The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-27

Chat OF macadamizing Henry street, is
about TO share the same fate, unless the
Council urges the work more energetic.
ally. The total number Of lineal fees
OF macadamized streets com Uleted to
date is 36,445 feet, an increase of Is, 900
feet over the ssme period in 1892.
Next In Importance TO tho mainten-
apce is the embe llishment of the
streets and sidewalks, and your com.
mlttee are pleased 10 note that the
Coun,il. at the suggestion of the com.
mittee on ordinances, has taken meas.
ures to secure the setting out OF trees
and .shrubbery along the highways.
Besides the pleasure and comfort
afforded those VINO daily traverse tue
streets OF the city, there is nothing
which will add more to its beauty and
picturesque appearance.
In carrying out the work OF embell-
ishment on the streets and sidewalks of
the city, no "ever, much more is to be
done. The gas and water mains which
pow point their noses so far skyward, to
the great danger of limbs, should be
placed further underground Those
high, low, crooked, straight, thick, thin,
painted and implanted poles, CARRYING
numberless miles Of wire, covered and
uncovered. should be reduced to a mini.
mum, and better system devised to
have these poles located. To carry on
the work of embellishments of the
streets and sidewalks of the CITY. YOUR
committee thinks it proper to- refer to
section of the ordinance granting the
exclusive right to the Gas and Water
Company for furnishing the city with
water. In that section your committee
notes that said company agrees to
erect three watering troughs for horses,
as we'll as the erection of drinking
fountains upon such sidewalks or public
grounds as the said Council may desip-
nate.- 1t is plain to be seen that were
such public drinking fountains erected
they would add much, not only to the
convenience OF the public, but to the
general appearance Of the selected loca-
ton, while the erection of the trouphs
would, especially during the warm
weather, give great convenience to the
public who use horses. Your commit
tee deems it we'll in this come tion to
recommend to the Council that this
matter be taken up az soon as possible
with che Gas and Water Company to Sc.
cure these conveniences, and would
iurther recommend that 4 trough and
drinking fountain be placed in the pup
TIC square near the market in tho Fourth
ward, one at or near the city hall build
ing on Commerce street, and one at or
near the intersection Of Commonwealth
and Patton avenues. The committee
on streets does not realize that the
present sc-called drinking fountains 10.
Gated in the differant sc lions present,
are the drinking fountains referred to
in the franchise.
"I-ee board sidewalks, those danger
traps ana expensive luxuries of the CITY,
In the opinion OF your committee sh3uId
be abolished as soon as possible. 4he
cost of maintaining board walks during
the year shows sn item of expense
amounting to, approximately, 81, 500
$1,000 for labor and 5000 for lumber and
hardware. The numb ST Of foremen en-.
ployed on this work as per monthly
average, was one. The number of labor.
ers as per monthly average three.
Depres.ions in the paved and mi acadia.
mixed streets should be filed up az
quickly as possible; damage done by
heav} rains ON the macadamized streets
should be examined and put in good
condition as soon as possible. TIE sides
OF the macadamized streets, or along
the cutters, the long grass and numer-
GUS weeds OF all sorts. which are now
spolllng the appearance of most of our
macadam!zed streets. should be
removed, and scrapings or rub.
bish OF all kinds should not he
allowed to remain on the sides Of thes
streets. The drains should at all times
of the year be kept free from grass and
rubbish so as 20 prevent tho constant
choking up of the channels, and, gen.
orally speaking. all repairs OF any IN
portance should be carefully and prop
erly looked after. To do this, yonr
committee are OF the opinion thu.
scientific supervision is essential and,
therefore. would recommend that every
three months, at leass, in the year the
city engineer, the board of public
WORKS and the committee on streets of
Council should maze a general inspec.
ton OF the streets and sidewalks
throughout the city.
TIE work OF keeping ,he streets in
good condition, Of course, involves ex.
pense; each succeeding year becoming
more costly, owing to greater demands !
being made On the Council as the ty
en!arges and the area ofsreets and side. |
walks becomes greater, and unless the
Council realizes this fact and deals |
literally with the appropriation for
streets and sidewalks, no good results
OF com nittee's work can be shown at
the end OF the fiscal year. A number
OF The streets and sidewalks in the city
at present need improvement, but un-
less prompt relief be afforded through
the payment of assessments already |
levied, ar d to ba levied, no substantial !
improvement C IN be made unless under |
serious difflc llties. In the future
development OF the city much depends,
and in order to energetically continue
the work of improvement in pursuance
OF the policy already outlined by Coun-
Gil, and to provide for the financial re.
quirements incidental thereto, your
committe hopes that the plan OF assess
ment in force will ultimately afford the
Council the opportunity. Thera can be no