The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10
Property Owners Say They Will
Agree on Maoadsm.
pLAnkinc IS CONDEMNED.
Matter Comes before the City Coun-
oil Tomorrow NiGht-Lot Owners
VIII Reaaest Further Time I'm
Order 10 obtain Concerted Action
= Mr.. Carkeek States His Po-
sition - Council Anxious to Act.

A. tomorrow nights meeting OF the city
council the question OF the improvement OF
Madison street from the water front ia
Twenty-ffth avenue win b brought up,
The probabilities are that the matter will
Be postponed again, and this time with
definite assurances from the property own
err that they win soon. agree In favor OF
some permanent Improvement.
During the past few days there has been
marked change In sentiment among the
lot owners along Madison street through
out the district affected by the proposed
Improvement. A week ago II seemed that,
owing to the fact that the property owners
themselves were at loggerheads, there was
nothine left for the city to do but to plank
tho thoroughfare. This, In the opinion of
both the members OF the city council and
Of the property owners, would be thing
long to be regretted. Meanwhile the mud
y getting deeper every day along the
greet, and people who have to ride or
drive over 1t are loud in their complaints.
M. J. Carkeek. who has taken the lead
among the residents Of the flrst hills
favor Of permanent Improvement has
been Joined lately by George M. Stewart.
Ferdinand schmitx and Samuel Rosenberg,
effort to prevent the pianking OF the street
ana the substitution Of permanent paw
ing: Mr.. Carkeek said yesterday:
agree with me. think. that the proposed
Improvement OF Madison street, In view
of all the circumstances, Is one of the most
Snp sSs souB city II ons e NoM Wss
It may have appeared impossible hereto
fore TO unite the property owners ON the
street IN support Of e permanent paving.
more promising for this very thing than
i ha. been sincs the enterprise was first
1T IL because believe that the lot own
era will agree among themselves In favor
Of macadam that would regret any defi-
mite action being taken at Monday nights
meeting Of the council. Certainly plank
temporary Improvement. and Is entirely
unsuitable when one considers the .charac-
ter OF the property affected and the gen
street More than that. It is unsanitary
and would last but . short while.
There are several questions involved in
amount OF beneft that would be derived
by the property owners when the improve
ment is made. This. is a question OF
King county has Just arranged for ferry
for the accommodation of the country on
the other side Of Lake Washington. Madi-
son son street ire Is now WI, used as main artery:
travel over 1t. 1t is plain to me that the
paving of the street Is more to be desired
by the public generally. than by the prop
pie of the city and county at large would
get more benefit from the improvement
than would accrue to the property owners.
1T Is for this reason that would urge
the city council to 90 slow. There are
nonresident property owners along the
street who would most seriously object to
macadam or brick paving. They have a
recourse in the Federal courts. But / do
not believe that lawsuits are necessary in
= case OF this kind have talked this
matter over thoroughly with property own
ers on both the first and second hills. My
own belief ID emphatically. that an agree
macadam. which II permanent improve
time"
It will be remembered that In the orig
to the city Il was stated tRst s os nod
ers would agree to macadam, provided the
city would bear the expense Of paving the
street intersections. Mr.. Carkeek believes
their position and stand this expense
Ferdinand Schmitz. who is a property
owner on Madison street, on Renton hill,
eaid yesterday: ut would be little short
Ct an outrase to plank Madison street.
Madison street is now in horrible shape. I
am In favor of permanent paving"
samuel Rosenberg and George M. Stew
art, both residents Of Renton hill, on Mad
ison street advocate macadam, as also does
r. II. Denny, who owns a considerable
S SnIs o. residence properly on the firs'
Among the members Of the street COM
mittee there Is desire to close the mat
ter up. One member said yesterday; I'VE
have given the property owners plenty of
time to settle their differences among
themselves. 1t is time that something
pride enough In the city and In their prop
erty to. agree to some form Of permanent
paving"