The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-09-04
NEEDED REFORM.
REL JOGGING TO SEE THE STATESMAN
OPEN THE DISCUSSION OF SIDE
WALKS AND STREETS.
Owners of Private Property Waiting for
an Opportunity to be Offered to
Build Permanent Improve
ments of this Char
acter.
To THE EDITOR OF THE STATESMAN.

~ LIE ED1loh Of The CRAFTSMAN.
Nothing is so beneficial to the pub
lie welfare as an open discussion of
public needs, hence l rejoice to see
you open the discussion of size walks
,ahd street Improvements for Austin.
The matter hsls been discussed very
earnestly in private for years past, but
nothing has ever come out OF it.
Some SIX years a.o it was suggested
that our city charter be amended so
as TO empower the city council to
have. this character of work done at
the expense of citizens owning the a.
butting property. Since that time
Houston changed her charter in this
way, and now her streets and side
walks are models of comfort, neat
ness. convenience and beauty, the
value of all. property much enhanced,
her tenant houses are all filled and
general prosperity reigns.
This method of procedure would
not, in any way, interfere with, or be
interfered with by our great river dam
enterprise, but, on the contrary, would
place us in a situatioa to fully enjoy
the fruits of that enterprise.
No private residence is complete
without a goodsstredt and sidewalk
adjacent to it, and many owners OF
private residences are now waiting for
an opportunity to be afforded by the
city of making permanent improve
ments of this character.
The COW ordinance has practically
done away with the necessity of fences,
hence there is today over 100000
worth of unnecessary Improvements
about the residences of Austin. In
many cities in the Carolinas fences
are things of the past, and it will soon
be so in Austin. The ability of our
citizens to build sidewalks and streets
is enhanced to this extent. The COM
mencement of the work would bring
several hundred additional laborers to
the city with their families. This
would create a demand for houses, and
the rents would go back to where
they were few years ago, and pay a
good interest on the investment.
Every dollar expended would go into
immediate circulation here. Unten-
antable, unattractive, obscure and al.
most valueless portions of the city
would be brought into prominence
and made attractive and valuable. The
5000 children who have to trudge to
school during the wet winter
months through mud up to their
ankles would have d dry and comfort
able walk to the school buildings.
The pale face and delicate girls whose
indnlgent parents have them hurled
in carriages to church, school and the
millinery establishments will have
opportunities for physical develop
ment on the retired streets of the city.
The weary labt rer, whose work takes
him from one to two miles from his
home will not have to perform an
hours additional labor in getting
home from his work or compelled to
expend $3 a month in street car fare
in going to and from his work. In
this connection it may be well to note
that during the last twelve or fifteen
years from $4,000 to SIS, 900 has been
expended upon the streets of this city,
but with the exception of a few mex
pensive foot bridges not dollar has
been expended for the comfort and
conveniences of that large class of
our citizens who are known as pedes'
TRANS.
With the simple qualification TO this
amendment that no improvement be
made except with the consent of
three. fourths of the property owners
whose property is to be effected, no
possible harm and an infinite deal Of
good can be accomplished.
II property owners are unanimous
in the desire to improve the streets
and sidewalks, then they should have
some simple and effective mode OF
doing it in such way as that future
city administrations cannot undo it.
II not inclined to make beginning
in this matter, then in justice to the
5000 ch. ldren who walk in all sorts OF
weather to their school houses reason
ably good sidewalks should be pro-
vided.
NV observation has convinced me
that while in exceptional cases hard
ships may result, the almost universal
rule is that the benefits are so great
that the Creates directors are COM
pletely satisfied after seeing the re-
suits. II.
Tho paralyzRr