Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-24
STREET IMPROVEMENT.

The agitation in this city favorable to
street Improvement is an exceedingly hope
ful sign. The people may besaid to be ofon
mind upon the subject-they differ only
as to means, but when the aim is common
and earnest spirit is manifest, COM
munity is pretty sure to agree upon
methods.
During the past severe winter the city
was completely walled in by reason of the
all but impossible condition of the streets
running towards her borders and connect
ing with the country roads. The resolu-
ton has been formed on all sides that an
other winter shall not find the city in such
adeplorable dilemma
1t is understood, that as beginning in
the direction of breaking down the block
ade for all the future, the first roadway to
be improved to the east boundary line
shall be L street. Some question as to
cost induced some owners to sign re-
monstrance, but it is understood that this
will be Withdrawn and that the good
work shall go on.
We congratulate the people upon this
outcome. The citizens owning the valu-
able property along l. street by resolving
not TO impede the pirit of progress, mani
fest their interest in the growth and well
fare of the city and their public spirit.
All that gives their property value is bus
mess prosperity and promise of growth ;
those two things are impossible to town
walled in by barriers of impossible high
ways.
When this much needed improvement
OF l. street is finally ordered, it viii be re-
celved as an indication of far more extern
sive improvements to be early prosecuted
and that promise will give a tone and
vigor to our common interests that will be
felt Immediately in enhanced values, in
dustrial activity and new investments, and
consequently lessened tax rates.
1t may be well, now that the L-street
improvement is to to go on, for the City
Trustees to add to the yigor and spirit of
enterprise, by pledging the city to pay
sum equal to the cost of constructing the
street intersections. The Trustees have
the authority to do this under Section 26
of the street law as amended March, 1889,
which provides that the Trustees "may in
their discretion order the whole or any
part Of the cost and expenses OF the work.
to be paid ont of the treasury of the mu-
nicipality, from such fund as they may
designate"
The city has done this before and met
the cost Of intersections out of the general
income of the city, and has even done
more in the exercise of wise discretion in
improving highways. There may be some
objection to this proposition by property
owners who, under different law, haze
paid for intersection work. But there
should not be, since the Trustees have the
power and the law is wise The question
is, not what has been, but what should be
the policy of the present and for the
future; what is best for the whole COM
munity now? We trust that the city
authorities will not be moved by policies
of the past. but have the courage to do for
the present what will most promote city
prosperity. If there is not the fund on
hand out OF which sums equal to the cost
of intersection work may be paid, the city
can well afford, for such small amounts, to
issue its certificates of Indebtedness and
raise the money upon them.
For emphasis, we repeat that the
work of general highway improvement
to the opter boundaries is one in
which every citizen is profoundly inter
ested, one in which all should unite, put
ting behind them the practices of the past
and looking forward to the ultimate and
speedy good to flow to all business and
property interests, and to the general up
building OF the city and the augmentation
OF its population and wealth.