The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-10
LAWS FOR THE CITY.
Important Amendments Made
by the Legislature.
ASSESSMENTS FOR SIDEWALKS
Cost or Repairs 10 Be Charged to Prop
erfy Owners Instead of the City
Tax Equalization.

ing legislation for cities OF the nrst class
and yesterday he stated that several piIis
were likely to become laws which would
be of great importance TO Seattle ana
King county. Mr.. Parry was particularly
interested in btu eos which has passed the
house and which has been advanced on
the seuafe's calendar so that It's passage
at this session is assured. The bill re-
Iates TO the maintenance. repairs ana re-
newal of sidewalks in cities OF the nrst
class and provides for payment therefor
by the owners OF the abuttlng property.
Once this bill becomes a law IL means a
saving to the city of Seattle ana TO ITS
property owners of about s2oe1 q year.
The existing legislation relating 10 the
sldewaiking of streets causes the ex-
penditure of much more money than the
work is worth and at the same time bur-
dens the property owner who is not nene-
flied by the Improvement with proper
tionate share Of the expense.
In the majority of other cities or the
first and second classes in the country
property owners are compelled to keep
up their sidewalks. but by an oversight
On the part of those who drew UP the
present city charter. and later by those
who prepared the amendments. such
clause was never inserted. By a series
of ordinances and charter provision the
city has the right to cause sidewalks to
be constructed under the same system as
that adopted in the gVnding OF streets
Assessment rolls must be prepared and
much red tape dragged into the affair no
matter how small the Improvement may
be. As a result a large expense is ncees-
sarily incurred and the city so far as
possible has endeavored to escape con-
structing sidewalks under the system. by
keeping the Halks In repair at the gen.
erai expense Of the property-owners at
large. Another and probably the most
serious objection to the system. Is that.
If a sidewalk is constructed on one side
of the street, the property owner on the
other side must also pay his portion or
the cost no matter If he has just laid
new and costly sidewalk In front of his
own residence and at his own expense
A new bill which promises relief reads
in substance as follows:
Whenever any street, lane, square.
place or alley in any city OF the first
class. now or hereafter legally organized
in this state, shall have been improved
by the construction of sidewalk or side
walks along either or both sides thereof.
the duty, burden and expense OF main
tenance, repairs and renewal of such
sidewalk or sidewalks shall devolve upon
the property directly abutting upon that
side of such street along which such
sidewalk has been constructed, as here
matter provided: Wheneyers In the judg-
ment of that officer or department of any
".
charged with the inspection and care of
the sidewalks. along the public streets.
lanes squares. places and alleys in such
city, the condition of any sidewalk Is
such as to render the same unfit or UNI
safe for purposes of public travel. the
said officer or department shall thereupon
notify the. owner of the property inn
mediately abutting upon said portion of
said sidewalk of the condition thereof.
fpc he IA IN ri
pair or renew the said portion of said
street or sidewalk; said notice shall spec
ify reasonable time within which such
cleaning, repairs or renewal shall be exc
crted by the said owner and I'm case
the said owner shall fail to comply with
the Instructions of said notice within the
time therein specified. then the said OFF,
Ger or department. shall proceed TO clean
said walk or TO make such repairs OF
renewal forthwith. and shall charge the
full cost thereof to the said owner of
abutting property. which said charge shall
become lien upon said property and
shall he collected by due process of law.
For the purpose of this act all property
having a frontage upon the side or mar
gin of any street shall be deemed to be
abutting property and sch property shall
be chargeable. as provided by this act
for all cost of maintenance repairs or re-
newal of any form OF sidewalk improve
ment between the said street margin and
the roadway lying In front of and adj
jacent to said property. and the term
sidewalk, as intended for the purposes of
this act. shall be taken TO include any
and all structures or forms OF street
Improvement. included in the space be-
tween the street margin and the roadway
Sec. 2. Nothing in this act shall be
construed to limit or repeal any exist
Ing powers of cities of the first class
with reference TO the Improvement or
maintenance of sidewalks, streets, lanes,
places, squares or alleys, but the power
and authority herein granted are to be
exercised concurrent with or in extern
sion or the powers and authority now ex-
isting The legislative authority of any
city. before exercising the powers and
authority herein granted, shall by proper
ordinance provide for the application and
enforcement of the same within the lin
itaticns herein specified
Sec. 3. Whereas. there is now no stat
ute In force. nor clearly defined pro-
visions In charters OF cities of the first
class, defining the rights of municipal
authorities with reference 10 the respon-
sihlity for necessary maintenance. repairs
or renewals OF sidewalks along streets
lanes. squares, places and alleys in such
cities, and providing for the placing of
the cost thereof upon ahutting owners.
and by reason thereof the keeping OF
sidewalks in proper condition Is greatly
retarded and much Inconvenience results
20 the public. an emergency Is hereby
declared to exist for the immediate effect
of this iaw, and therefore this act shall
take effect on its passage and approval
by the governor"
Street Commissioner Alexander said
yesterday that in March. lisa. many
streets were sidewalked among them
being James, Front, Fourth, Madison.
Yesler avenue. Pike, Kentucky. Battery,
Bell. Union, Washington. Main and Jack
son. The life OF the average board side
walk is about five years, but these side
walks gave a very good service until
yesr or SO ago, when they began to rot.
ana now il ~ necessary that new ones
he laid AS soon as the bill becomes
law. the city VIII proceed 10 make prop
erty owners Who have poor sidewalks
In front OF their property comply with
its provisions.
Dill Is also pending giving the cities
CT the first class a representative IN the
board or equalization. and another. which
Is expected TO be passed 81 this session.
gives cities, counties ana school districts
the right 10 borrow money on their tax
lsgies.