The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

Secretary Brunson. of the board of
public works, yesterday completed the
annual report of the board showing the
work done and detailing the improve
ments that are in contemplation for
1899. The report says, in part:
During the coming season, in the opinion
of the board, there viii be more street i'm
provements than for several years past, the
board having at the present time under con-
sideration the paving Of Seventh street, from
the railroad bridge TO Atlantic street; Wa
couta street. from the union depot 10 Sew
enthi Summit avenue from st. Peter 10 Rice;
Tenth street.. from s.. Peter 10 Rice; Wash
inglon street, from Third TO Seventh; Rice
street from Tenth TO the railroad bridge:
North street. from Bradley TO Bedford; Bed
ford street, from North to Collins; Bradley
street. from Seventh TO North; Brewster ave
nue., from University TO Como; Chestnut
street. from Seventh 20 the river: Sherburne
avenue. from Rice 10 the eastern terminus;
Ninth street from Bradley 10 hittsOn: John
street. frcIn Grove TO Fifteenth; Como ave-
nue.. frOm Rice &c Dale; Sixth street from
College to Smith; Cedar street, from Second
10 Como.
ing during the year 1925 was very small, only
S29Sl-6S being expended Tor grading pur-
poses, but even at this. We exceeded the
$2.sO0
During 1897 $50 1912 was expended for the
construction OF sewers and in 1898, total
amount Of S3S.2SS.6S, or nearly $4,000. more
than in 1897. and ar the present time, the
board has unGsr consideration the constTuc-
So. Oea.
During the year 1897 but 81. 50 was as
sessed against AUDITING property. for boule
varding. cUrbing anG planting trees. In the
year 1895 this amount was Increased to s5.4l4
and at the present time the board has under
consideration and in process CT completion,
the following improvements:
BOCleyarding. curling and planting trees
On the following streets:
Summit avenue from Wabasha to Sixth;
.teronia avenue, from Prior TO Fairview; Lake
Como boulevard; Dewey avenue. from st.
Anthony - University Portland avenue, from
Dale TO Victoria Marshall avenue, frem
Wheeler 10 Cleveland; Dayton avenue from
Dewey 10 Amos; summit avenue, ON Dale
II Lexington.
The assessments. estimated at S4S,4OO, for
the construction OF wood and cement side
walks are in process Of completion and will
be in the hands OF the city treasurer in
few days for collection.
The matter OF the care of wooden sidewalks
in the city has been a serious problem with
the board, and after thorough investigation
we are OF the opinion that the wooden side
walks IN the city should not be rebuilt bug
within 4 certain territory in the city should
be replaced with cement walks, and beyond
that territory, where the wooden walks are
beyond repair, they should be torn up and
replaced by gravel walks the cost of which
is estimated AZ about 10 cents per front foot
The life OF a wooden walk is estimated ct
eight years, and the cost is % cents per fooc
With new machinery for the manufacture or
cement tiles, the same being under city in
speetion, the cost CT a six-foet cement walk
should not cost more than 80 cents per foor
the life OF which would be al least thirty
years and, in the opinion Of the board would
be much cheaper in the long run than wood
en- walks. The width Of cement walks shsuId
Be governed by the loeality-from three TO
SIX feet wice-the same to be left TO the judg-
ment Of the board of public works It is
an undisputed fact that 10 per cent of all
claims for damage brought against the city
are the result OF defective wooden sidewalks
In the past ten years these claims amounted
TO more than 500. Geo.. The cost of repairs
on wooden sidewalks during 1898 was about
Af,cOe- With the substitution of cement
walks this vast amount of money would b.
saved 10 the taxpayers of city.
Another problem which the board has to
contend with has been the lighting of the
city, the board being favorable TO the abolish
ing. 10 q N-eat extent, of gas and gasoline
and lighting the city in up-to-date manner
with are lights. We had on Dec. 81 $685.
256 arc lights 2,651 gas lights, 1904 gasoline
lights.
With this thought in mind. the board, IN
tt7 report CT lighting for the year 1899 in
creased the number of arc lights from 256 II
S75, which has been subsequently increased
by the board to S95 lights. and has re,
duced the number of gas to 1900 and gasoline
TO $500.
Still another Improvement the present board
has been working on, has been the placing
of proper street signa on our street corners. IT
IS noticeable fact to all strangers to our
city that there are practically no street names
this great need we are now advertising for
BIDS, and hope within the next sixty DAYS
70 have suitable street sign on sll the bust
ness and resident corners in our CITY