The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-03

per cent rate was established in the charter
many years ago. when the rate of interest
was about double that of the present time:
II would certainly appear that there should
be some change in this rule but it can be-
done only through proper legislation This
ought to be done without delay as a new
impulse would be given to those improve
ments which add greatly to the appearance
OF the city.
The proper time for public improvement ia
during hard times, when no active work is
In progress. The laborers are idle and
sometimes actually suffering for work This
couid be done much more easily il the bur-
aen OF cost should be distributed over a term
Vi years, and the interest paid would be
much more than offset by the reduced cost
vi tne work. In order to promptly pay the
noHeractor under this system, it would be
,,eoS ss sy TO create revolving fund, to be
US USED ior this purpose only, and which could
De replenished when the assessments were
QUESTION OF SIDEWALKS
Sidewalks of equal if not greater impor-
lance to the utility and appearance Of the
street to the pavement. Thousands of ne
destrians daily pass along our sidewalks and
liability to accident is greater there than on
the street. Most Of the stone sidewalks laid
In st. Paul have not been an unqualified sur
cess, Bedford and Berea stone and Ali a.
native limestone have worn badly mr. vieISnJ
to the effects Of the climatic changes. Gran
tie and Kettle river sandstone are all rigut.
onthic walks are the best, taking into con-
sideration the element OF cost. For residence
streets nothing is better than a cement walk
laid in place with tile properly made
This is the usual construction in St PauI
But here, as in street pavements. care must
De taken with the foundation and it is also
essential that there should be a proper mix
lure OF cement and sand in order to secure
good work. An ordinance is now pending
IN the common council, requiring all tile to
pc made in accordance with the city speci-
hcations, which 1 trust will pass, believing
that 1t will be productive of better and more
uniform work
miles OF wooden walk. 81 miles Of stone and
cement walk and 21k miles of gravel walk
wooden walk stands in about the same cate
CORY as wooden pavement, and as fast az
practicable should be abandoned and cement
and gravel substituted. If the construction
of wooden walks were stopped TODAY ana
thirty miles of cement walk laid every wear
IN the place of the wooden walks as they
decay, 1t would take little over ten years
70 re replace the present wooden walks. A con-
tract has recently been let by the board OF
public works for cement walks at a price of
~ 81 cents per square foot. which will bring
the price of a six foot cement walk TO about
oO cents running foot not including tbs
cost OF inspection and collection of assess
ments. This is about double the cost of
ouraolIlty. 1t will be cheaper in the end In
outlying districts narrower walk could be-
lald which would answer all purposes and
would cost but little more than the present
wooden walk.
BRIDGES IN THE CITY
continuing, Mr.. Rundlett said, In part.
prldges are streets suspended in the air
ABOVE the natural surface to continue the
street and carry traffic across rivers, ravfnes
ana railroad tracks. consequently their cost
as rule is paid out of the public fund. Oc-
casionally bridges are paid for by assess
ing the cost to property benefited as in the
case of the Selby avenue bridge over tha
Milwaukee tracks. But it is an unpopular
way.
There are fifty three bridges in St. Paul
iron and steel g. wooden 20, stone sand
nave T, cost the city 800, 1SO.37.
The bridges are now built so the sign $50
me 1or driving over this bridge faster than
walk" is unknown.
st. Paul Is fortunate in having but few
grade crossings of railroad tracks and in
nearly all cases the streets are bridged over
the tracks.
During the past fifteen years the require
ments Of all classes of bridge structures
have greatly increased and most of the old
structures have been replaced with perma-
nent bridges adapted to increased wheel loads
and street cars.
The expense of maintaining bridges is con-
siderable and the appropriations of the past
few years have been inadequate. The con-
struction, maintenance and repair of these
bridges is an important feature of the en-
gineering department
ALLEYS
| An alley is a back-door street but ought
| to be clean and neat in appearance There
are 251 miles of alleys in ST. Paul, only 1Olh
| of which are graded. Laws ought to be
enacted and enforced which shall compel al
leys being put and kept in proper condition.
STREET CLEANING.
After street has been improved by grading
and paving it becomes public charge to keep
| 1t in repair and in clean and sanitary con-
| dftion, and st. Paul has more than a local
reputation for clean, well-kept streets During
the year 1898 the sum of SAL 137. 70 was spent
on our streets, Of which SIP. sO719 was for
labor
There are 100 miles of sewer mains in St.
Paul; 241.5 miles of water MAINS 120 miles
OF gas mains; $3.50 hydrants. There are thirty
miles Of cycle paths and there are few streets
| in st. Paul where the traffic is numerically
greater than that of the paths.
1t gives me pleasure to announce that a
contract has been let for providing our streets
with the best and most durable street signs
known, which will give favorable impress
sion of the care taken by the city author-
ties to provide for the public.
In conclusion, ] assure you that long as
occupy the exacting position of city engineer
1t shall be my special care to urge the adop-
ton of frst-class improvements for our
streets, executed in the most skillful manner
and when improvements are once obtained to
keep them as far as the appropriations will
permit in perfect repair and clean and sani-
tary condition.