The morning news., 1899-12-21
THE souTHsrDE's SIDEWALKS.
city Has Encouraged the Use of Ar
fificiaI stone.

Alderman Dixon. chairman Of the Streets
and Lanes Committee, does not agree with
ex-AIderman Krouskon as to the use Of
artificial stone solely for sidewalk paving
in the southern section of the city.
II do not exactly see what Mr.. Krous-
kon is driving at" said Alderman Dixon.
THE ordinance, which is now being en-
forced, was adopted last spring, as Mr.
Krouskoff is wen aware, and the work of
carrying 1t into effect has been going on
steadily for the last three months. With
the amount of brick sidewalks that has
already been laid it is too late to talk
about requiring artificial stone walks for
the whole southern section. An ordinance
to this effect, introduced by Mr.. Krouskoff,
was passed by the last Council. This ordi-
nance was so strongly and so generally
objected to by the property owners that
Council did not fee, that it could do other
wise than repeal 1t. In its stead 1t sub
stituted the present ordinance, allowing
the property owners to construct walks
of any material which may be approved
by the director of public works whether
artificial stone, paving brick, vitrified
brick or stone flags. The ordinance pro-
vlded that where the property owners
failed to exercise any choice that brick
should be used As brick costs just one
half what the artificial stone costs many
of the property owners naturally prefer
TO have the city put down brick walks at
a cost OF 81 cents per square yard, whereas
artificial stone would cost them $l.OS.
80 far from being unfavorable to the
use of artificial stone" said Mr.. Dixon,
I'VE have encouraged its use in every way
possible Mr. Barker, who has charge
of the artificial stone paving work, has
kept in close touch with us, and has been
given every encouragement in his work.
He was kept posted as to the order in
which the streets were to be paved in or
der that he might canvass the property
owners i'm behalf of his company. In sew
eral instances where some of the proper
ty owners had already put down artificial
stone walks Mr.. Walker was requested 10
canvass other property owners in the BLOCK
in order that the walks In each block
might be uniform and frequently he was
successful in bringing this about. In
some Instances the property owners posi-
lively refused to use the artificial stone,
notwithstanding their neighbors were anx-
ious that they should do so. IL IS true,
as Mr.. Krouskoff says. that many of the
property owners who objected most strong
ly to the ordinance requiring artificial
stone walks, have since put down such
walks of their own accord, but then this
is only human nature. In a few in
stances property owners have removed
brick walks In order to put down artih-
cial stone"
Director Gadsden of the public works
department confirmed Alderman Dix
ons remarks. "On Bun street" said
Director Gadsden," the city put down arti-
fetal stone in front of its own property
al Thomas Park. No brick mas been put
down by the city on Bull street and none
will be, and 1t is believed that all of the
property owners on that street who have
not already done so will decide to use ar
tifcial stone"
The city is now laying sidewalks on Alb
ercorn street. not having yet taken up the
cross street. except where walks were
laid at the special request of property
owners