St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-01
A MISTAKE.

A report to the chamber of COM
merce from its committee on streets
shows that there will probably be not
more than twelve blocks of new pave
ment laid in st. Paul this season. In
some cases pavements that were pro-
jected have been defeated by the diff
ferences of interested property holders:
in others, the street railway company
has succeeded in postponing action,
and In general there has been a lively
controversy as to the material to be
used, all of which has tended to delay.
AS the G o b e has already stated it
regards this prospect as g. mistake
and misfortune to the city. While
we realize fully that the taxpayers of
st. Paul are not in a position to have
their burdens increased by special as
sessments for paving purposes any
more than may be absolutely neces-
sary, yet this is one Of the instances
where men may be penny wise and
pound foolish.
A large number of streets in the
business district have pavements that
are now much out of repair. It is true
that we can get along with them for
year, or possibly two or three years
longer, but that carries with 1t a loss
or business to the concerns occupying
premises on such thoroughfares, and a
detriment to the city at large, which
Will be but poorly compensated by
putting off, for so short a time. an
outlay that is inevitable. We feel sure
that II any owner Of property on the
streets now covered by decaying wood
en- blocks could be able to calculate In
advance the loss to him by a failure to
put down frst-class pavement. he
would find it many times as great as
the interest on the cost of such a
pavement for five or even ten years to
come. If all of our streets were In
like condition, the comparison would
not tell so heavily. But where there
Is so large a stretch Of asphalt as
there is now in ST. Paul, business will
inevitably seek those locations which
offer to it that advantage.
It would seem that the fate of Third
street ought, to be sufficient warning
for all time to come Of the danger of
neglecting to make improvements in
proper time. Nothing pays bet
ter than to put property In
such shape as will invite and
retain tenants. Owners Of busi-
ness hIoclxct opd 30 ,,o.;5.
found this out by sad experience. In
the dullest times there is always a de-
mand for property that is kept in
first-class condition, unless 1t is so
located as to deprive it of real value.
But in the sharp competition for ten
ants which the past few years have
seen, every little difference between
competing properties has a powerful
effect. For the interest Of st. Paul as
whole, there Is nothing that can COM
pare with the completion Of it's paving
system. For the first few years after
our wooden pavements were laid, when
they still presented smooth surface,
without breaks or jogs, and when they
were kept scrupulously clean, st. Paul
acquired an enviable repute based upon
this fact alone. If all our streets
could be finished in asphalt, 1t would
do great deal to increase business
and to attract 1t.
If the laying Of new pavements were
a matter that could be postponed in
definitely, If need be, there would be
a reason for delay which does not
now exist. The sole advantage Of 1t,
however, is to put little way in the
future an outlay that must be made,
at a cost out of all proportion to any
saving by avoiding present expendi-
ture. We feel, therefore, that it is a
most serious blunder that has been
made by al concerned, the property
holders, the council and the board of
public works, as far as each may be
responsible, not to go ahead with paw
ing operations this season as rapidly
as possible. We hope that it
is not too late for the people to
realize where their real interest lies,
and to insist that our progress be not
retarded, and our property prevented
from acquiring speedily a greater
value, either for rental or for sale, by
carrying through in 1896 a very much
larger amount of street paving in the
business district than is now contem-
plated.