The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-20


ii seattle.-Gentlemen: herewith return,
without my approval house of delegates bill No.
81 entitled: IAN ordinance establishing the
grade of Republican and Fifth streets from Lake
street 70 Duwamish street"
NY objections to the ordinance are based upon
that part OF the same which establishes the ade
OF Fiji street AT the east side of Pontius at
two hundred and seven GOD feet, and at the west
line Of the alley between Pontius and Mary streets
OF two hundred and thirty-eight and 20-l00
(23S 20) feet
/ have made a careful examination OF the street
and OF the vicinity. The graies as recommended
BY the city engineer and as embodied in the ordi-
nance originally presented by the corporation
counsel o Inc OF sa ns street on the east
aide Of Mary street at 240 feet.
The same was amended by the city council by
the interlineation OF words fixing the grade the
ives, side of the alley between Pontus and Mary
streets at 23s20 feet This gives the street an
only two feet While from the alley west
ward to Pontius street il gives incline Of
over 81 feet. This is more than 20 per cent.
grade. IL 10 an Impractical grade In view OF
the fact that the country lying east OF Mary street.
Is ihiekly populated by industrious and thrifty
citizens who have now outlet to get to the city
with vehicles getting supplies to their homes
except by roundabout way of many blocks, II is
absolutely indispensable for their welfare that the
city provide them with some one practical route
connecting them directly with the business part of
thecity.
Aslreet with twenty five per cent grade is Of
no benefit to these people and is entirely imprac-
ticable Unless this street 10 left with a practical
grade this large portion OF our population Will still
labor under the same disadvantages heretofore
weighing upon them in absence of a street. By
reason OF the topography of the country this street
must, of necessity. furnish the only practical out
let for this large population TO reach the city by
way Of pontius and Depot streets
In my Judgment o grade recommended by the
city engineer and embodied IN the original ord-
nance proposed to your honorable body by the cor
poration counsel furnished relief and The only
lief 10 these people The ordinance, as proposed,
Afforded grade of only thirteen per cent, which is
spractical grade for teaming i do not believe
that 1t is wise for the city at this time to deny
dad All mi ay hoe nf
ened Injunction proceedings. In view of the
anomalous position in which we find ourselves
with regard to this street, it becomes necessary to
hnaiy validate what has been done by ordi-
nance liking and establishing the grades and
authorizing the grading of the street accordingly.
iEls street. although the grade has never been
established. Is now completed IL the grades men,
toned In this ordinance should become the estab-
Ished grades. The contract for the grading of
ts street has been let and signed and this amount
OF expense incurred and labor performed upon the
same without the council having heretofore estab-
Hshen me grade of the street NO course could be
more unwlse. 1t Is impossible by such course OF
grading streets TO ever enforce collection OF grade
lakes The estimated cost of the grazing of this
street reported by the engineer and levied against
Tue ADJOINING property 10 amply sufficient to cover
TIE Whole expense of grading the street according
70 the grade AS recommended by the engineer and
originally proposed by the corporation counsel
ms being the case, believe that should the ordi'
nance proposed and now in question become n law
by nay approval we viii be unable 10 collect grade
taxes nom the adjoining property holders But III
We establish the grade as recommended by the en-
siheer and rs originally proposed by the corpora
uon counsel from the beginning TO the end OF the
street. thus adording 10 these people practical
grade aud thoroughfare, In my Judgment oil viii
o. compelled 10 pay their assessment and do not
ceeve that any Injunction will be sustained.
reehng confident of the correctness OF this view,
respectfully yours. j. r. RONALD, Mayor
published this 10th day of June 1892.