The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-02
JOHN A. DALEY WRITES.
Thinks Opening of Second and Third
Streets Should Not Be Delayed.

A meeting of the citizens, protesting
against the assessment for opening
Second and Third and Fillmore streets,
has been held and steps taken that, II
persisted in, must result in seriously de-
laying, if not ultimately preventing,
this very necessary improvement.
At the present time there is no thor
oughfare between Buchanan and Taylor
streets north of Fourth street and citi-
zens are frequently annoyed by driving
out Clay and Fillmore streets only to
find no thoroughfare and are compelled
to return to Fourth in order to be able
to cross Fillmore and Western avenue.
That the improvement is one of pressing
necessity cannot be denied. The Ques-
ton is, upon whom should the burden Of
the expense fall.
The assessment seems high. but the
committee making the award are intel
ngent, honest men and have doubtless
arrived as nearly at the values to be
awarded as any similar one would. 1t
is alleged that there should be slid
ing scale and that properties should be
taxed in accordance with their nearness
or remoteness from the proposed streets
to be opened. Follow this idea to its
logical conclusion and it results in con-
fiscation; for if the benefit is in relation.
to contiguity then the property through
which the street is opened receives the
greatest and most immediate benefit,
and, hence, should bear the expense en-
tirely; that is to say, If street or way
is needed it shall be so declared and the
property taken. therefor and the cost
charged to the abutting property. This
is not the usual way. The benefit dis
trict method may or may not be the
fairest way of providing a fund for
this purpose, but if it be the way pro-
vided by law, there is no help for that
except by delay and re-enactment. A
general levy may or may not be more
Just way of arriving at the result, see
ing that when the streets are opened
they are opened to all alike and for the
benefit of all. The cost of grading
streets is, I understand, levied on the
city is paying for grading on Saywen
street or Twenty first. It is not SO
many years since Polk street was an
ugly ditch from Fourth to Second. This
was remedied by the city at large and
many other localities have been ipp-
proved in the same way. 1t is, there
fore, not altogether an injustice that
Polk street, Fourth street and others
should now be asked to contribute to
Second and Third streets Perhaps the
and it would be better to open only
Second street.
The writer has no other interest in
this matter other than as a citizen of
Topeka. In common with his neighbors
he has thrown open twenty feet Of his
property to the public and they have
been using 1T for twenty years. He has
not lived on paved street for thirty
five wears and can endure the pastoral
condition for several years more. He
made no endeavor to get into the city
of Topeka, nor did he join in any move
ment to prevent the annexation, seeing
that he expected it to happen sooner or
later, because that is the way cities
grow. He trusts that the city will do
the best for this as well as for all other
parts of the city. He does not under
stand that the annexation was for rev.
enue only. At the time this part was
annexed the matter was then In hand to
open Second street and doubtless would
have been accomplished by the county.
The city took US as we were, and
should not hesitate to act Tor the genera
HANGED by the opening Of the streets
in question, and the city should see that
1t is promptly and equitably accomp-
dshed. JOHN A. DALEY.