The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-04
JACKSON STREET bridge.
NEW PILISG BETWEEN FOURTH
AND SECOND AVENUES.
Same ThorouGhfaPe TO He Replanked
From Railroad Avenue to second
Avenue south and . sewer Laid
From Fifth Avenue TO the Bay.

An important improvement. the need OF
Wnscn Aas long been recognized by the
city authorities, is under consideration by
the members OF the city council and the
board OF public works. II embraces the
construction Of new pile bridge on jack
son street, between Second and Fourth
avenues south. the repianking OF the street
from Railroad avenue 10 Second avenue
south, and the construction Of new sewer
from Fifth avenue south 10 the water
front.
Thursday afternoon and yesterday the
board OF public works, together with City
Engineer Thomson and one or two of the
couneiimen, visited jackson street 10 ex-
anime into the proposition OF making
these needed improvements. Mr. Thorn
son was asked TO prepare estimates show
ing the cost OF carrying out all three of
them. and the board determined to lay
the matter before the council and ask
that the improvements be ordered made.
jackson street has long been an eye
sore. year ago il was found necessary
TO remove some OF the pianking from the
bridge, which was declared unsafe. aud
divert traffic In another direction. A box
sewer has been used along the street for
some time past. and II is SO badly out Of
repair that It's contents leak out and fall
TO the ground ia several places. The
piankIng has been In bad condition for
such stage that it became apparent TO
the city authorities that something would
have TO be done, or else the street would
have TO be closed TO traffic.
The initiative step was taken several
days ago BY some OF the property owners
along jackson street. and the matter was
brought 10 tina attention OF the board OF
public works. II was quickly realized
that action was necessary. The business
done by the jobbing houses and manufac-
turing and mercantile establishments in
the lower part OF the city has grown to
such great proportions during the past
six months that the traffic on the streets
In that section Is now much heavier than
formerly. Complaint was naturally made
concerning the condition of both Jackson
street and Second avenue south.
Heretofore. the main objection against
making the needed improvements elong
Jackson street has been a lack of funds
but now this difficulty Is swept away by
the imperative necessity for better facili-
ties for doing business along the streets
named. 1t was agreed that Jackson
street could no longer be neglected.
II Is planned to build an entirely new
pile bridge along Jackson street from Sec
ond avenue south to Fourth avenue south
The present structure was built In 1889
The first bridge over Jackson street in
the locality named was built in 1884
Subsequently. the grade of the street WAS
established many feet above the trest1e
built In early days. The fire of 1889 par
TALLY destroyed the bridge, and II was re-
built In that year. II was condemned
as unsafe about year ago
The construction OF a sewer from Fifth
avenue south will be one OF the most i'm
portant divisions OF the Improvement. II
is planned TO lay the sewer at such a grade
that II will carry Off the stagnant water
that now lies In the vicinity Of Jackson
street and Second avenue south.
The board OF public works is also pre-
pairing estimates for the replanklng of
Second avenue south from Yesler way to
a point 10 feet south of Jackson street.