The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-19

snArrLE, SATURDAY, AUGUST -.
nEAuTIrYISG TmE sTREErs.

uEAUTIFYISG THE sTREETs.
There Is no difference OF opinion
among the property-owners Of Seattle
as 70 the advantage Of having the
streets In the residence districts I'M
proved. but the cost Ia = very serious
matter. Within the district which It 10
proposed to create, namely. that tract
between Ninth and Boyiston avenues
and Terrace and University streets. are
many fine residences. but between
thep are far greater number Of com.
Portable yet modest homes. owned by
men Of moderate means. To them thu
expenditure OF $500 to $1,000 lot would
BE- hardship against which they not
unnaturally rebel.
According to the estimates the aver
age cost for every lot In q block would
be Loo. Az q correspondent points out.
even II the payment were spread over
. period Of ten years. at n 5 per cent
rate Of interest, It would add rs per
cent to the principal. Not only would
this Increase the practical taxation II
the district TO about three times what
II II now. but II would result in an In
creased valuation for general taxatioIe.
Hundreds 1T taxpayers are still strue-
Cling to pay assessments for street
grades upon which 10 per cent. inter-
est annually II running. as well as as
s.ssments for sewers and water sup
ply. It II simply impossible for them q,
pay the additional incumbrance which
the proposed Improvement would entail
II the residents OF the district were all
rich men, the improvement would not he
q burden. This Ii not the case: Is per
cent. OF the home-owners are unable 10
bear the additional cost. The proposed
Improvement IL not Of such y character
that Il could not be adopted few years
later. It Is not like the condemnation
of property for driveway or boulevard,
where II would be good Judgment to ac-
auire the land before its value becomes
psohihitive. Each year will witness m
advance In the value OF lots They will
be sold by the present owners 10
Weather residents. flner structures viii
be erected. ard the Improvement will be
= luxury which the new owners can af-
ford.
Much al the present home-owners
would like To see the streets paved with
asphalt and the sidewalks parked.
those improvements are beyond their
means, ana II would be cruel To force
upon them a public Improvement the
cost OF which might result In the con-
fiscation of their property or its en-
forced sale at sacrificed price The
taxpayers have gone through several
years of struggle IN an EFFORT IN clear
on the Indebtedness incurred during the
past period NJ prosperity We have had
two years 81 good times, and there "a A
prospect ~ several wears more When
times were bad. we all became eeona-
mis's. and counsciei each other never n
be tempted again into mourning a debt
upon our homes Tire lessons az al
versi.y win be entirely last II We forget
all those warnings and at the very Hrst
sign Of prosperity launch ont again into
new extravavanees New II the tire
for all men 90 place themselves beyond
the fear ~ a recurrence % ne emhsr-
easements which brought gray hairs ~
the head ~ many worthy elsifes. ara
cost nanv The home that their thrift
had provided.
Seattle IS ne; she home yes of men -
place for the entaFrrsslaE anil sha
prudent 4; Is a place where the indus
tr.ouw may lay the Foundation for VIE
long competence Prudent -sanagege Z
ard an economical Outstanding ~ ssv-
.nxs wiz Icy sAe foundation sov more
substantial city ana fer hanrter hessse<
than II the surplus over exn@nsss ia tie-
voted - an eTor, so make tha city an
abode ~ superficial elegance
The plsns adopted hv the sea~s' =
public works scr making slightly high
WAYS are base ufsen inssyse ss*sse sfv7-