St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-23
WOULD BE A MISTAKE

II "oulu De a serious mistake If
there should be as general opposition
as now appears to the putting down of
large amount of pavement in st.
Paul the coming season. We feel sure
that when property holders have
thought the matter over they will
realize this and not desire to postpone.
even for year, an improvement that
is essential from every point of view
We are aware that times are not favor
able to lavish expenditures of money,
and that assessments for public i'm
provements are heavy burden upon
purses that already feel the strain.
But even where the most strenuous
economy and retrenchment has become
the Watchword, it is quite possible for
people to be penny wise and pound
foolish There is a large number of
streets on which the wooden block
pavements now in place have be-
come either totally dilapidated or so
much out of repair as to drive bust
ness away. If all were in the same
condition, this. though a public in
convenience and injury, would not
work to the disadvantage of one street
or locality as compared to another.
several of the principal streets were
paved with asphalt; and, late in the
season as it was when these pave
ments were finished, it was observable
within a few days that traffic was
drawn to them, and that business i'm
proved along their lines at the eX-
pense of those less favorably situated.
We ask the owners and occupants
OF business property on these other
streets, which are now at such a dis
advantage. whether they dare to give
Improvement the go-by and to suffer
the steady loss that another season Of
neglect would assure. 1t is exceed
1ngly dangerous to trifle with the tend
ency of business to change it's direc-
ton and habitation. Third street ought
to stand as perpetual monument and
warning against this blunder Moth
ing but the persistent refusal of prop
erty owners to make desired improve
ments could have driven business away
from that thoroughfare Yet, when
once the movement was started. moth
ing that could have been done at that
date would have checked the process
of removal What has happened there
may happen again in any other part
OF the city. The streets on which
nhoI
be successful competitors for business
against those whose surfaces are COW
cred with half decomposed blocks, full
of pitfalls and chuck-holes. A diversion
of trade under these circumstances is
inevitable. 1t can be prevented only
by similar and speedy improvement
of all adjacent and intersecting streets
on which like business is done.
There is no sentiment about this ar
gument; it is pure business PROPOSE
ton. Any owner of property on Third
street, If he could set the time back
ten years, and act with the knowledge
that he has now won at so great
cost, would acquiesce cheerfully in the
expenditure of all sums necessary to
make and keep it the most beautiful
and complete retail street in the city.
Let the property holders on other
streets be warned in time. Sagacious
policy would insist that all the streets
in the main business section of the
city be furnished with first-class pave
ments without seasons delay Those
who have an eye to their interests will
instead of advising postponement, in
sist that the work of street paving go
| forward this season with all expedi-
ton