Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-05-16

O'Shea and Smith. In the common
Council the absentees were Messrs. Ar
thur Flanagan, Matthews aud Neary.
IN THE SELECT COUNCIL.
After some preliminary matters the
Mayor presented the matter of the con
tract between the late borough of Cone
maugh and the Cambria Iron Company
by which on consideration of the vacation
of certain streets the said Company Was
to, among other things, build a sewer on
Center street to connect with the Cone
maugh river or the Clinton street sewer
in the late borough of Johnstown. The
consent of Johnstown borough had never
been obtained and the Company now
wished that permission. He presented
mars and papers to show what they
wished in the matter. Action postponed
for the time.
The following message was read from
the Mayor.
MAYORS OFFICE !
CITY or JoHNsTowS May 12, 1s9O)
To me select and Common Co,utcH Of he C,ty o,
,JoluiStoicR;
There are number OF short streets within the
City that should be heightened These streets
mar the uniformity OF The City highways These
inconvenience will continue to become more
apparent and troublesome as the City Increases
inpopulation and traffic. Many OF our streets
are now too narrow and every opportunity that
tends to create street room should be seized.
The extension OF these streets would to some eX-
tent distribute the traffic, thus allevlating the
more crowded and important streets, 1t is quite
certain that they must at some time be extended
II will cost less to extend them now than at any
future time. When we are making astart let us
start in such q manner that our plans when
completed will be for the best interest OF the
future City.
would Therefore recommend the extension OF
the following streets:
That clinton street be extended TO stony
creek street in the Fourth ward.
That Locust street, in the second ward, be eX-
tended to the Point.
That jackson street. in the Third ward, be eX-
tended to Center street.
That Sherman street, in the Fifth ward, be eX-
tended 10 RIVER street,
In the Fifth and Sixth wards in the original
plan, there is an alley running at right angles
with the streets after every second lot These
alleys are but ten feet wide and are in no wise
useful as public hignwa.s-tAey contribute
nothing to the traffic of the City. And further
they are made the recepticle of dead vermin,
cats, dogs and chickens, old tin cans, broken
dishes, rubbish from stables, yards anu gardens,
and being between houses where the sunlight
never reaches, they are always wet and soft and
breed diseases while they serve no good pur-
pose. They are an expense to the City to clear
Of rubbish, to pave and keep in repair. They
cause a break every ninety-nine feet in the con-
tinulty of the sidewalk as they have to be paved
as road bed. which means cobble stones at
every intersection.
We are about to repaye Morris street, Would
1t not be wise to vacate these useless highways
before we go TO the expense ofpaying all these
openings on the sidewalks. IN rear OF each lot
between the principal streets there is sixteen
foot alley which gives all the alley way necessary
for stable approach. The vacation OF these
lateral alleys win not inconvenience the people,
but will relieve the public OF a burden, and 1
therefore commend to the Councils the propriety
OF their permanent abandonment. This recon-
mendation does not refer to or include the two
sixteen foot alleys that connect Morris street
with Napoleon and Water streets in the Filth
ward.
Another matter presses upon us. The sewer
on Morris street does not carry of the water
believe 1t is too small for the amount OF water 1t
has to carry, and the result is at every rainfall
the water is backed up into the cellars on the
line OF the sewers. The street must now be torn
up for the track Of the Street Railway Now
would be the time 10 relay the sewer If new
one is to be put in. | therefore call the especial
attention of you bodies 10 the matter and leave
to you the responsibility OF action. The people
who have paid frontage complain, as they have
right to- OF the inefficient service OF the sewer.
tia apparent TO a careful observer that a
great many owners OF dogs have failed to regis
ter the same, yet still retain the ours to bark.
snap and howl. II these dogs are to be allowed
to remain in the City, the owners should be re-
quired to pay the tax, and the penalty for not
registering. They can do so now by voiuntar-
lily offering payment of two dollars with forty
cents costs, and the registration fee tax OF one
dollar for a male and two dollars for a female
dog. II the council will authorize Will appoint
on the first day of June next an active canvasseI
in each ward of the City to record the name Of
each owner of dog in such ward allowing a fee
to said canvasser of ten cents for each unreg-
lstered dog.
Upon this return an information will be made
and warrant issued which will compel the
owner to pay such fine as may be imposed not
less than two dollars with the costs which in
most cases will amount to about two dollars
more. The fine can be much larger. I thiIB
this Will work to the financial advantage of the
City and commend 1t to your consideration.
w. HORACE ROSE, Mayor.
The message was considered seriatim,
In the matter of extending the streets
Mr.. Kennedy moved that the Mayor and
City Solicitor be directed to draw up al
ordinance making the changes. Motion
carried.
In the matter of abandoning the alley!
on the South side, as proposed, the point
of order was raised by Mr.. Kennedy
whether he and Mr.. Moses, both of whom
would be affected by the abandonment ol
these alleys, should be allowed to vote
The Chair decided that they could take ne
part in voting on the subject.
Mr.. Hsws moved that the Mayor ant
the City Solicitor be instructed to draw