Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-17

CROSSING As
Actual cost of street fOrce"..... x2,i51 30
Average cost of street force per
| mOhth..... .,........": SVf ~
1t is hardly necessary to go into the
details of these expenditures, but | beg
leave to mention the grading of Fifth
street southwest and also the grading of
"a crossing over the Great Northern rail
way track at Eleventh street north as
examples OF what Judicious expenditures
of small amounts of money may. accom-
plish.
Complaints are frequently made on &C
count of the condition OF he CUTTERS in
certain parts of the business district. AS
u remedy | would recommend that the
cutters be thoroughly cleaned and sur.
faced with gravel.
CENTRAL. AVENUE PAVING.
As it is probable that the contract cX-
ecu,ed August 20. 1891, VIII be pro
ceeded with. | will again refer to the
plans and specifications submitted 10y
me for the paving and curblng OF Central
avenue. These specification contem-
plated also the laying of crosswalks at
the several street intersections. the same
to he of granite flag stones. projecting
slightly above the surface of h block
pavement. This provision for good cross
Inge, when such plans and specifications
were submitted for approval Of council,
was eliminated entirely from that instru-
ment for the reason that their retention
would entail too great an expense upon
the city. Notwithstanding their extra
cost. | think such crossings are very ne
cessary and should have beca retained,
ae. in my opinion jafter considerable OK
pelicnGe IN the maintenance of the pres
pnt style Of wooden crossings when sub
iectrd to heavy "tratlic) they constituted
by far the most laud1hle part Of the then
contemplated improvement, the contract
for which has since been let to Henry
Nugrl. am decidedly Of the opinion
that should such crossings Tor some sub
s"tantial substitute for the same) be omit
ted in the paving Of Central avenue, that
experience will pr We the uinisslon, even
at the saving Of three thousand dollars
/ l53 OOJl. TO he a serious mistake, and |
hope the council may YET uccldo to Us"
crossings Of stone.
With reference to cedar blocks. in my
opinion they are by no means equal
t. fret quality yitriird brick or asphalt,
yet think if properly constructed, upon
q foundation such as CuutcM plated. We
/ tJJl itiSDIhDIJ tNJ'At Atii WV w. "a
number of years. Ia some cities blocks
have proven to be an absolute failure.
while in other loca tiles they havc been d
success.
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT no. !.
Plans aud protilcs were prepared Fl
the grading and curling Of Fourth ave
nue. north from Eighth street to Fifteenth
street. This embraced Improvement
District No. l."
Bids were advertised for and received,
but proved too high for acceptance, The
work was then abandoned until such
time that a complete survey for align
ment and grades could be- made, with the
view of changing the grade to more
nearly conform to the natural surface OF
the ground in question.
SURVEYS AND GRADES.
| desire to note a very important work
which should receive immediate atten
ton: That is the establishment of mon
uments at a sufficient number of street
intersections to enable the proper locat
ing of various public, as well AS private,
improvements which are constantly be
ing made. Although the council has at
!, different times conferred upon me the
authority to proceed with this work, yet,
in the observance of the policy Of strict
economy enjoined upon all Department.
OF the city, | have been unable to pro,
} coed further than to make a preliminary
search for original points of past sur
veys upon which to base IA final survey.
This work should be advanced rs rap
idly as possible during the present
] season, and, if possible. all that part OF
4 the city lying east Of the river and west
of Thirteenth street should be monu
mented, levels be taken on the streets
6 and avenues, and the resulting data be
o recorded in tho shape of protiIes anc
maps, the latter showing the t~opogrnph
ical features of the ground Ly means OF
: contour lines. When this is accomp
lishcd, street improvements can proceed
g AS rapidly as the property owners d sire
but until such data is at hand | think |
! inadviBHble to make any Improvement
> other than the necessary repairs,
WATER WORKS.
In pursuance of the instructions Of tn
" city council IN january. 1880, | have ha'
considerable correspondence with tn
makers Of the various supplies USED i
Al the construction Of water works. 1h
result of this correspondence ! have care
fully tabulaled in the form of an "AI
proximate Estimate Of the present coe
8 OF the present plant, and includes tn
cost Of labor necessary to place the plar
"A ia working condition. This estimate
now on file among my Office records, an
ia at the disposal of the council. ! b.
!, lieve it presents in full detail all nece
- sary information. | will say, howeve
that the grade OF many of the existln
mains may have to be changed as city in
provements are made, and this, togeth'
- with the condition of the machinery USE
II in the present pumping plant, will mai
necessary very considerable repairs ar
additions to the works now in use in
10 very short time. Our city is constant
growing in size and importance, and
think the general belief OF our citizens
that it's future growth will far surpa|
that of the past. This will necessita
the erection Of a pumping station of We,
much greater capacity than tho preeel
one, and one that can easily supply SUI
;n.t ,,,%nr ,pl ,t o,,nh lnru rnot tbut