Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-07-13
pEFECrIYE sALEM sIpEwALKs.
Pedestrians Denounce Them and De-
mand Reform Lives in
Danger.

mand Reiorm-biveS in
Danger.
During the past six muuths-in
fact ever since the rains set in last
fall-the JOURNAL sanctum has
been fairly flooded with com
municatious on the subject of bad
sidewalks in Salem. Several were
anonymous, while more were from
representative citizens signed by
such original noms de plume as
Taxpayer" Pedestrian Wheel
man. Foot and Walker ETC., etc.
Aside from this array of literary
spleen and unvarnished disgust, the
editor has received not few meta
phorical prods in the ribs about the
diIapidated condition of our side
walks. Now what shall be done ?
We have constantly declined to pub
lish these criticisms for the reason
that the city fathers were over-bur-
dened with the greater reform of
paving our streets. In the mean
time the sidewalks have grown con
stantly worse, and public seHtiment
is becoming more aroused to have
something done. 1t is an indisput-
able fact that off Commercial street
the sidewalks in Salem are BAD.
One correspondent says there isn't
decent block of walk running
north and south on any street from
Liberty to Cottage. If this is true
it is even more so the further east
you go. A writer wishes to know
if the streets east of the railroad are
in the city, and if so why passable
sidewalks are not built there. Many
insinuations and even point blank
accusations are made against the
officers in authority. 1t is needless
to recite all these complaints, for one
general charge can be made and sus-
tained that Salem has the worst
sidewalks of any respectable city on
the coast. This should be different,
and can he if the citizens generally
will make demands and then insist
ON the officers doing their duty.
When walks are poor the city can
order repairs or new walks. If these
orders are not obeyed the street COM
missioner can build them and tax
the property for the expense.
There is no use trying to put on
metropolitan airs and neglect the
first steps toward u respectable city. |
Aside from the pedestrians many
vehicle owners make complaints |
about poor crossings, especially where
the railroad aud street ear tracks are
crossed. If it is the duty of corpor-
ations to put their crossings into good |
order they should be compelled to
do so ut once, and if it is the city's
business the proper officer should
be abused like pick pocket until
he does it thoroughly.
1t is not pleasant to proclaim to
the world the wretched condition of
our walks aad streets, but as this
seems to be the only way to secure
results, the JOURNAL will do its
duty cheerfully, and send up the
wall until something is done. This
matter involves the city in little or
no expense, and as the tax on each
piece of property is light, there
is no reason why a peremptory
order should not go out for first-class
walks all round. If persons cannot
afford to keep up sidewalks they
have no business to own city prop
erty. Non-residents, who are hold {
ing property for speculation are re- {
sponsible for much of this state of
affairs, but why should they be ]
In fact, there should be
no preferred classes in this or any
other class of taxation. Now the /
JOURNAL trusts the Salem officials Z
will go to work at this matter good !
naturedly yet thoroughly, and gam 3
,he distinction of giving our city .
he best walks of any in the state.