The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-16

h The Review wishes to have heart to heart talk
with the people Of Denison in regard to the street
work of the city. Owing to its location, like Rome
on many hills, Denison has been and will be for
some time expensive town for street work. On
this account it is we'll that the city covers as little
territory as it does. Up to few years ago, the
work on our streets amounted to but little more
than the ordinary road patching. The streets were
kept IN passable condition for portion Of the
year and the people labored up and down the hills
contentedly. Then there came sudden change in
policy and an effort made to level the hills and
valleys. Naturally the old settlers had purchased
eligible sites for their homes the hillsides and
thus 1t happened while in the main the grading has
been vast Improvement to the town there have
been cases where people have bought holes and
gul1es tor song, and have then expected the city
to make valuable lots of them by cutting down the
man who had been paying a heavy of taxes for
twenty years and filling up about the comparatively
worthless lot that had practically paid taxes into
the city treasury Just how far the council should
go IN this matter it is difficult determine but the
public funds should only be used where they will
benefit the public and not some individual. At
present. Denison covers one square mile and it is
within that territory and especially within the heart
OF the city, that the limited resources of the CITY
should be spent. The movement TO put in stone
or cement crossings the uptown streets is most
|commendable one, as also will be any movement
to make permanent roadway to the North Western
lstatlon We believe the North. Western would 90
as tar IN this respect the Central has DONE aud
that IT the matter is pushed, have gravelled
roadways, which will greatly lessen the inconveni-
Ience caused by such weather as we have had during
the past month. As Denison's real estate becomes
more valuable, there is bound to co e an effort to
add new sections to the city, Some of those who
have thus far avoided the payment of city taxes by
residing outside of the city limits will wish now to
2artake of the things which the taxes of others
have provided. For our part we shall welcome
the extension of the limits Of the City and the plat
ting and building up of all the lands within the
city limits, but when these additions are made theys
should be made to conform in every way to- the old
city, the city should not be changed to conform to
the addition unless it is desirable from the citys
standpoint. In other words, those who wish to
enjoy the privileges Of the city after having escaped
taxation, should not be allowed to do SO at the ex.
Pense of those who have made permanent prove
ments according to existing conditions ana who
have been paying the heavy city taxes which the
others have not. We do not know that any such
action is contemplated, but whenever the project of
taking IN additional territory comes before the peo
pie, these matters must be considered Our advice
Ito the council would be TO proceed SLOWLY: TO inn
prove the streets which are used bv the greatest
number OF people and to improve them perm anently;
to give special attention to the roa Is leading out of
town. and to avoid as far as possible any public ex-
pense, the chief purpose Of which would be to in
q r. he of IL
glad to note that Alderman Brown has taken the
chalrmanshp OF the sewerage committee seriously
and that ne proposes to make determined effort
to have sewer run down Main street, SO as to
drain the business part of the city. The sewer
should be built with but ttIe expense the city,
but should be paid for by the property owners