The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-23
CITY OF HIGHWAYS.
Seattle Soon to Have the
Finest Street Payements-
PIKE IMPROVEMENT IS FIRST.
Then VIII Come Front and secon
Street - Unsi2hfiy Poles May Dis
appear The Money I'm sight.

Seattle Is soon 70 be city OF durable
and finished street pavementS, as wei
az OF massive and elegant business
blocks. TIE initial steps have been taken
IN tn. paving % Pike street. which IL
soon 70 be completed through the se-
,icr OF the bondhoiders' committee % the
Consolidated Street Railway Company.
and at the present moment the plans are
being perfected for like improvements
on Front and Second streets In refer
ence TO the Pike street paving. Hon
Thomas Burke as counEel Tor Re-
cetyer n r Backus Of the Consolidated
Street Railway Company. has peiitloned
the United States circuit court for au-
thorfty 10 issue receivers certificates for
the paving OF Pike street AS heretofore
Indicated in the Post-Intelhgencer the
sum asked for IL 1900. The petition
states that that sum is necessary for I'M
mediate expenditure on account OF the
paving of the street, the rebuilding Of the
power house and the purchase OF EQUIP
neni. The receiver further says that he
believes S55,006 additional soon will be re-
qnired for the paving OF Second street
The certificates are 10 be issued in de-
nominations ot $50 and multiples thereof.
are 10 bear IDteres, at per cent, payable
sesni-anDuaily. and shall be q first lien
on ali the property of the company.
Tie petition wili De called before Judge
Nnea Second street is paved, he work
Viii De done with the best vitrified brick
ror the roadbed. The specifications aow
being prepared by City Engineer Thorn
con call for first-class material. In the
foundation there will be laid first six
inches OF gravel. then six inches of con-
crete. and finally the paving brick
The curbings will be OF granite. five
inches above the pavement and six inches
wide on top.
Progress of solid Paving.
Mr.. Thomson Is firmly OF the opinion
that IN time Seattle will become noted for
splendid highways. He has studied the
stfest-payiag subject for many years, and
last evening had the following 10 say:
The progress OF permanent and sub
stantial street improvements In The city
Is most encouraging sign of the times
In times past the marked contrast be
tween the massiveness and solt1ty OF the
business buildings and the temporary
makeshifts for business streets OF the
city have invited criticism and unfa-
vorabls comment al the hands of visit
ors. From present appearances II Is
gratifying to note that In The near flu
ture there will be little ground for such
criticism or comment. Just as he years
1880 are looked back 10 as the great
era OF permanent buildings In Seattle
in like manner iss5-9s bid fair TO be the
era or permanent streets.
'''rhe abundant supply. easy application
and comparatively small first cost Of
thanking rendered this temporary cover
ing the common and most acceptable form
OF street during the boom era Tie
steadying down OF business thought and
plans to a substantial basis brought with
IL the firm conviction that planksd streets
requiring reconstruction every four or FIVE
years, were scarcely suitable and GER
tainlv not economical thorougnfares to
maintain between costly business blocks
erected for the business of metropolis.
Then came the demand for permanent
streets. Il was said that there was no ma
terial at hand suitable for the purpose at
reasonable cost, ard development along
that lire commenced Three years ago
Il would have been impossible 10 pur-
chase brisk OF home manufacture suisa-
bic fer street paving purposes. Today
there are several plants located within
or close 10 the city. producing sor home
use AMI export to neighboring cities as
good a paving material as can be found
In the land. That the tendency Of toby
IS to-dri brick pavements is largely due
10 TIE fact OF this wonderful development
OF loca, industry. added TO the general
good results and acceptabilliy of similar
pavement in other cities.
Results of Experiments.
eft IL about two years since the exper-
smental section Of brick was laid along the
west side OF Commercial street, between
yesler avenue and Washington street. AL
though the foundation was unfavorable
20 permanent results the general appear
ance OF the pavement indicates good wear
ing qualities. ard this under the heav-
Test traffic 70 and from the principal
whsrves. warehouses and freight deplts
az the city. TIE block laia on Union
strest last winter. between Front and Sec
ond streets, has been the subject Of A
good Geal OF favorable comment. The
finished appearance and oven contour of
the street between the uniform and mas
sive granite curhs gives an air of solidity
aud perma.ense 10 the entire strset.
THE success OF these experiments acted
~ a spur 20 owners OF property on other
streets. Pike street, from Front 10 Sew
enth. is the leading cross-town business
street OF the city. and Within thirty days
this section will be finished brick street
between heavy granite eurbings. The re-
auisite petitions for Front and Second
streets. through the business center Of the
city. have now been acted upon favor
ably by the city authorities and the work
ordered. II is said 10 be altogel her likely
that al wires will be ordered underground
and general removal OF poles from these
PRINCIPAL thoroughfares effected within
the next sixty days. preparatory 20 the
permanent paving. Steps are also being
taken 70 supplement the filling o. of the
raised streets south OF Yesler avenue with
material fitted 90 make secure founda-
ton for pavement
street Car Companies Help.
'tStnce the granting OF the extended
franchise 70 the Consolidated Street Rail
way, that company has shown It's willing
ness 20 cooperate IN every possible man
ner With the city and the owners OF abut-
ting property IN paving the streets along
which its lines are operated The plans
Tor Front and Second streets are being
cSrried forward and hfs viii be called Tor
the work within a few days The work
VIII - pushed n completion before win
ter. thus leaving the three main streets
north Of Yesler avenue permanently payed
as a seasons work FOR 1895.
That this start Will be followed during
1875 ~ general movement throughout
the remainder ~ the business district ia
scarcely 10 he douhted-in fact ~ VIII ne
a matter Of self protection on the part ~
TIRE owners or property there From fhe
present outlook b scs~is probable thai 81,
fhe close " .S& tbn Seattle su.rit' VII
htte asserted itse}f 3&a3a as g. dta in f<S7-
- hy building streets As buildings were
tlea oullt-for az tine other cities may
c'nt.rre "a lay tenaA,rury or Discarded
forms ~ wooden 03yeweutS, Nut tha cfrf-
EE.s % Seattle aye proceeding on The
theory that the best is none too good ara
th2t cheap FIRST cost - aot the essential
''esn N 1ec'dlng OF street pavement"
Reckless Driving hy Women.
As MIs. J. \. Morrison ana her -
Earl ard Mrs. Cox and her sen F~s~>ts
Mere crossing Madison At Third st-o..-
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