Telegram-herald., 1891-10-23

more publicity were gwen 70 the pro
eeediags Of the board OF trade there
would Dc less IA them ID eritlclse snd
more % endorse. The policy Of secrecy
sends our man afReturers to Benton
H2rboF aud Muskegoa. whereas . policy
OF publicity might retain them here. Ii
certainly could nc. 90 more 70 drive
them away than the former. A policy
Of secrecy prevents the securing OF fair
aud equitable freight rates for cur man
ufscturer. and closes the door TO laud-
able enterprises. Open up the hoard of
trade, make il tie forum for public
discussion OF public questions and
70 viii fnd al ally IN the
newspapers far more effective than
! any other agent that can be employed.
The newspapers stand ready and
anxious 20 arouse public enthusiasm IN
behalf OF upbaildiug the city and TO
eniIst the active corporation OF every
body in the projects advanced by the
board OF trade. The policy OF secrecy
Ia transacting business IN which all are
concerned alike, can benefit only the
few and will always result in injury TO
the many. The board OF trade of this
city has been crippled, its usefulness
impaired and It's utility made a aues-
tion of doubt by the real or assumed
secrecy with which many matters of
public interest have been surrounded
by It's secretary. The members OF the
board. notably active on all occasions
when the interests OF the city and its
future are involved are ready and
willing to give the public all the facts
IN their possession. II that same pol
icy were made fixed rule to be OBJ
served by the secretary, the board of
trade would soon become popular
as Well as al indispensable institution.
IMPROVE THE DRIvEwAYs.
The demand for better construction
in the driveways of our city bridges is
too apparen. to need comment. Al
though the best oak pianking obtain
able. is laid at frequent intervals it
soon grows dangerously thin under the
heavy service to which it is subjected
and while the work of relaying is in
progress the bridges are necessarily
closed. This is source of great in
convenience and q matts- of consider
able expense. In addition 20 the ordi-
nary expense Of relsying the bridge
floor there is the continual possibility
of some valuable horse breaking
through and that would mean dam
age suit against the city. 1t has been
several times suggested that an i'm
proved driveway would be much
cheaper than the present system of
construction and TO that end the board
of public works has recommended that
they be paved with cedar blocks on u
cushion surface consisting of two
inches of leached ashes laid between
the blocks and the planking. 1t is held
that the ashes would preserve the
underlying planking from decay and
being protected from wear they would
last for many years. The block pave
ment would wear for three or four
years and the additional weight would
be easily borne by the truss work OF
tho bridges. Another advantage
would be that the paving could be re-
placed without seriously interfering
with the traffic across the river. Two
recommendations Of this nature have
been sat down upon by the council and
today Bridge-st. bridge is closed to the
public. One of the main thorougfares
of tue city is blocked until it can be
relaid with plsnklng that will be worn
out IN few months.