The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10
ST. LOUIS AWAkENS TO THE NEW
! LIFE WORLDS FAIR WILL BRING.

be absolutely necessary within a short
period, for the time is not remote when
municipal revenue will be woefully deficient
Tor regular purposes. Therefore, Messrs.
Gabel. Sturgeon. Schumacher and others
emphatically assert the immediate urgency
ter amendments. This legislation is gem
orally defined as an essential precursor for
a new st. Louis.
A strictly reliable forecast OF the re-
quirements of the city cannot be presented
until the site for the Worlds Fair shall
have been selected, for the reason that pub
lie improvements generally will have to be
planned with the object of harmony. so far
as may be prudent for municipal welfare.
Nevertheless; most of the improvements
contemplated are deemed necessary conse-
qtlently the enthusiasm inspired by the
Worlds Fair Is construed az a force to SUI
perlnduce changes that are otherwise re-
community.
Public improvements to be tnausurated
come almost entirely within the scope of
the Board of Public improvements. which
body remiseS the work for the action of
the Municipal Assembly and the Mayor.
The board receives suggestions from its
ideas: the drafts of ordinances go from the
board to the Municipal Assembly, where
they are either passed or rejected or buried
in committee: and finally the bills reach the
Mayor.
PRESIDENT McMATH
OUTLINES HIS VIEWS.
President McMath of the Board Of Public
improvements divides Worlds Fair public
work into eight groups. The first relates
to public buildings, the second to street re-
constructions and improvements. the third
to the construction of viaducts. the fourth
to Park Improvement. the fifth to The
publication of the water supply, the sixth
10 the construction and repair of sewers.
the seventh to harbor and wharf necessities
and the eighth TO the erection of new en-
gine,houses and to requirements of the
worlds Fair specifically. This division he
outlines in this order without regard to the
relative Importance of the improvements,
trat:on.
The public buildings" said Mr.. McNath,
are deplorable-loeking structures. ancient.
worthy Of the city's reputation. but it is
overcrowded: The other institutions are
skill for renovation, IL they
should not really be RACED and Kew edi-
fees erected. 1 estimate that fully 81, 500. coo
should be expended on public buildings and
the eleemosynary institutions. This amount
Is required anyhow. but especially since the
Worlds Fair is now assured. With this
pleted, the new City Hospital could be i'm
ished and other public buildings could be
given proper attention. Everybody APP
preciates that the City Hall and Four
Courts do not make any too pleasant an
impression on the aesthetic tastes OF visi-
tors, or even on our own citizens. So far
as inc courthouse ia concerned, L DClfSNe
it could be made quite attactive by COM
plete internal renovation and repainting of
the exterior. New ensine-houses VII be
necessities in or near the Worlds Fair
grounds.
STREET RECONSTRUCTION
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
Street reconstruction 10 an important
factor in the making. of a great city. y
metropolis is judged by its thoroughfareS.
Bad streets make a bad impression. Good
streets are a permanent Improvement. and
the use OF the proper material constitutes
an economic measure thai will rebound to
the advantage of the Taxpayer. This is es-
pecially true in the cost Of sprinkiinS.
cleaning and repairs: Many arguments
could be advanced in favor Of good streets.
| would advise the expenditure of ST. 900
by the city for street reconstruction.
Too much cannot be said in regard to
the railroad tracks. improvements for
which the railroad companies should bear
the greater portion. if not all. Of the ex-
pense. Some of the present viaducts could
be repaired. but many of them should be
torn down and rebuilt. We should have
viaducts at Ewing avenue, Campton ave
nue.. Kings Highway boulevard, over the
the West End. over the Missouri Pacific
tracks on Chouteau avenue ard over the
Frisco tracks on Chouteau avenue.
A the cid bridges are totally made
quate. excepting the Twenty-first street.
Grand avenue and Jefferson avenue struc-
lures. The Eighteenth street yiadnct Is
Dll bIG ~ 1koi .
Seventeenth street to Twenty-first street.
over Clark avenue. will become a necessity ,
to relieve congestion in that vicinity. The
Terminal Railway is under agreement to
pay $4,000 to assist in defraying the ex-
pense CT this viaduct. The city. it seems to
me. should not be compelled to pay more !
building viaducts over railroad TRACK: IN
fact. the State Legislature possibly could
obliEe the railroad companies to endure
.Jn raoard to street. mark waterworks |
end saver improvements. the officials of
each department can give details which
have been considered by the board in COM
These officers have suggested i'm
and necessary improvements"
OF paramount Importance are the puri-
f a,r,,d53a1 of II the st watsr snHS,y aISi.9 she t rec the
Mr.. McMath said, can be expected
to enjoy potable mud. and 1 even doubt II
strangers. would derive any pleasure from
washing In or with mud. st. Louis needs
clear water. Worlds Fair. or no words
Fair. ST. Louis needs pure water as sooh
rs we can get it,
PURE DRINKING WATER
Nus BE PROVIDED.
Pure water is not the only subject that
will command the attention of the Water
in the next few years The ad-
de will probably be exceeded in the future.
accepting tie rate of increase in population
II recent years as a criterion for the iu-
ure. Water Commissioner Fad estimates
hat the present capacity of the water
yorks will reach its maximum by 1905; con
lie is figuring that the capacity
viii have 10 be increased within n few
ear.
"Ffltration of the water supply" said Mr..
Tad, lis necessary as n sanitary measure.
rhe people of St. Louis should have clear,
.ure water to drink. The cost of estab-
ishing n plant to provide a healthful quail
V of water has been explained at Length
" men on several occasions lately. and I'm
Apply to note that the people agree with
ne for clear water. The method of install
ltion has received the consideration of the
,oard, and the members have a distinct I'M
Outstanding of the various systems in use
other large cities. The filtration of the
supply is, in my opinion. one OF the
most important Improvements projected
Besides arranging for Qualification OF the
,ater supply, 1 am planning the extension
{ distribution mains into sections of the
;ty not now receiving water from the
The increase of pressure in elevated
by the completion of the nigh
ervice system is another project already
tarted. The requirements of the WorIds
air cannot be discussed until the site mas
cen determined upon.'
street Commissioner Narrelmann proposes
D reconstruct twerty-forr miles of streets
nir year, and from fifty to sixty miles
ext year. in all from seventy-five to eighty
We miles in two years. 1t is his purpose 10
the downtown district, wherever