The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-26
SHOULD BE FIXED.
GRANT STREET BRIDGE DILAPIDA-
TION HARD ON FARMERS.
They Are Obliged 10 Send Their Pro-
duce to Town by Train. at an
The City Councils Memorial 10 the
County Commissioners.

Interest in the reconstruction OF the
Grant street bridge is general among those
living south OF the city. 1t affords them
the only means of ingreSs by wagon road.
and many farmers complain mat they are
now forced to send in their produce by
train. whereas with a good road they
could drive in and save freight charges.
Some time this week the council commit
tee Will hay before the board OF county
commissioners the memorial passed by the
city council Monday. night asking for an
appropriation of 81. 0To from the county
road and bridge fund" The memorial is
as follows:
ITO the Honorable Beard OF County
Commissioners OF King County. Washing
ton:
The city council OF the city OF Seattle
does hereby respectfully represent to your
honorable body as follows.
Seattle boulevard and Ninth avenue
south. formerly Grant street. in the city
of Seattle, is a street constructed wholly
over the tide lands. ana consists OF a
pIanked roadway laid upon bents resting
or piles. which are at high tide 10 large
extent submerged in the waters of Elliott
bay. Said structure is about 5000 feet in
length. and the said piles have been eaten
tent that great many thereof are wholly
useless and are an Inadequate support 10
the superStructure of said street, so that
it is dangerous for any person 10 use said
streee for the purpose of driving teams
thereon, or for any kind OF the ordinary
traffic. The planking of said street is so
worn. and dilapidated that 1t no longer
affords a safe roadway for teams or pc
destrians. Said street Is the only direct
and convenient road by which those desir-
ing TO go from Seattle to the southern part
of the county or from the southern parI
of the county to Seattle. can arrive at tneir
destination. and II said street is closed 10
travel. the result will not only be a serious
loss and inconvenience 10 residents of the
city Of Seattle. but will entirely prevent
farmers and others. desiring 10 convey
produce or any merchandise to Seattle by
the street is now such that If 1t Is not fully
repaired at once the authorities OF the
city of Seattle will be obliged TO close IL
and Wholly prevent travel IN thereon con stree,
is public street OF the city of Seattle,
II is respectfully represented that no as
sessment can be now made upon the real
estate abutting thereon to pay for its re-
pair for the reason tina. almost all of
said real estate is tide land and the legal
title thereto is held by the stat. of Wash.
ington: and Furthermore. the charter OF
said city provides that no Improvement
can be made the cost of which is to be
paid by assessment on abutting property.
whore the cost exceeds g per cent. OF the
value of the property as shown by the
last assessment roll. AS this property
has never been assessed for any purpose,
it will be seen 1that the city OF Seattle
is prevented firm paving for any such
the street is so3be repaired, il must be
done without ri assessment to pay the
cost. The cost properly doing the work
is estimated ~ e20N. This sum the city,
in view Of s34 payment OF taxes and
the necessity AVproviding at all cost for
the payment %ho interest on Its bond
ed debt is notx BILE TO apply TO that pur-
pose The Iimiakof Indebtedness Is reach
ed. rendering IN kmpossihie to go further
into debt.
1T is respectfully represented to your
honorable body thy you have the power
by virtue Of the laMenacted in 1895 10 APP
ply a portion of Il, road and bridge
fund to the work o. putting this street
in proper condition. It is surely such
road as all the Inhabitants In the county
are Interested In and in view of that
fact and that the inha bitants or the city
of Seattle pay over 20 per cent of the
amount Of said fund the city council of
the city OF Seattle respectfully asks that
your honorable body consider the state
ments herein made and II they are found
TO he correct that so much of the road
and bridge fund he devoted TO the re-
pair Of said street as may be just and
proper.
City Comptroller Parry. who Is a men,
her of the committee appointed to see the
commissioners. was asked yesterday what
ne thought would be the decision of the
board.
II hardly believe they Will accede 10 the
demand of the memorial, he replied
though they certainly should do so since
many outside parties are Interested
l have been approached by several farm:
ers living south of the city limits wh.r
were anxious 10 have the road repaired -