The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-02
WANT SEVENTH ST. PAVED
DEMAND THAT THE IMPROVE
MENT BE DONE AT ONCE
serted Because of the Opposition
of NOn-Resident Property Owners
The Street Car Company Also
Circulation Should De Signed

Circulation Should be Signed
Property owners, business men and
residents who are interested in the
welfare of the city and the improve
ments of the principal streets and
thoroughfares are up in arms over the
proposed action of the council relative
to the paving of East Seventh street
from the railroad bridge to Hope street.
For the past year and a half East
Seventh street between the points men
toned has been in an impossible con-
dition. The street is one of the main
arteries leading to and from the city,
and, by reason of the condition of the
pavement, all travel has been diverted
from the street
This has done great injury not only
to the business men in the immediate
locality, but to all the merchants along
the street from Wabasha street to the
city limits. Trade and travel which
would naturally use the street has been
driven to other thoroughfares, and the
result has been not only a detriment
to those owning improved property on
the street, but also to the merchants
in business in the retail district be-
tween Broadway and Wabasha streets.
For the past two years efforts have
made to secure the paving of the street
from the railroad bridge to the top of
the hill at Hope street. Try as best
they could, those interested in having
the thoroughfare put in passable con-
dition found their efforts blocked.
When Seventh stree was paved
three years ago from Seven Corners
to Bradley street, one of the argu-
ments made for the improvement was
that it would help business on the
street, and, being the natural route
to and from the eastern part of the
city and the territory adjacent, it
would be of great benefit to the mer-
chants. This was at once recognized
as convincing and desirable, and the
owners of property on lower Seventh
street made no objection to the street
being paved. The understanding was
that portion of the street east of the
railroad bridge would be paved the
following year, but the influence Of
half a dozen owners of unimproved
property have, up to date, prevented
the Improvement being made.
Preliminary orders have passed the
council direct.~s the board of public
works to prepare and report final or
ders for the paving of that portion of
the street between the railroad bridge
and Hope street, but each time the re-
port of the board has been adverse to
the paving. Each time the matter had
been I'D before the board of public
works the same half a dozen parties
owning large tracts of unimproved
property have objected to the improve
ment, and as these persons represent
four-fifths of the property frontage
along which the pavement is needed
the board of public works has decided
to postpone the work.
The same arguments are used each
year by the unimproved property own
erS. Times are too hard, there is no
demand or sale for the property and
the street with some repairs could be
made to last another year. The resi-
dents Of Dayton's bluff, the owners of
improved property and the merchants
on Seventh street have protested
against the delay which not only dis
figures one of the principal streets of
the city, but depreciates property and
ruins business along the street, but
all to no purpose.
Recently the representatives in the
council from the eastern part Of the
city passed another preliminary order
for the paving of that portion Of the
street mentioned. The board of public
works again went through the form Of
listening to the arguments Of the I'M
improved property owners and returned
an adverse report. The report stated
that the proposed improvement was
necessary and proper and property
could be found benefited to pay for the
same, but that as a majority Of the
property owners protested it would not
be advisable this year to do the work.
This report was returned to the as
sembly at it's last meeting and referred
to the committee on streets Of that
body. At meeting held Tuesday af-
ternoon the committee decided to rec
ommend that the adverse report of the
board of public works be passed pro-
viding the street was paved in 1899
Those Of the property owners who were
present at the committee meeting, while
not agreeing to stand by this arrange
ment made no objection to the action
but as can be readily understood they
did not bind themselves not to make
the same objection next year as has
been made with such effect for the past
two years.
The owner Of considerable improved
property, fronting on the gully which
now exists near Bradley street, said last
evening that in his opinion the street
railway company was largely respon-
sible for the delay in paving the street
1T is an outrage on the city and the
citizens" said the gentleman, that the
street is in the condition it is. A year
ago the city engineer advised that the
street be closed to travel from the east
end Of the bridge to Hope street, ow.
ing to it's being in such a condition
that it was dangerous to allow teams
to travel on it.
"Assemblyman Arosin, who was then
in the council, secured the passage Of
an order for the paving Of the street
and 1t looked at one time as though
the improvement would be made. A
compromise was, however, made, and
the parties owning unimproved prop
erty agreed, If the paving was post
poned for year. to make no objections
this year.
THE result was just as I expected
and now it looks as if there would be
no paving done until next year. Wher
I say it is my opinion that the street
railway company is interested in pre-
venting the paving of the street,
simply state what large number Oh
property owners and business men, as
well as myself believe. OF course, the
company does not appear or show its
hand when the protests are made tt
the board Of public works, but it gets
in its work all the same.
1.-THE matter comes UP In the Assem-.
bly, this evening, 1 understand, and 6
large delegation will be on hand to urge
that branch Of the council to take such
action as will result in the paving Of
the street from the bridge to the tor
Of the hill this year."
Yesterday afternoon petitions were
circulated among the business mer
and property owners for signatures
and these will be presented to the as
sembly at its meeting tonight. People
who are interested in seeing this i'm
provement should look around for one
of these petitions today,if it is not pre-
scented to them.
The petitions, which were being rap
| idly signed and to which hundreds O.
names will be added today, read as fol