The Helena independent., 1893-04-26
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

Engineer Keerl Tells OF the Work Done
and Makes Certain RECON- M end ations.
City Engineer Kesrl In his report showed
that the total expenditure for salaries dur
ing the year was e562l.88. The most ex-
tsnsive work done during the year was the
paving of Main. street. the total cost being
$55. .233.27, the city paying Sc, 495.67, the
railway companies $13. 929. 12. and abuttinR
property owners S34,S0S.43. The total cost
of new sewers during the year was S. 293. So,
the new connections aRRregatinR sixty.
During the year nbout five and one half
miles Of grades were given the street CON-
missioner. In concluding his report Mr..
keerl saws:
1.-The most serious question presented to
this department to-day is the absence of
surveys OF comprehensive character. to
enable an intelligent and final determine
nues now dedicated to the CITY. In view of
what has been done in this connection in
tast years. II will appear that tho depart
ment is several years behind in the settle
ment of this most important quest:on-in
which every property owner is vitality in-
terested. Covering the city's history many
cases can be cited. whore grades given BY
this departme Mt have been used as the basis
Of important improvements and which sub
s.quently have boon changed ey later ad-
mlnistration. This condition. in my opin-
ion, can only result flom the want OF
proper system OF surveys aRgt essively ad-
vanced and the results recorded in such o
thorough and comprehensive manner that
enoh succeeding city engineer can be held
to follow IN arbitrary plan fully perfected.
Looking to meeting tais question prop
erly. my predecessor, Geo. X. Reeder, Esq.
initiated q system of grade sheets, whioh,
in my opinion 10 the only proper manner
nj n " u nh
that presented over this CITY, and with tho
vexed questions OF grade determinations
whore Improvements have been made with
little or no regard to the employment of
systematio or economic grades. While
have fully adopted and extended this sys-
tenn OF grade sheets as far as was practic-
able during the past year. very large
amount of work remains to be done.
Tho necessities of the case will more
fully appear from the following reviews:
There are within the city limits today. in
round numbers. 1b0 miles of streets that
enti ely the many miles of alleys. OF this
amount less than fifty miles have been COW
cred with levels or grade lines, approx
mately fixed for even the conter line of
at Gets. Grade sheets have been prepared
covering about four and one-half miles of
streets representing the anal determine
tion of grades and Gun be relied upon as
full aud permanent records. Comprehen-
sive surveys have been made Of another
four and one-half miles of streets premin-
ary to establishing final grades, the work
ing plans OF which are patty perfected.
The sur voys made Therefore 70 resent but
six per cent of the total mileage to be oov-
cred to secure to the department the neoes-
sRry data.
while it may be stated that the major
portion OF the territory is unsurvsyed and
undevelopsd and likely 30 remain SO Tor
some time to come. yet l must contend that
the proper time for the establishment Of
the grades of any city 10 in advance OF the
improvements. to properly provide for the
important question of drainage aud to pro-
clude the possibility OF damage to props ty
improvements BY placing the engineering
department. in position to give grades in
suriug no change. Evidences are NOT want
ing in our oity to dsmonstrate the embar-
rRssments resulting from the lmprovsmen ents
being placed in advance of proper study
of the grade question and mHny OF the
vexsd questions which are now presented;
such as basin existinR in the middle Of q
block which should be summit, could
readily have been avoided had tho deter
minntion OF grades received proper atten-
ton in advance of the ptovemsnts.
''ln drawing your attension to this sub.
ject il has been done with the view of en-
vaging your earnest consideration of the
impol tance Of perfectinQ TO the extent prac-
ticnblc tho plan Of the oity in this regard,
and nt AZ early n date Nc may appear fens-
ible. and that this department. may roonive
your support and encouragement to that
end"