The record-union., 1893-06-20
UP AND DOWN.
Confusion and Expense Caused by
Changing Street Grades.
Another Instance Thereof in the Case
of h Street.-The Matter Before
the City Trustees.

The frequent changes in the grades of
streets and sidewalks all over the city are
the cause of much inconvenience and
useless cost 10 citizens, and it is to be
hoped that some day level will be
reached that will settle the matter of
grades for all time.
The trouble has been that the grades
established by one City Engineer do not
conform to the surveys of another, and
the last man that has whack at it es-
tablishes a new level. On this basis citi-
zens improve their sidewalks and grade
their lots, only to have the same changed
by some other engineer.
SO in the case Of the improvement of K
street with asphalt. 1t appears that the
present surface is to be raised about six
inches, and yesterday City Engineer
Boyd informed the board that the Cen
| trail Electric Railway Company had de-
clined to raise its track on that street to
conform to the grade established for the
new pavement. He wanted TO know
what was to be done as the contractor
was prepared to go ahead with the work.
j. ii. Henry, President OF the company,
replied that when the track was laiu the
levels were given by the City Engineer,
and the company put in a perfectly new
| track throughout. 1t was now solid and
| in good order, and if removed and raised
at this time it would injure the roadbed
and entail great expense upon the COM
pany. If the grade was to be changed
every year what protection would the
company have?
MIR. Boyd contended that the grade
given the company year ago was such
as TO merely conform TO the surface OF tie
cobbles. The grade is up and down, and
good asphalt pavement cannot be laid
unless the surface is true and level. There
IS no official grade on the street, and cam
not be until permanent pavement is
laid.
Mr.. Henry said that if there are any
kinks in the track the company was per
fectIy willing to level up the track. Why
not leave the crown of tie street where il
IS, and Ill up the cutters to correspond.
The company had never been notified
| that it was contemplated to change the
grade OF the street-OnlY that the street
was to be improved by. the laying OF
new pavement. This matter of official
grades should be settled, as the company
cannot afford to be changing the grades Of
Its roads every year or SO.
Trustee Green thought the street rail
way company should have taken interest
enough in the matter 10 ascertain lust
what the conditions were.
Mayor SteInman said the contractor
was ready to proceed with the work. and
the company should be ready to do its
share.
Mr.. Henry said he would take legal
advice in the matter before going to the
expense of raising his track.
Trustee Green said something about
FORGETTING the street railway franchise if
the company did not do as the city de-
manded, and the Mayor added that if
there is to be legal fight over the matter
the sooner it commenced the better.
The Mayor added that he would stand
by the city-that the case had gone out of
the Trustees hands, and the work would
be proceeded with.
Mr.. Dennison, the contractor, said he
would 60 ahead with the work on the
basis of the contract. The crown of the
street would be from four to six inches
higher than the present level of the track.
Mayor Steinman assured Mr.. Dennison
that the track would be raised.
Mr. Henry then consulted with Mr..
Dennison and pleasantly informed the
board that he thought the matter could
be satisfactorily arranged.
Nothing more was said about the mat
ter, and it was understood that there will
! be no difficulty between the city and the
company.