The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1902-11-08
COMPLAINT OF Al CITIZEN
The Question OF Better sidewalks
Discussed.
Editor Daily Light:

Editor Daily Light:
1t occurs to the writer that the
city of Waxahachie is greatly in
need of cross-walks. Those we now
have would be a disgrace to vii
lage in frontier country, to say
nothing of city boasting of pop
ulation of six thousand, aud of cleo
trio lights, street railways, etc. In
the writers opinion the city council
adopted poor method when they
inaugurated the plan of putting
down cross-walks as they now do
instead OF the old plan. Under the
old way the walks were soconstrue-
ted as to make them a little higher
than the surface Of the ground,
with slant on either side so as to
allow vehicles to pass over easily.
Under the new method (which has
been in vogue some two years the
cross walks are laid down so as to
be on a level with the surface Of the
ground, the result of this new
tangled idea is, that every time il
rains il is impossible for persons 10
cross the street without getting
their feet muddy up to the ankles.
Ladies are compelled to pass over
the streets, and to do so, In muddy
weather, means that they run the
risk of getting begged up besides
being subjected to holding thei r
skirts at a height embarrassin to
them. Now what excuse can there
be on the part of our Mayor and
City Council for this condition OF
things. | have been told but how
true ! do not know that the reason
gwen by our city dads for thus lay
ing the cross-walks, is TO enable We
hicles to pass over with greater ease.
Now il this is the excuse IL is a
very poor one, for the eross-walks
were, or should be, designed for
pedestrians primarily. But under
the old method above mentioned the
vehicles could pass over easily
enough. The present condition IL
deplorabIe There is not cross |
road in our city today that people /
can walk over without getting as !
muddy as If there were no walk I
The walks are buried out Of sight, /
and ii Was only few days ago that /
the writer saw the street force with /
shovels and hoes laboriouslv en- /
deavoring to resurrect the walks SO /
that pedestrians could find them. /
How long, oh how long! will at in /
dulgent and suffering people he COM /
PEELED 10 endure this thing' Gentle !
men of the city council, can't you .
give relief 10 the people Of our city /
by putting down better walks than
we have with the money collected E.
for such purposes, instead Of wasting
it by putting walks UNDER the
ground, such as we now have?
Again there is Il city ordinance r.
quiring owners of real estate abut-
ting upon the sidewalks, tn huild i
aud keep In repair such sidewalks.
This ordinance seems 10 be "a dead /
letter. It's enforcement is seldom, !
If ever attempted by the ma
uieipal authorities Good side /
walks are an indispensable necessity /
to a city, and next To sanitation,
should require vigilance Of our city |
authorities. 1t IL well know but
lamentable fact that the man who
sometimes, even inadvertently, I
halloos little too loud and therby /
infringes upon the peace and qui- |
etude of his neiRhbor, or fails to /
walk "a chalk line by reason of the /
effects of cocktail or "a beer or two /
is taken into custody and made to /
pay into the pockets of the officers |
some twelve dollars for his sin. but /!
the man who refuses 10 keep his /
sidewalk In front of his premises in |
repair is never noticed. Why this .
difference In the enforcement Of the
city ordinances? Is il because a
policeman car see a man just lit
tie intoxicated two blocks away land
cannot see mud hole in the middle
of orc of our principal side walks?
Besides the Inconvenience Of these
defective side walks, the gulleys,
holes and washouts In them ought
to admonish our authorities that
the city is subiecting itself to dam
age suits by some one falling into
one of these holes and breaking his
limbs or neck. But barring the
broken leg or neck, the damage
would be OF little moment in view OF
the insolvency Of the city in the
matter Of paying damages.
CITIZEN.