
saving that il 10 expected that the street
in front of each mans door can be kept
clean for twelve months by sum not
large enough to buy the broom with
which it is to be swept.
There il acme conflict in this matter,
II seems. between the Street Commit
tee Of the Council and the Board Of
Public Health. the Board dssirinE that
larger appropriation shall be made,
and this appropriation be devoted ex-
clusively TO cleansing the streets; the
Street Committee, also, desiring
larger appropriation, but anxious that
1t shall be principally expended in i'm
proving our thoroughfares. These diff
ferent opinions are both worthy Of the
most careful consideration, for both OBJ
cts desired, If carried out. would be Of
the highest advantage to the welfore OF
the city. Could there be two objects
more pressing in their character, the
cleansing Of our streets and a systematic
effort 10 improve their condition ?
IL there anything Inconsistent between
the two? On the contrary, the more
the streets are improved, the less labor
viii be required to keep them clean.
Unqusstionsbly, tho streets Of this
city that give most cause for complaint,
so far az their condition is concerned,
are those that are not paved in accord
ance with the mcst approved methods
in other words, those that are simply
macadamizsd OF graveled. Among the
streets that arc macadSmiEed are severe
OF the most prominent and most fire.
auently used in the city, notably upper
franklin aud Grace. These two streets
should DO paved wherever they are not
macsdaniKed, and a similar substitution
should be made wherever there 10 the
same imperative demand for more sta
blesurface. In their present condition, Is
IS impossible to prevent them from con.
tinuing to be for the greater part Of the
time public nuisance, however much
effort may be made to keep them clean.
The true solution OF this serious difi
Guilty is to allow a larger appropriation
for cleansing the streets, and at tho
same time increase tho appropriation
now devoted to their improvement.
Both Of these objects are Of the very
highest Importance, and neither should
bs sacrificed at the expense Of tbs
other. One thing 10 certain, thu
condition Of our streets in general is not
such as to be regarded with satisfaction,
whether We look st that condition from
the standpoint OF our municipal reputs
ton, or Of the value of our property,
or OF public comfort and convenience.
or what should be considered ~ of the
greatest weight, from the standpoint Of
the public health, Not only should an
adequate provision be made for keeping
the city clean, but adequate provision
should also be made TO pave and repavs
wherever the public needs require it.
Popular sentiment will not be content
with less, and it will certainly end by
securing all that the necessities Of the
situation demand.