The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-29
ROANOKE IN MUD AND halRE.
The Streets in Worse Condition
Than Ever Before.
Lakes of Liquid Mud-sa1em Avenue
Swimming-South jefferson Street in
Need of n Pilot-Strong Measures of
Relief Needed ut Once-Putting too
Much Trust in Dry Weather and too
Little In Work.

The citizens of Roanoke were never
moro forcibly impressed with tho needs
of street improvements than during the
last few days. City Engineer Dunlap
said to TIMES reporter yesterday that
tho streets were never before in so bad
condition.
Most of tho streets look moro like
lakes Of liquid mud than thoroughfares
of city. Many citizens have been
threatening to launch fleets If canoes
for the transportation of those who are
compelled to move about tho city.
Tho transfers who haul coal and
heavy building material load their
wagons almost as heavily as when the
streets were in better condition, only
occasionally adding to their teams.
They arc Lelping to make tho streets
worse every day.
Salem avenue is almost impossible in
some places even for vohioles, and the
mud on tho sidewalks and crossings
makes tho trade in gum boots and shoes
unusually lively.
South Jefferson street is oven worse
than Salem Avenue. In several places
stakes have been driven by the holes in
the middle of the street to warn drivers
unfamiliar with tho situation to avoid
these dangerous pits that seem to be
bottomless. Few who are acquainted
with the location of tho holes and rough
places will venture down the street
much farther than the Vigilant Fire
Company's building without guido. 1t
required the greatest care OF old drivers
to pull through safely
Commonwealth Avenue the principal
thoroughfare of east Roanoke, has it's
share of mud, and is almost impossible
in many places. Rt anoke real estate
just now is too soft to command the adj
mirati0n of men, and the ladies fill the
air with ratings against the street COM
mittee and City Council
Shoe dealers. boot blacks, and laundry
men are the only ones who receive any
benefit from the general discontinue
The city engineer says that his office
Is besieged with people who are anxious
to tell him what to do, and he has
already received gratis n number of re-
cipes for the relief of the situation. lie
said to THE TIMES reporter that he
could do but little except wait for sun
shine and dry weather
Foreman Deyerlc with forco of
eight hands was put on South Jefferson
street yesterday filling some OF the
holes beyond Fourth avenue. The chain
gang was put on Commonwealth avenue
in the morning, but was taken back to
Jail when tho rain began to fall.
Along large part of the streets there
is bank OH each side that helps to
make lake in the middle by preventing
drainage. The condition might be i'm
proved if the mud carts were put to
work removing the banks so that the
water and liquid mud would drain into
the cutters and from them into the
sewers where there arc sewers.
The mere filling Of Il few holes will
not give re ief, rs the constant travel
over the sire It's will make new ones. II
the ST. Gets can be moro thoroughly
drained they will dry much quicker, and
If the rain continues and no steps are
taken to fac. litatc drainage, travel will
necessarily be suspended on some
streets.
The streets all over the city are in a
miserable condition. Campbell, which
has moro recently been partly macada-
mized, is in better condition than any
other street in the city, but it is far
from atfording q pleasant drive.